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Production credits
Director
Jack O'Brien
Musical Continuity & Vocal Arranger
James Raitt
Musical Director
David Chase
Full Credits: IBDb
Notes from David
This was, for me, the real beginning of my Broadway career, and it was because of James Raitt.
I met James in early 1991. He was a brilliant musician: creative and funny, and a natural leader. He became my mentor over the next few years. I spent a year playing Forever Plaid. I subbed on Pageant. I assisted him on an early (and ill-fated) workshop of Jekyll and Hyde. Because of his brilliant work arranging Forever Plaid, he was tapped to be Music Director and Arranger for the first-ever Broadway Revival of Damn Yankees, which was to steep itself in the sound of the 1950's, and which was to start rehearsals in early fall of 1993 at The Old Globe.
James was not in good health. The AIDS epidemic was ravaging the world and especially the theatre community. James asked me to be his Associate Music Director for Damn Yankees, with the understanding that he would leave the podium after opening night in San Diego to return to New York for treatment. By the time the show began Broadway rehearsals, his health was in precipitous decline, but he managed to conduct the final dress rehearsal and two previews before his health failed him. 60 Minutes did a segment on people living and working with AIDS, and James was featured, conducting an orchestra rehearsal. By the time the segment aired, James was gone.
Through Damn Yankees, I met and worked with choreographer Rob Marshall (I ended up doing quite a bit of uncredited dance arranging, especially in the "Blooper Ballet"), as well as his little sister, Kathleen Marshall. It was also the first time I worked with Doug Besterman, who was also a James Raitt acolyte. One of the amazing things about the musical theatre is that it's a fairly small world, and paths cross and re-cross over the years, and a huge part of my career has been working with Kathleen and with Doug.
James Raitt gave me a huge gift: a doorway into the rest of my life, and the confidence to walk through it. I still conduct with his baton today, It is the only one I use.
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Awards
Nominee — Tony Award
Rob Marshall — Best Choreography*
- Additional Dance Music Arrangements by David Chase
- Dance Music Arrangements by Roger Adams, Tom Fay, and David Krane
NOTE FROM DC:
*The role of a Dance Music Arranger is not currently recognized by the American Theatre Wing. The Tony Award for Best Choreography nonetheless tacitly honors the intensely collaborative and symbiotic relationship between Choreographers and Dance Music Arrangers.
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Damn Yankees (1994 Revival Cast Recording)
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