by contributor Wendy Gordon
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Disney’s NEWSIES opened at the National Theatre on Monday evening. Inspired by the real-life “Newsboy Strike of 1899,” which began when newspaper publishers including Hearst & Pulitzer, raised the price for newsies, charging a dime more per hundred papers. The book is by four-time Tony Award® winner Harvey Fierstein, and is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.
Not only is Newsies a great story, based on actual historical events, but it is a rousing and delightful romp with all of the elements of the perfect musical: singing, dancing, romance, intrigue and an ensemble of completely talented men and (a few) women who kept the audience cheering.
The choreography in this performance is reminiscent of Donald O’Conner and Gene Kelly in ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’ in that the newsies present a gracefully athletic style of dance from tap to gymnastic, choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, who won a 2012 Tony Award® for his work, that is completely delightful and amazing to watch. In fact, 31 backflips, and countless spins, leaps and tap steps are executed nighty. Couple that with the Tony Award®-winning score with music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, and this is a production is a song and dance fest not to be missed.
The set, by Tobin Ost, creatively recreates the gritty old New York tenements in an almost metal fire escape fashion, and smartly utilizes these lines along with hydraulics and projections to create a picture and feel. The three level set rises over 24 feet high and features three completely automated towers. Built of steel and aluminum, it weighs seven and a half tons. Separately or in unison, its three towers can move 14 feet up and down stage, revolve 350 degrees and re-configure to create – among the show’s many locations – tenement fire escapes, a theatre’s backstage and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Stephanie Styles and Dan DeLuca
The production features Dan DeLuca as “Jack Kelly,” Steve Blanchard as “Joseph Pulitzer,” Stephanie Styles as “Katherine,” Angela Grovey as “Medda Larkin,” Jacob Kemp as “Davey,” Zachary Sayle as “Crutchie,” and Vincent Crocilla and Anthony Rosenthal alternating the role of “Les.”
Rounding out the cast are Mark Aldrich, Josh Assor, Evan Autio, Bill Bateman, Josh Burrage, Kevin Carolan, Benjamin Cook, DeMarius Copes, Julian DeGuzman, Nico DeJesus, Sky Flaherty, Michael Gorman, Jon Hacker, Melissa Steadman Hart, Jeff Heimbrock, Stephen Hernandez, Meredith Inglesby, Molly Jobe, James Judy, Eric Jon Mahlum, Michael Ryan, Jordan Samuels, Jack Sippel, Andrew Wilson, and Chaz Wolcott.
Run, do not walk, to NEWSIES at The National Theatre. It’s a fabulous production, and one you will not soon forget. Tickets here.
For the Hollywood on the Potomac one on one interview with Stephanie Styles, click here.
