Stop the presses! Newsies finally became available for community theater this year and the Mountaineers Players became one of the first group to get the rights to produce this Broadway musical base on a 1992 Disney movie. Both choreographer Guy Caridi and music director Amy Beth Nolte had this on their musical 'bucket list'. Director Craig Schieber had to be 'brought along', but could see the excitement of the others.
The musical differed from the original film in parts of the plot, but included the great dancing and music from the original movie.
Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly (Trevor Burden), a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!
Newsies featured the Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies was extremely popular and got stellar reviews from the local theater reviewer.
Newsies is based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White.
Director: Craig Schieber; Asst. Director: Jenny Dresseen; Music Director: Amy Beth Nolte; Choreographer: Guy Caridi; Accompanist: Elizabeth Rainey; Sets: Chris Stanley; Costumes: Kristina Maier; Stage Manager: Danette Lam; Props: Stewart Shusterman
One innovation for this play was the program which switch from its normal full color tri-fold format to a newspaper format. The front page of the program was taken from Pulitzer's World newspaper from the days near when then Newsies strike occurred. The enlarged format also allowed for head shots with the actor and production staff bios.
