From the Batter’s Box to Backstage: Theater and America’s Favorite Pastime

from The baTTer ’ s box To baCksTage

theater anD ameriCa’s favorite Pastime

Bebe Neuwirth and Victor Garber in the 1994 Revival of Damn Yankees. Photo credit: Playbill.com.

Damn Yankees - The most well-known of theatrical ventures into baseball, Damn Yankees is a classic musical with a Faustian deal for an avid Washington Senators fan who makes a bargain with a mysterious stranger to become a baseball star, but eventually misses his former life.

Diamonds - This Off-Broadway musical revue ran for 122 performances from 1984 - 1985. Many composers created this tribute to America’s favorite pastime.

David Alan Anderson and Edgar Sanchez in Fences at Milwaukee Rep, 2016. Photo credit: Tim Fuller, Milwaukee Rep.

Fences - Fences is part of August Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle” that features Troy, a garbage man and former baseballer, as he grapples with his lost dream of playing major league ball, his son’s current athletic prospects, his struggling marriage, and the difficulties of being Black in 1950s Pittsburgh.

Cast of Take Me Out original Broadway production. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

Take Me Out - The Tony Award-winning play by Richard Greenberg explores the events surrounding the hypothetical coming out of the first gay player in Major League Baseball. The play explores themes of masculinity, homophobia, racism, and class in sports. A Broadway revival is set to open this spring, with a television adaptation to follow.

Court Miller and David Alan Grier in The First. Photo credit: Martha Swpoe.

The First - The First was a musical retelling of the story of Jackie Robinson as the first African-American in Major League Baseball. The musical starred David Alan Grier as Robinson for which he received a Tony Award nomination, but the show did not see a long run on the Broadway stage in 1981.

Cast of National Pastime at the Keegan Theatre. Photo credit: The Keegan Theatre.

National Pastime - In this musical, a failing radio station in Iowa creates an unbeatable baseball team and broadcasts phony games in order to draw listeners. The musical not only enjoyed an Off-Broadway run, but also a stint at the auditorium at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

VISITING

MILWAUKEE REP

Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex is located in the Associated Bank River Center downtown at the corner of Wells and Water Streets. The building was formerly the home of the Electric Railway and Light Company. VISITING THE REP The Ticket Office is visible on the left upon entering the Wells Street doors. The Quadracci Powerhouse is located on the Mezzanine and can be accessed via escalator or elevator. Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex is located in the Milwaukee Center downtown at the corner of Wells and Water Streets. The building was formerly the home of the Electric Railway and Light Company. FINANCIAL SUPPORT The Ticket O ce is visible on the left upon entering the Wells Street doors. The Quadracci Powerhouse is located on the rst level.

ENABLES MILWAUKEE REP TO: THE REP VALUES YOUR SUPPORT

Advance the art of theater with productions that inspire individuals and create community dialogue. Provide a richer theater experience by hosting Rep-in-Depth, TalkBacks and creating PlayGuides to better inform our audiences about our productions. Educate over 20,000 students at 200+ schools in the greater Milwaukee area with Rep Immersion Day experiences, student matinees, workshops, tours and by making connections with their school curriculum through classroom programs such as Reading Residencies.

Maintain our commitment to audiences with special needs through our Access Services that Financial support enables The Rep to: ✯ Advance the art of theater with productions that inspire individuals and create community dialogue; ✯ include American Sign Language interpreted Provide a richer theater experience by hosting Rep-in-Depth, TalkBacks, and creating PlayGuides to better inform our audiences about our productions; productions, captioned theater, infrared ✯ listening systems and script synopses to ensure Educate over 21,000 students at 150+ schools in the greater Milwaukee area with Rep Immersion Day that theater at Milwaukee Rep is accessible to all. experiences, student matinees, workshops, tours and by making connections with their school curriculum through classroom programs such as Reading Residencies; ✯ Educate the next generation of theater Maintain our commitment to audiences with special needs through our Access Services that include professionals with our EPR Program which American Sign Language interpreted productions, captioned theater, infrared listening systems and script gives newly degreed artists a chance to hone synopses to ensure that theater at The Rep is accessible to all; ✯ their skills at Milwaukee Rep as they begin to pursue their theatrical careers. We value our supporters and partnerships and hope that you Educate the next generation of theater professionals with our EPR Program which gives newly degreed artists a chance to hone their skills at The Rep as they begin to pursue their theatrical careers. will help us to expand the ways Milwaukee Rep We value our supporters and partnerships and hope that you will help us to expand the ways Milwaukee Rep has a positive impact on theater and on our has a positive impact on theater and on our Milwaukee community. Milwaukee community.

Donations can be made on our website at Donations can be made on our website at www.MilwaukeeRep.com or by phone at 414-290-5376. www.MilwaukeeRep.com or by phone at 414-290-5376

THE REP RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM: MILWAUKEE REP RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM: The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation The Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation The Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation The Shubert Foundation