The cast of Paper Mill Playhouse's premiere of a new Disney stage musical, Newsies met the press today, and BroadwayWorld was there for the event! Revolutionary newsie Jack Kelly will be portrayed by Jeremy Jordan of Broadway's West Side Story and Rock of Ages. Tony® Award nominee John Dossett will play newspaper giant Joseph Pulitzer. The show begins performances on Thursday, September 15. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, September 25. Check out photos from the meet and greet below!
Featuring music by eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, The Little Mermaid), lyrics by Jack Feldman and a new book by four-time Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy), Newsies is adapted for the stage from the 1992 live-action Disney feature film musical. Newsies will be directed at Paper Mill Playhouse by Tony® nominee Jeff Calhoun (The Will Rogers Follies Brooklyn The Musical, Grey Gardens). Tony® nominated Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific, Altar Boyz, Silence: The Musical) serves as choreographer.
Jeremy Jordan (Jack Kelly) recently starred on Broadway as Tony in the revival of West Side Story. This winter, Jordan will return to Broadway to star in the new musical Bonnie and Clyde. This holiday season, Jordan will play Dolly Parton's grandson in the new film Joyful Noise.
Jordan will be joined by fellow newsies: Ben Fankhauser as Davey; RJ Fattori and Vincent Agnello sharing the role of Les; Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Crutchie; Tommy Bracco as Spot Conlon; Brendon Stimson as Oscar Delancey, Mike Faist as Morris Delancey; Aaron J. Albano, Ryan Breslin, Kyle Coffman, Max Ehrich (Jack U/S), JP Ferreri, Garett Hawe, Corey Hummerston, Evan Kasprzak, Andy Richardson, Scott Shedenhelm and Ryan Steele.
Tony® Award nominee and Broadway veteran John Dossett will portray newspaper tycoon Joseph Pulitzer. Dossett has appeared on Broadway in The Constant Wife, Democracy, Gypsy (2003 Tony, Drama Desk nominations), Dinner at Eight and Ragtime. His television and film credits include: (TV) Hack; Law & Order; Sex and the City; Gossip Girl; HBO's John Adams; (FILM) That Night; Longtime Companion and Little Manhattan. Dossett was previously seen at Paper Mill Playhouse in Applause and Paper Moon.
Kara Lindsay will play Katherine, a role created for the stage version of Newsies. Lindsay comes back for another premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse after playing Laura in Little House On The Prairie: The Musical before heading out on the national tour. Other roles include: Sally Bowles in Cabaret at Kansas City Rep; Quilters at Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Lone Star Love at the 5th Ave Theater.
Rounding out the cast are: Mark Aldrich (Seitz), Helen Anker (Medda), John E. Brady (Wiesel), Kevin Carolan (Roosevelt), Julie Foldesi (Ms. Baum), Stuart Marland (Snyder), Michael McArthur, Jack Scott, Nick Sullivan (Bunsen) and Laurie Veldheer (Hannah).
The film Newsies has grown into a cult phenomenon with a generation having grown up on the movie's driving, infectious score since its 1992 theatrical release and subsequent DVD. Newsies has for years been the single most requested title by professional and amateur theater groups, according to the world's largest dramatic licensing agent, MTI. This new stage version keeps many of the film's beloved songs and adds several new numbers by the original team of Menken and Feldman.
Newsies is inspired by the real life 'Newsboy Strike of 1899,' when newsboy Kid Blink led the ragged orphans and runaways known as newsies on a two-week-long action against Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. Set in New York City at the turn of the century, the musical is the tale of newsie Jack Kelly, who dreams of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when Pulitzer and Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsies' expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies his army of newsies to strike.
Newsies begins at Paper Mill Playhouse on Thursday, September 15, and will be performed eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday, through Sunday, October 16. Three, four and five show subscription packages are available now, starting at $84. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25-$96. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 35% discount on tickets and should call 973-315-1680.
Rounding out the creative are: Michael Kosarin (Music Supervisor/Vocal and Incidental Music Arranger) and David Holcenberg (Music Director). Set design for Newsies is by Tobin Ost. Costume design by Tony® Award winner Jess Goldstein. Lighting design is by Jeff Croiter and projection design by Sven Ortel. Rounding out the creative team are: Randy Hansen (sound design), Chuck LaPointe (hair and wig design), J. Allen Suddeth (fight director) and Thomas J. Gates will serve as Production Stage Manager.
Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski
