This year, Reitz is showcasing

This year, Reitz is showcasing “Damn Yankees” as its annual fall play. It is visually stimulating and the musical score is very upbeat. It’s a play that anyone can watch and have a good time!

The play tells the tale of a desperate baseball player named Joe Hardy, played by Senior Anthony Landers. Joe’s baseball team is on a losing streak and there is almost no hope for his team, the desperate Washington Senators.

After another agonizing loss, Joe says he would sell his soul to the devil for “one long ball hitter”. This is when Joe is greeted by Satan himself, and the story’s events unfold.

The Reitz theater department decided to choose a different kind of play this year. Instead of the typical female dominated casts which are usually chosen, “Damn Yankees” is predominately male.

Kit Rivers, Senior, plays Lola. Lola is the female lead who is the devil’s “seductress” used to convince men to sell their souls.

“We have a lot of strong male talent this year. We really wanted to take advantage of that,” Rivers said.

Another unique thing about the play this year are the many solos it consists of. Usually plays are chorus lines and include a handful of solos throughout. “Damn Yankees” on the other hand, has several solos by a variety of characters that can be enjoyed by its viewers.

The shows that you see as an end product, though, don’t happen over night. Many different challenges are faced during the production of a play. Also, many sacrifices have to be made by the participants.

“There are rehearsals every single day,” says Rivers.

The theater department works very hard to produce Reitz High School’s plays every year. The different things each person must do in their spare time outside of rehearsal is essential to the creation of a successful production.

“Basically rehearsal is a review of things you should have done in your personal time,” explains Rivers.

Every production the theater department takes on has a new and different atmosphere. This year, “Damn Yankees” is a play which can be related to by a wide range of people. Being based upon baseball, it was a perfect choice to engage an audience that might not usually be interested in plays.

“Baseball is America’s pass time; people will want to watch it,” says Rivers.

The play will be held in the auditorium on December 10th, 11th, and 12th. Tickets are $7.00.