Megan Lawrence Replaces Ana Gasteyer in Damn Yankees

Megan Lawrence has been added to the cast of Damn Yankees as reporter Gloria Thorpe, replacing Ana Gasteyer, who "has suffered a minor injury," according to a press statement. The Encores! Summer Stars production will run from July 5 to July 27 at New York City Center, directed by John Rando. Opening night is set for July 10.

Damn Yankees stars the previously announced Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson and Randy Graff. The Encores! production will feature music direction by Rob Berman and the original Bob Fosse choreography recreated by Mary MacLeod.

Based on Douglass Wallop's novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, Damn Yankees features music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross and a book by George Abbott and Wallop. The musical tells the story of Joe Boyd P.J. Benjamin, the ultimate baseball fan, who sells his soul to the Devil Hayes for the chance to help his team win the pennant race against the Yankees. The Devil is aided by the sexy Lola Krakowski, who seduces a now younger, physically transformed Joe Jackson, but ultimately helps him outsmart the Devil and return to his beloved wife Graff.

Lawrence was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Gladys in The Pajama Game with Harry Connick Jr. Her other Broadway credits include Les Miserables and Urinetown. Her performances at the Signature Theatre in Virginia earned her a Helen Hayes Award for Into the Woods and several nominations, including one for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Lawrence had been scheduled to play Mother in the Public Theater's production of Hair in Central Park, which begins performances on July 22. There was no immediate word on whether she will be able to fulfill that commitment or, if not, who her replacement in Hair will be.

The complete cast of Damn Yankees includes Michael Mulheren, Veanne Cox, P.J. Benjamin, Robert Creighton, Jimmy Smagula, Kathy Fitzgerald, John Horton, John Selya, with Nathan Balser, David Baum, Jimmy Ray Bennett, Rachel Coloff, Anderson Davis, Marya Grandy, Shannon Lewis, Jay Lusteck, Pamela Otterson, Adam Perry, Karine Plantadit, T. Oliver Reid, Jon Rua, Stacey Sargeant, Alexander Scheitinger, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Baron Vaughn and Cody Ryan Wise.