'Damn Yankees' brings Broadway to Havre

"Damn Yankees" hits the stage Thursday to start its four-show run at Havre High School.

The musical is a spin on "Faust," following a middle-aged man as he makes an agreement with a mysterious fast-talking man to become a young, hard-hitting baseball player for the Washington Senators.

The song and dance features recognizable classics like "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets" and is entirely sung by the Havre High School and Havre Middle School student actors with live music supplied by the Havre Community Orchestra.

Austin Nelson plays Mr. Welch, the owner of the Washington team, and said he is excited for the show to begin. He has been working with the role for four months now and said he tried out for the part because he likes acting.

The show is coming along great, he said.

Angela Pratt, the director of the musical, said that the kids are doing really good.

"This is a hard show," she said. "There's a lot to do. Some of the kids are playing six or seven parts."

They auditioned shortly after Christmas break and have been working on it ever since.

She said she chose the play to be able to do something different.

"Maybe show Havre something they haven't seen in a long time," she said. "I ran across it while I was listening to a bunch of them and thought, 'We have the boys to pull this one off.'"

She said that everyone who tried out got a part and the auditions received a surprising number of younger classmen.

The show runs about two hours and 15 minutes and admissions is $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults. The showings are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday.