Newsies The Musical is a musical based on the 1992 film Newsies, which in turn was inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. The show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and made its Broadway debut in 2012 at the Nederlander Theatre.
Synopsis[]
- Act I
In the early hours of the morning in 1899 New York City, newspaper delivery boy Jack Kelly tells his disabled friend, Crutchie, of his dream to one day leave New York for Santa Fe("Santa Fe" (Prologue)). Jack lives with his fellow "newsies," many of whom are orphaned and homeless. As the sun rises, the newsies awaken and prepare for another day on the job ("Carrying the Banner"). While buying their supply of papers to sell, Jack meets Davey and his little brother, Les. Unlike the rest of the newsies, Davey and Les have a home and a family. They started work as newsies because their father suffered an accident at work resulting in the termination of his employment. Seeing young Les as an opportunity to sell more papers, Jack offers to help the boys. Meanwhile, the publisher of the New York World, Joseph Pulitzer, increases the cost of the newspapers to the delivery boys, so as to outsell his competitors ("The Bottom Line").
Later, Jack, Davey, and Les are chased down by Warden Snyder of The Refuge, a juvenile detention center. The boys find cover in a vaudeville-style theatre owned by Jack's friend Medda Larkin, whom he regularly paints backdrops for. Jack refuses to tell Davey why Snyder was after him. The boys then watch Medda perform ("That's Rich"). While at the show, Jack spots a young female reporter named Katherine Plumber. He attempts to flirt with her, but she brushes him off as he does a drawing of her. Jack laments his blossoming feelings for her as the show continues ("Don’t Come A-Knocking"/"I Never Planned on You"). The next morning, Jack and the newsies discover that the cost of newspapers has been raised to sixty cents per hundred. Outraged, Jack organizes a protest ("The World Will Know"). Katherine is inspired by Jack's leadership and artistic abilities, and sees the newsies' strike as an opportunity to be seen as a more serious journalist, something she struggles with because of society's view of women, and decides to cover the protest ("Watch What Happens"). The next day, Jack fails to properly motivate the newsies, as he isn't always the best with words, but Davey steps in and rallies the newsies for a full scale strike against the New York World ("Seize the Day"). The protest is cut short when the boys are engaged in confrontations with the police and strikebreakers. During the commotion, Crutchie is beaten, apprehended, and taken to the refuge. Jack, upset at the protest's failure and the capture of Crutchie, laments the situation and promises himself that he'll soon leave New York forever ("Santa Fe").
- Act II
The next morning, Katherine visits the sulking newsies in Jacobi's Deli and cheers them up by showing them that her article about the strike made the front page of the New York Sun, but Katherine tells them that she was blacklisted by Pulitzer because of the article. The Newsies are thrilled about making the front page, and rejoice at making the headline and imagine what it would be like to be famous ("King of New York"). Meanwhile, Crutchie writes a letter to Jack, reflecting his experience at the Refuge ("Letter from the Refuge"). Davey, Katherine, and Les later find Jack hiding out in the basement of Medda's theatre, painting a backdrop of Santa Fe. Davey and Katherine attempt to decide their next move, but Jack refuses to put the newsies in danger again. Davey reminds him that they'll have to take risks in order to get Crutchie back. Jack eventually complies ("Watch What Happens" (Reprise)).
Back at the World, Pulitzer converses with Warden Snyder about Jack to the mayor while Katherine listens. Snyder reveals that Jack is actually an escaped criminal, originally detained for stealing food and clothing. Jack soon arrives and confronts Pulitzer. During the conversation, Pulitzer reveals that he is actually Katherine's father. Katherine, who was hiding in the room, tries to apologize to Jack for not telling him, but Jack brushes her off as he is led by Snyder into the cellar. Pulitzer offers Jack a compromise: if the strike is called off, he will be cleared of all charges and given enough money to leave for Santa Fe, but if not, he and the other newsies will be sent to the refuge ("The Bottom Line" (Reprise)). Meanwhile, Spot Conlon, head of the newsies in Brooklyn, brings in his ranks in full support of Jack's protest ("Brooklyn's Here"). Jack gathers the newsies, and not wanting to put them in any more danger, reluctantly suggests they accept Pulitzer's offer. Davey and the newsies are shocked at Jack and turn their back on him. Jack later meets with Katherine once more and she tells him that despite her namesake, she was always on Jack's side. She also criticizes Jack for not being honest with her about ending up in the refuge for stealing. However, after seeing a drawing Jack made depicting the abuse conducted at the refuge, she realizes Jack stole the food and clothing for the other boys there. The two share a brief romantic moment and Katherine states that "I have something to believe in, now that I know you believed in me". Jack admits that the feeling is mutual, and they kiss ("Something to Believe In").
