Reported on Sept. 15, 2009

It may not be Broadway, but the smiles are beaming, the dance steps are swift, and the singing voices boom.

The Narrows Community Theater ensemble rehearses for the Nov. 6 performance of "Damn Yankees" Photo: Chris Geier

Competition was stiff as the Narrows Community Theater began auditions last week for its fall production, the classic musical “Damn Yankees,” but a sense of camaraderie amongst theater enthusiasts pervaded the evening.

“We do this out of love,” said Ann Gubiotti, a member of the theater’s board and an aspiring “Damn Yankees” cast member, gesturing to a room of nervous, toe-tapping, potential cast members. “None of these actors will be paid.”

The absence of a potential paycheck did not deter hopeful actors. On the first night, nearly 30 would-be stars found their way from homes across the city to a small Lutheran church in Bay Ridge where the theater group rents space. One by one, they were ushered into the church’s gym and positioned in front of a three-person panel: the play’s director, its choreographer, and the organization’s president, Susan Huizinga.

“The first thing I’m looking for is singing,” said Dawn Barry-Hansen, the director, who listened to each candidate deliver 16 bars of a prepared song, accompanied by the play’s musical director, Zach Redler, on the piano. Though the quality of the performances was uneven, Barry-Hansen was happy. “There are some that we’ll definitely call back. There’s good talent out there.”

One of those talents was Mickey Sullivan, 81, who has been a member of the theater since its founding 38 years ago. Sullivan, a retired sales manager, discovered in high school that theater was a good way to meet “the prettiest girls around.” He decided to join the newly formed theater company in 1971 because of his wife’s interest in performing – and a discount.

“A membership for one person cost $25, but for couples it was $35. For $10, I figured I would join.”

Since then, the community theater has consistently presented two shows a year, and Sullivan has had a hand in many of them, as a set designer, an actor, or both. Last night, Sullivan auditioned along with a variety of actors – including one who was 75 years younger than he – and gave lie to his quiet modesty by delivering a strong 16 bars of “Gotta Have Heart,” a song from “Damn Yankees.”

After individually performing their songs, the candidates returned to the church gym in groups of eight, and were given a few moments with the play’s choreographer to learn a dance routine. Their ability to replicate the moves they learned, coupled with their earlier singing performance, determined whether they were called back for further auditions on Friday.

The theater members take their artistic work very seriously. “We work hours like a real job, for no pay,” said Huizinga. But with that work comes a sense of accomplishment and service that is at the core of the group’s mission. “We’re a community theater,” said Gubiotti. “Our role is providing entertainment to our community.”

Auditions for “Damn Yankees” continued through the week, and the actors selected will meet in the same church gym for rehearsals until the beginning of November. The curtain goes up on the show, which tells the story of a man who makes a deal with the devil to play for his favorite baseball team and help beat the Yankees, on Nov. 6 at St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: Oct. 29, 2009

An article published Oct. 26, 2009, about the Narrows Community Theater’s auditions for “Damn Yankees” misspelled the last name of the play’s director. Her name is Dawn Barry-Hansen.