The lobby was packed with theater-goers in suits, floor-length gowns and red Washington Nationals hats, some slightly smudged from a first season’s wearing. In what has apparently become winter’s RFK Stadium, Arena Stage is filling the lonesome gap between the World Series and spring training with spirited, sexy and heart-warming performances of "Damn Yankees."

Based on the book The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, by Douglass Wallop, "Damn Yankees" is the story of aging Washington Senators fan Joe Boyd (Lawrence Redmond) who sells his soul to the devil (Brad Oscar as a delightfully devilish Mr. Applegate) to become Joe Hardy (Matt Bogart), a young, star player who leads the Senators to a pennant victory over those ever-winning Yankees … but at what cost?

The talented ensemble, directed by Molly Smith, includes Kay Walbye as Joe’s wife, Meg Boyd; Cindy Marchionda as sports reporter Gloria Thorpe; and Meg Gillentine as the seductive Lola.

Marchionda and Gillentine prove their talents extend beyond vocals and acting as the former bounds around the stage during the animated "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo," and the latter enraptures the audience during "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" and "Whatever Lola Wants," all choreographed by Broadway veteran Baayork Lee.

Lee’s choreography gives the jovial play a darker, more seductive side — especially as Lola attempts to secure Joe’s soul for "Mr. Applegate" by enticing him to forget about Meg.

Oscar, who makes his Arena Stage debut with "Damn Yankees," is a Washington, D.C., native and starred as an original Broadway cast member of "The Producers" and "Jekyll & Hyde." Bogart also performed on Broadway in "Aida" and "Miss Saigon," among others.

Unofficially representing the diocese in the production is Rayanne Gonzales (Sister), a parishioner and cantor at Holy Family Parish in Dale City. Father Donald Planty, pastor, said Gonzales is a "faithful parishioner" who "brings her faith into everything she does."

As with any good musical, the ensemble numbers steal the show with overwhelming energy and pizzazz. Arena Stage latches onto that energy by taking advantage of Washington’s baseball excitement and incorporating lucky front-row audience members directly into the performance. Each performance also charmingly features a different choir from one of more than 20 metro-area schools — dubbed the "Junior Senators" — who remind the audience that, more than hits or runs or devilish tricks, "you've gotta have heart."

Damn Yankees plays through Feb. 5 at Arena Stage. For information and tickets go to www.arenastage.org or call 202/554-9066.