Disney Theatrical Productions announced today that Newsies, the Tony Award-winning "critics' pick" Broadway musical smash, will launch a North American tour in October 2014, commencing in Schenectady, NY prior to an official opening in Philadelphia, PA.
During the 2014-15 season, the tour will play 25 cities, over 43 weeks, including the following (in alphabetical order): Atlanta (Fox Theatre), Baltimore (Hippodrome Theatre), Boston (Boston Opera House), Charlotte (Blumenthal Performing Arts), Chicago (Bank of America Theatre), Columbus (Ohio Theatre), Dallas (AT&T Performing Arts Center /Winspear Opera House), Durham (Durham Performing Arts Center), Houston (Hobby Center for the Performing Arts), Las Vegas (Smith Center for the Performing Arts), Los Angeles (Pantages Theatre), Louisville (Kentucky Center for the Arts), Miami (Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts), Nashville (Tennessee Performing Arts Center), Orlando (Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts), Philadelphia (Academy of Music), Pittsburgh (Benedum Center), San Antonio (Majestic Theatre), San Francisco (Orpheum Theatre), Schenectady (Proctors), Toronto (Princess of Wales Theatre), Tucson (Centennial Hall), Washington, D.C. (National Theatre) and Waterbury (Palace Theater). Additional cities will be announced at a later date.
For information or to register for advance ticket access notifications, visit
NewsiesTheMusical.com/Tour,
Facebook.com/Newsies and
Twitter.com/Newsies.
All information regarding casting and engagement dates will be announced as they become available. For information concerning auditions for the tour, visit:
http://www.newsiesthemusical.com/auditions
"We continue to be overwhelmed by the passion and support for Newsies on Broadway and are elated that the show will continue on the road," said Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. "The enthusiasm from North American audiences and theatres for a Newsies tour has been palpable, proving that the affection for this title is deeper and more widespread than even we imagined. I am so proud that patrons will soon have the opportunity to enjoy Newsies in their own backyards."
Newsies has consistently exceeded expectations since premiering on Broadway at The Nederlander Theatre in March 2012. Originally transferred to Broadway as a limited engagement of a few dozen performances, the breakout hit is now approaching its 700th performance.
In a remarkable demonstration of the breadth of the title's appeal, ticket orders had arrived from all 50 states within weeks of its first Broadway performance. Since then, Newsies has set and broken seven Nederlander Theatre house records and become the biggest hit of the 2011-12 season.
Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, with a book by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, Newsies is directed by Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, who won a 2012 Tony Award for his work.
The show received 23 major theatrical nominations - including eight Tony Award nods - and won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Score and Best Choreography. One of Broadway's highest profile hits, it has been featured nationally on "Dancing with the Stars," "The View," "Good Morning America," "Nightline," "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," and "The CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade."
Included in the best-of year lists for Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and The Daily News, Newsies can be counted one of the most critically-praised shows of recent seasons. Entertainment Weekly raves, "stop the presses! Newsies is an irresistible, high energy winner... a surprise sensation!" Time Out New York calls Newsies, "an invigorating extravaganza! A barnstorming, four-alarm delight," and The New York Times hails it, "a musical worth singing about," praising the "terrific songs - buoyant melodies by Alan Menken and rousing lyrics by Jack Feldman - and a sweet, funny, emotionally satisfying book by Harvey Fierstein."
When Newsies' premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ it engendered extraordinary interest from the media and public alike, prompting Newsweek.com to call the show, "one of the biggest surprises of the season...the talk of the town."
Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged 'newsies,' who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies
Newsies from across the city to strike for what's right.
Newsies is inspired by the real-life 'Newsboy Strike of 1899,' when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway
Newsies on a two-week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers.
The stage version introduces seven brand-new songs by the original team of Menken and Feldman while keeping many of the beloved songs from the film, including 'Carrying the Banner,' 'Seize the Day,' 'King of New York' and 'Santa Fe.'
Since the film's 1992 theatrical release and subsequent DVD release, Newsies has grown into a cult phenomenon, and for years had been the single most requested title of all the Disney musical films not yet adapted for the stage. (The film featured a screenplay by Bob Tzudiker & Noni White (Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians).)