Jack and Katherine then join the newsies in printing their own paper; one that will determine the outcome of the strike ("Once and for All"). The newsies' paper is sent to Governor Theodore Roosevelt, who arrives in full support of the newsies' cause. Defeated, Pulitzer compromises with Jack once more. Jack proposes that Pulitzer buy back every paper the newsies fail to sell every day, thus making him seem more generous and making more boys want to sell papers for him. Pulitzer is reluctant at first, but agrees. Crutchie is freed, Snyder is arrested, the refuge is shut down, and the strike ends. Pulitzer offers Jack a job as a daily political cartoonist, which Jack initially declines. Jack prepares to say goodbye to Katherine, as he now plans to leave for Santa Fe, but Katherine says that wherever he goes she will go with him. The two share a kiss, and Jack elects to remain a newsboy and accept the cartoonist job ("Finale").
Productions[]
Paper Mill Playhouse (2011)[]
Newsies The Musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey from September 25, 2011 through October 16. The production was directed by Jeff Calhoun with choreography by Christopher Gattelli. This production was later transferred to Broadway with several changes in the music and actors.
Broadway (2012-2014)[]
The musical opened on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre for a limited engagement starting in previews on March 15, 2012, and officially on March 29, 2012. On May 16, 2012, Disney announced that Newsies was an open-ended engagement. The engagement was extended through August 19, 2012, after the first previews.
The original cast of the Broadway production featured Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly and John Dossett as newspaper tycoon Joseph Pulitzer. The cast also included Kara Lindsay as Katherine Plumber, Capathia Jenkins as Medda Larkin, Ben Fankhauser as Davey, Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Crutchie, and Lewis Grosso and Matthew Schechter sharing the role of Les. The Broadway production cost about $5 million to stage. Newsies recouped its initial investment of $5M in 7 months, becoming the fastest of any Disney musical on Broadway to turn a profit.
Producers announced on August 14, 2012, due to his commitments with NBC's Smash, leading man Jordan would exit the musical on September 4. It was also confirmed that newcomer Corey Cott (who became his alternate earlier in the month due to Jordan's production requirements for Smash) would be his replacement beginning September 5.
The musical closed on August 24, 2014, having played 1,004 performances.
National Tour (2014-2016)[]
The musical began a North American tour on October 11, 2014, commencing in Schenectady, NY. During the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons, the tour was expected to play 25 cities, over 43 weeks. It concluded its run on October 2, 2016 in Austin, TX after 784 performances in 65 cities across the US and Canada.
Following the end of the tour, a limited theatrical release was announced for February 2017. This three-day release grossed $3.47 million. Disney then announced the musical production would be available digitally on May 23, 2017. On August 24, 2017, Disney announced the filmed production of Newsies would be available on Netflix from September 10.
