Bravo to David and Joseph Zellnik for writing ''Yank!'' What a beautiful salute to a marvelous musical with toe-tapping tunes and a touching story.
I was fortunate enough to catch it during its various incarnations: at the NYMF, Gallery Players in Brooklyn and the York Theatre. What a treat to see Bobby Steggert and Ivan Hernandez as Stu and Mitch again, and Bobby's delivery of the final speech is still as stunning and moving as always.
If ''Yank!'' had made it to Broadway, I really think it would've won Bobby his Tony. Not to mention prizes for the Zellniks' book and score.
Meantime, how wonderful that it's been done in Australia, Great Britain and Brazil, and that some of those performers made it to 54 Below, too.
Alas, it was disappointing that Jeffry Denman couldn't make it to reprise his Artie role and terrific tap routine with Bobby.
But there were two other charming performers I would've loved to see at this 54 Below celebration: Doug Kreeger, who first played Stu at the NYMF in 2005, and Maxine de Toledo, who played Mitch at the Gallery Players in 2007. I'll keep ''Rememb'ring'' them, too. |
