Johnny Baseball (2010 play)
Encyclopedia
Johnny Baseball: The New Red Sox Musical is a musical
with a book by Richard Dresser
and a score by brothers Robert Reale
and Willie Reale
. The story involves circumstances relating to the Curse of the Bambino
. The musical had a preview run in Massachusetts that began on May 14, 2010. The musical's world premiere was on June 2, 2010 at the Loeb Drama Center of the American Repertory Theater.
", which is often cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox
baseball team to win the World Series
in the 86-year period from 1918 until 2004.
The Curse is traced to the interactions of three people: the fictional Johnny O'Brien, a hard-luck right-hander on the 1919 Red Sox; his idol, Babe Ruth
; and O'Brien's love interest, Daisy Wyatt, an African American blues singer. The show is told through flashbacks between the fourth game of the 2004 American League Championship Series
and the fictional life of Johnny O'Brien. The musical ends with David Ortiz
ending the Curse in 2004.
Act I
Act II
. The cast featured Colin Donnell as the fictional character Johnny O'Brien, Stephanie Umoh
as the fictional character Daisy Wyatt, Burke Moses
as Babe Ruth
, Charl Brown as Tim, and Jeff Brooks as Tom Yawkey
.
The creative team included direction by Diane Paulus
, choreography by Peter Pucci, orchestrations by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett, costumes by Michael McDonald
, sets by Scott Pask
, and lighting by Donald Holder
. This production played from June 2, 2010 to July 11, 2010. Johnny Baseball was part of the theater's America: Boom, Bust and Baseball festival.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book by Richard Dresser
Richard Dresser
Richard Dresser is a popular American playwright whose work has been widely performed in theatres across the United States, as well as in Europe. In addition to his plays, he wrote the book for the Broadway musical Good Vibrations and the musical Johnny Baseball...
and a score by brothers Robert Reale
Robert Reale
Robert Reale is an American composer with a long list of credits in film, TV and theater. He is also the owner of and . Reale regularly works with younger brother Willie Reale. In 2003 he was nominated for a Tony Award for A Year with Frog and Toad for Best Original Musical Score...
and Willie Reale
Willie Reale
Willie Reale is an American playwright and lyricist who often works with his elder brother Robert Reale.He had small acting roles in The Hudsucker Proxy, The Laser Man, Tales from the Darkside and The Burning...
. The story involves circumstances relating to the Curse of the Bambino
Curse of the Bambino
The Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004...
. The musical had a preview run in Massachusetts that began on May 14, 2010. The musical's world premiere was on June 2, 2010 at the Loeb Drama Center of the American Repertory Theater.
Synopsis
Originally called Red Sox Nation, Johnny Baseball was conceived after the Red Sox’s stunning collapse in the 2003 playoffs due to the "CurseCurse of the Bambino
The Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004...
", which is often cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
baseball team to win the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in the 86-year period from 1918 until 2004.
The Curse is traced to the interactions of three people: the fictional Johnny O'Brien, a hard-luck right-hander on the 1919 Red Sox; his idol, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
; and O'Brien's love interest, Daisy Wyatt, an African American blues singer. The show is told through flashbacks between the fourth game of the 2004 American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
and the fictional life of Johnny O'Brien. The musical ends with David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
ending the Curse in 2004.
Musical numbers
Source: CurtainUpAct I
- Overture
- Eighty-Six Years
- Ballad of Johnny O'Brien
- All I Have to Do
- God Bless the Boston Red Sox
- Don't I Know You?
- Brotherhood of Bastards
- Rooters' Song
- Maybe You're An Angel
- Ballad of Johnny O'Brien (Reprise)
- Auto Strop Jingle
- Daisy Darling Why
- Do or Die
- Color Me Blue
- As Long As There's a Chance
Act II
- Entr'acte
- Not Rivera
- One More Run
- Daisy's Letter
- Worcester Booster's Fight Song
- Circle in a Diamond
- Free Country
- One More Run (Reprise)
- Mr. Yawkey Has a Vision
- All I Have to Do (Reprise)
- See You in the Big Leagues
- Errors
- The Game of Baseball
Production history
The premiere production was staged at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. The cast featured Colin Donnell as the fictional character Johnny O'Brien, Stephanie Umoh
Stephanie Umoh
Stephanie Jean Umoh is an American stage actress.She played the role of Sarah in the 2009 Broadway theatre revival of the musical Ragtime which performed from Nov 15, 2009 to Jan 10, 2010.-Early life, education and early career:...
as the fictional character Daisy Wyatt, Burke Moses
Burke Moses
Burke William Moses is an American film and television actor. His brother is actor Mark Moses.Burke Moses first appeared on Broadway as a replacement in the role of Sky Masterson in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls...
as Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Charl Brown as Tim, and Jeff Brooks as Tom Yawkey
Tom Yawkey
Thomas Austin Yawkey, born Thomas Austin , was an American industrialist and Major League Baseball executive. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Yawkey became president of the Boston Red Sox in 1933, and was the sole owner of the team for 44 seasons, longer than anyone else in baseball history.-Early...
.
The creative team included direction by Diane Paulus
Diane Paulus
Diane Paulus is an American director of theater and opera who became Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University in 2009. Paulus was nominated for the Best Director Tony Award for her revival of Hair...
, choreography by Peter Pucci, orchestrations by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett, costumes by Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (costume designer)
Michael McDonald is an American costume designer who was nominated for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award in 2009 for his work on the Broadway revival of the musical Hair....
, sets by Scott Pask
Scott Pask
Scott Pask is an American scenic designer. He has worked primarily on stage productions in the United States, on Broadway and Off-Broadway, and in regional theatre, as well as in the United Kingdom...
, and lighting by Donald Holder
Donald Holder
Donald Holder is an American lighting designer in theatre, opera, and dance based in New York. He has been nominated for eight Tony Awards, winning the 1998 Tony Award for Best Lighting Design as well as the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for The Lion King. He won a second Tony in...
. This production played from June 2, 2010 to July 11, 2010. Johnny Baseball was part of the theater's America: Boom, Bust and Baseball festival.
Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards
- Best Musical (A.R.T.) Nominated
- Best Director of a Musical (Diane PaulusDiane PaulusDiane Paulus is an American director of theater and opera who became Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University in 2009. Paulus was nominated for the Best Director Tony Award for her revival of Hair...
) Nominated - Best Supporting Actor Musical (Burke MosesBurke MosesBurke William Moses is an American film and television actor. His brother is actor Mark Moses.Burke Moses first appeared on Broadway as a replacement in the role of Sky Masterson in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls...
) Nominated - Best Actress Musical (Stephanie UmohStephanie UmohStephanie Jean Umoh is an American stage actress.She played the role of Sarah in the 2009 Broadway theatre revival of the musical Ragtime which performed from Nov 15, 2009 to Jan 10, 2010.-Early life, education and early career:...
) Nominated