Cast[]
| Character | Paper Mill | Original Broadway Cast | Closing Broadway Cast | Opening National Tour Cast | Closing National Tour Cast | 2017 'Newsies Live' Recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Kelly | Jeremy Jordan | Corey Cott | Dan DeLuca | Joey Barreiro | Jeremy Jordan | |
| Joseph Pulitzer | John Dossett | Steve Blanchard | ||||
| Katherine Plumber | Kara Lindsay | Liana Hunt | Stephanie Styles | Morgan Keene | Kara Lindsay | |
| Medda Larkin | Helen Anker | Capathia Jenkins | Angela Grovey | Aisha de Haas | ||
| Davey Jacobs | Ben Fankhauser | Jacob Kemp | Stephen Michael Langton | Ben Fankhauser | ||
| Crutchie | Andrew Keenan-Bolger | Andy Richardson | Zachary Sayle | Andy Richardson | Andrew Keenan-Bolger | |
| Les Jacobs | R.J. Fattori,
Vincent Agnello |
Lewis Grosso, Matthew Schechter | Zachary Unger, Luca Padovan | Vincent Crocilla, Anthony Rosenthal | Ethan Steiner, Turner Birthisel | Ethan Steiner |
| Spot Conlon | Tommy Bracco | Jeff Heimbrock | Anthony Zas | Tommy Bracco | ||
| Race | Ryan Breslin | Giuseppe Bausilio | Ben Cook | Daniel Switzer | Ben Cook | |
| Specs | Ryan Steele | John Michael Fiumara | Jordan Samuels | |||
| Finch | Aaron J. Albano | Julian DeGuzman | Iain Young | |||
| Don Seitz | Mark Aldrich | Eric Scott Kincaid | Mark Aldrich | |||
| Bunsen | Nick Sullivan | Bill Bateman | ||||
| Stage Manager | ||||||
| Wiesel/Mr. Jacobi | John E. Brady | Michael Gorman | John E. Brady | |||
| Mayor | Michael Gorman | |||||
| Nunzio/Theodore Roosevelt | Kevin Carolan | Tom Alan Robbins | Kevin Carolan | |||
| Henry | Kyle Coffman | Iain Young | DeMarius Copes | Michael Rios | ||
| Mike | Mike Faist | Adam Kaplan | Michael Ryan | Jacob Guzman | ||
| Morris Delancey | Devin Lewis | |||||
| Oscar Delancey | Brendon Stimson | Jon Hacker | Anthony Norman | |||
| Ike | David Guzman | |||||
| Sniper | Scott Shendenhelm | Alex Wong | Jacob Guzman | Ginna Claire Mason | Kaitlyn Frank | Daniel Switzer |
| Nuns | Julie Foldesi
Capathia Jenkins Laurie Veldheer |
Capathia Jenkins
Molly Jobe Julie Reiber |
Angela Grovey
Meredith Inglesby Ginna Claire Mason |
Aisha de Haas
Meredith Inglesby Kaitlyn Frank |
Kaitlyn Frank
Meredith Inglesby Beth Stafford Laird | |
| Albert | Garrett Hawe | Daniel Quadrino | Sky Flaherty | |||
| Bill | Jack Sippel | Nicholas Masson | ||||
| Mush | Max Ehrich | Ephraim Sykes | David Guzman | |||
| Jojo | Corey Hummerston | Thayne Jasperson | Nico James Greetham | Joshua Burrage | Josh Burrage | |
| Darcy | Jack Sippel | |||||
| Elmer | Evan Kasprzak | Jeff Heimbrock | Anthony Zas | |||
| Buttons | JP Ferreri | Jess LeProtto | Damon Gillespie | Chaz Wolcott | ||
| Snyder | Stuart Marland | James Judy | ||||
| Romeo | Andy Richardson | Tommy Martinez | Nico DeJesus | |||
| Hannah | Laurie Veldheer | Molly Jobe | Meredith Inglesby | |||
| Smalls | Josh Assor | Julian DeGuzman | ||||
| Scabs | Tommy Bracco
JP Ferreri Scott Schendenhelm |
Tommy Bracco
Jess LeProtto Alex Wong |
Tommy Bracco
Damon Gillespie Jacob Guzman |
Evan Autio
Sky Flaherty Chaz Wolcott |
Michael Dameski
Sky Flaherty Chaz Wolcott |
Michael Dameski
Andy Richardson Daniel Switzer |
| Kenny | Jack Sippel | |||||
| Kid Blink | Andy Richardson | |||||
| Vince/Myron | Stephen Hernandez | |||||
| Willie/Bart | Andrew Wilson | |||||
| Tommy Boy | Tommy Bracco | Evan Autio | Michael Dameski | |||
| Hot Shot | JP Ferreri | JP Ferreri | ||||
| Cop/Patron/Guard | Eric Jon Mahlum | |||||
| Swings | Caitlyn Caughell
Michael MacArthur Jack Scott Stuart Zagnit |
Caitlyn Caughell
Michael Fatica Jack Scott JP Ferreri |
Caitlyn Caughell
Julian DeGuzman Michael Fatica Stuart Zagnit |
JP Ferreri
Melissa Steadman Hart Stephen Hernandez Eric Jon Mahlum Andrew Wilson |
JP Ferreri
Stephen Hernandez Beth Stafford Laird Eric Jon Mahlum Andrew Wilson |
|
Broadway Cast Changes[]
- Corey Cott replaced Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly on September 5, 2012.
- LaVon Fisher-Wilson replaced Capathia Jenkins as Medda Larkin on September 11, 2012.
