Neil Patrick Harris to Star in Broadway Revival of ‘Damn Yankees’

A major Broadway revival of “Damn Yankees,” starring Neil Patrick Harris and Julianne Hough, is scheduled to open next spring. Marking the first time the musical has returned to the New York stage in more than 30 years, the production follows a revised run at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage last autumn.

The updated production features a book by Will Power and Dough Wright, with additional lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Sergio Trujillo serves as both director and choreographer, reimagining the classic for modern audiences.

Originally debuting on Broadway in 1955, “Damn Yankees” centers on a middle-aged man who strikes a Faustian bargain to help his failing baseball team defeat the dominant New York Yankees. The show originally starred Robert Shafer, Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, and Stephen Douglass, winning seven Tony Awards including best musical. Its score and lyrics were composed by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop. The previous Broadway revival took place in 1993, featuring Jarrod Emick, Bebe Neuwirth, and Victor Garber.

“Damn Yankees” has long been considered one of America’s great musicals, but I wasn’t interested in simply reviving it,” Trujillo said. “This revisal preserves the heart, wit, and soaring score that audiences love and is a real opportunity to bring joy back into the theater. It is a celebration of America, and I hope audiences see themselves in it and are reminded of the magic that only a great American musical can deliver. Let’s play ball!”

The new version updates the setting from the 1950s to the early 2000s. The official logline describes diehard Baltimore Orioles fan Joe Boyd, who dreams of restoring his team to glory. When a charming stranger and his captivating accomplice arrive with an irresistible offer, Joe makes a deal that could give both him and the team a second chance, though there is a catch.

Harris will portray Applegate, the devil in disguise, while Hough makes her Broadway debut as Joe’s wife, Lola. Austin Scott plays Young Joe. Additional cast members have not yet been announced.

Harris, a Tony Award winner for his role in the 2014 revival of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” recently appeared in Broadway’s revival of “Art” alongside James Corden and Bobby Cannavale. He also hosts the Tony Awards on multiple occasions.

“I’ve never done the big Broadway musical, with a big ensemble and dance numbers. It’s been a bucket list for me,” Harris said during a press conference on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. “Playing someone who is devilish is always good. It’s fun to be naughty. I want Applegate to be as alluring and puppet-mastery as possible.”

The production will take place at the Marquis Theatre, with previews starting March 24 and the official opening night set for April 20. In a first for Broadway, Major League Baseball and its production label, MLB Studios, will serve as partners on the show.

“Baseball is mythology. Broadway is mythology. They both deliver thrilling, unrepeatable live entertainment to millions of fans each year,” said Haley Swindal, who leads production alongside Lia Vollack. “Bringing them together — with MLB at the table and this extraordinary creative team — isn’t just a revival. It’s a collision of American icons.” Swindal is the granddaughter of legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who was also a Broadway producer known for investing in hits like “Applause” and “Seesaw.”

Noah Garden, MLB’s deputy commissioner of business and media, added, “We’re thrilled to partner with the entire team on the return of ‘Damn Yankees’ to Broadway, led by such great talents in Neil, Julianne and Austin. It’s incredibly important that our game continues to resonate outside the diamond and into different areas of culture. Baseball and Broadway fans both love high drama, high stakes and high hopes that they’re about to watch something unforgettable happen.”