Kind Replaces Phillips in Casa Maņana's Damn Yankees

By Adam Hetrick
July 21, 2008

Stage and screen veteran Richard Kind has replaced Tony-nominated actor Lou Diamond Phillips in the Casa Maņana's upcoming staging of the Tony-winning musical Damn Yankees.

Phillips, who had been originally announced to portray Damn Yankees' Faustian villain Applegate, has withdrawn from the production due to scheduling conflicts. Kind will now play the role that was originated by Ray Walston.

Joining Kind for the Ft. Worth run will be Lindsay Roginski (Chicago) as Lola and Christopher Deaton (Cinderella) as Young Joe Hardy. Penned by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross and George Abbott, Damn Yankees will play the Casa Maņana Theatre Aug. 12-17.

Damn Yankees will also feature Hal Davis (The Sound of Music) as Old Joe Boyd, Wendy Welch as Meg Boyd, Dana Winkle as Gloria Thorpe, John O'Creagh as Van Buren, Lois Sonnier as Doris, Melissa Jobe as Sister, Greg Dulcie as Welch, Doug LoPachin as Commissioner, Dwight Sandell as Postmaster, Jim Johnson as Rocky, Brad Jackson as Smokey and C. Nicholas Morris as Linville.

Kind has appeared on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Producers, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Sly Fox and the City Opera production of Candide. In addition to appearing in the Goodman world premiere of the Stephen Sondheim-John Weidman musical Bounce, Kind is known for his screen work on "Mad About You," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Scrubs" and "Spin City."

Tickets for Damn Yankees, priced $40-$69, are currently on sale by phoning (817) 332-2272 or by visiting www.casamanana.org.