- Ron Raines temporarily replaced John Dossett as Joseph Pulitzer from October 9, 2012 to December 16, 2012.
- Adam Kaplan replaced Mike Faist as Morris Delancey/Mike (also Jack understudy) on February 19, 2013.
- Andy Richardson replaced Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Crutchie on March 11, 2013.
- Liana Hunt replaced Kara Lindsay as Katherine on February 3, 2014.[27]
- Jeremy Greenbaum temporarily replaced Ben Fankhauser as Davey from April 1, 2014 to June 22, 2014.
- Capathia Jenkins resumed her original role as Medda Larkin on July 15, 2014, replacing LaVon Fisher-Wilson.
- Clay Thomson temporarily replaced Tommy Bracco as Spot Conlon on two occasions, November 1, 2012 to December 8, 2012 and May 6, 2014 to June 29, 2014.
- Hogan Fulton temporarily replaced Andy Richardson as "Romeo" from November 1, 2012 to December 2, 2012 and then replaced Thayne Jasperson as "JoJo/Darcy" from December 31, 2012 to June 1, 2014.
- Mike Faist was the second understudy for Jack Kelly and was Kelly from Late November to Early December 2012.
Musical Numbers[]
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Historical Accuracy[]
Jack Kelly is the amalgamation of several historical leaders of the Newsboys’ Strike of 1899, primarily Kid Blink (who is featured in the film but omitted from the musical), known as a charismatic speaker and a leader to the younger boys. Other real strikers included in the show are Racetrack Higgins, Mush Meyers, and Spot Conlon. Although Katherine Plumber is fictional character, she is named for Pulitzer's daughter Katherine Ethel, who died of pneumonia in 1884 at the age of 2. Many newsgirls participated in the strike as well, a fact largely ignored by both the film and the musical. However, new stage adaptations are rumored to include more "girlsie" roles written in, as well as many characters who have been written as gender-neutral in the script that is currently available for licencing.
In the musical, the newspapers raise prices during July in 1899 after pressures to sell more papers after the war. However, the price for the papers was raised from 50 cents to 60 cents, not after, but during the Spanish American War. The cause of the strike was that they did not lower the high price after the war was over. This caused the newsies to revolt because they felt that it was more difficult to sell papers without the exciting news of the war, plus the additional pressures of the price changes. At the height of the strike, on July 24, 1899, the Newsboys Union held a massive rally at the New Irving Theatre, a vaudeville venue on the Bowery (reimagined in the musical as Medda Larkin's theatre). The rally was covered in extensive detail by The New York Sun (employer of the fictional Katherine Plumber), and featured speeches from the union's leaders. It is rumored that for a period of time during the strike that Kid Blink secretly began working with Pulitzer and Hearst, which resulted in a massive riot of strikers versus scabbers, similar to Jack's near-betrayal after Pulitzer promises him a full ride to Santa Fe. Unlike in the film, the musical follows the historical ending of the strike, where the World and the Journal agreed to buy back all unsold papers. Historically, the price was kept at 60 cents per 100, but in the musical they strike a deal for 55 cents per 100 papers.
Differences from the 1992 Film[]
- In addition to the songs from the original movie, Newsies the Musical contains several new numbers such as 'Brooklyn's Here' and 'Watch What Happens'
- The songs "My Lovey Dovey Baby" and "High Times Hard Times" were removed and replaced by the singular song "That's Rich", which is performed by the same character, Medda Larkin, while the remaining songs were rewritten to fit the changes in the storyline between the film and the musical.
- Davey and Les' parents are mentioned only in conversation, omitting a scene from the movie where Jack has dinner in their tenement apartment. The lyrics to 'Santa Fe' are changed because of this.
- The characters of Sarah Jacobs (Davey and Les' sister and Jack's original love interest) and the New York Sun reporter Brian Denton are replaced by the composite character Katherine Plumber, a reporter with whom Jack falls in love.
- Also omitted was the solo for "Patrick's Mother". A scene with Jack, Davey, and Spot Conlon is absent, as is Spot's involvement in the fight between the newsies and scabbers; Spot doesn't appear until the rally.
- A solo number for Crutchie titled “Letter from the Refuge” was added for the national tour, replacing a scene from the movie where Jack visits Crutchie after he is captured by Snyder. “Letter From the Refuge” now appears in the current version of the show that is licensed to theatre companies.