Hayes, Krakowski bless 'Yankees'

Sam Harris bows new album, Lifetime talkshow

By LIZ SMITH

Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski in 'Damn Yankees'

THE REMARKABLE "Encores!" summer series hits a triple home run with its stunning casting of the season's opener "Damn Yankees." What a winner it is. Sean Hayes, best known for TV's "Will & Grace," is fabulously wicked making his NYC theater debut as the Devil. Tony-winner Jane Krakowski, currently starring in TV's "30 Rock," is simply gorgeous as the seductive Lola who is known for getting what she wants! And the handsome Cheyenne Jackson, current star of "Xanadu" on B'way, slides into home plate with his voice, charm, humor and pathos intact as Joe Hardy. The Dick Adler/Jerry Ross music is grand and Bob Fosse's choreography lives on. You have till July 27 to catch this brief shining theater offering.

THE MOST under-rated talent in show biz remains my pal Sam Harris, a guy who can do it all. His turn as Carmen Ghia in "The Producers" was unforgettable. Sam's new album "Free" (he has done eight CDs) bows this week and he will be hosting a new daily talkshow on Lifetime. A veteran from "Star Search," Sam has toured the world and now YouTube loves him. See him at Birdland from July 30-Aug. 2.

PICTURE the MGM star Arlene Dahl coming down a staircase with a big feather fan, being admired by a host of men in white tie and tails! That's the invite for Arlene's 80th birthday, happening Aug. 11 at Swifty's. That's nothing! The other night I saw this perennial red-headed beauty talking onstage about dancing with Fred Astaire. In the past she's been wed to both Fernando Lamas and Lex Barker, plus several others. Talk about a life! This dinner party, I'm told, is SRO.