On Sunday, Neil Patrick Harris, Julianne Hough, and the creative team behind “Damn Yankees” sat in the Yankee Stadium press room answering questions from a group of theater journalists who looked as natural in the situation as Ethel Merman and Patti LuPone would be in the dugout during the playoffs. “It’s a little surreal for all of us to be here,” admitted Rick Miramontez, the publicity wizard behind the event, shortly before the press conference began.
A heavy rainstorm spoiled some of the revival’s opening scene (one of the stars, Austin Scott, was supposed to throw out the first pitch), but the larger point of the day was clear. It’s never been harder to launch a Broadway musical, and the Great White Way could use all the help it can get. Enter the Bronx Bombers and Major League Baseball, who will, for the first time, partner on the show with Emmy Award-winning production label MLB Studios.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to get donkeys in seats,” said Harris. “It’s a real opportunity to give a reason to people who don’t usually go to see the theatre.
For the past year or so, much has been written about the challenges facing music. Such shows usually carry production budgets of $15 million to $20 million, which means they have to play to full houses to recoup their investments. Harris and Hough are stars who command passionate fan bases from their appearances on “How I Met Your Mother” and “Dancing With the Stars,” but the economics are daunting.
Acclaimed revivals such as “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” ended their run early after ticket sales began to decline, while new musicals such as “Queen of Versailles” and “Beaches”. Recently, “Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York” announced that they will be closing up shop in November despite rave reviews. Yes, some of Broadway’s biggest hits are still long-running musicals like “Hamilton” and “The Lion King,” but no new juggernauts have emerged to challenge them since COVID wiped out the industry.
Participation in musicals may be new to baseball, but the industry has integrated its talent with promising results. “Buena Vista Social Club” sold out shows recently after tapping former New York Mets player José “Candelita” Iglesias to appear as narrator for a limited run, and the production will enlist veteran Yankee Bernie Williams and his guitarist to join the show’s band next month.
MLB’s involvement in “Damn Yankees” was not immediately clear, but baseball will help the show to fans. As for the music, it is getting a makeover. The setting will move from the 1950s to 2000, as the Orioles attempt to take on the Yankees, who were enjoying a period of dominance that saw them win four straight World Series. The creative team behind “Damn Yankees” made it clear they were committed to staying true to the sport. Miramontez said a technical consultant had been hired, and Scott said he had been studying game footage as he prepared to play Joe Boyd, a banned fan who sells his soul to carry the “Birds” to glory.
“I’m kind of coming into this world, learning the world of basketball, the culture, and the language of the sport,” Scott said, adding, “I’ve been watching a lot of highlight reels and a lot of film, especially from Aaron Judge.
On Sunday, Harris, Hough, and Scott met with Judge and the rest of the team in person after trying to get the hang of shooting promotional photos on the field. Harris explained why they were on their way to the Bronx by recounting the entire plot of “Damn Yankees” to the clubhouse members.
“I didn’t know if they knew the context of meeting with us, like why we were here,” admitted the slender Harris.