Third Wall Productions is pleased to announce open auditions for their winter production of Disney's "Newsies" directed by the award winning Henry Cyr, with musical direction by W. Will Zellhofer.
Audition dates and times:
September 16 4:00-8:00 PM
September 18, 20, 7:00-9:00 PM
Callbacks are 9/25, 7:00 PM if needed.
Venue:
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
1108 Providence Road
Towson, MD 21286
For your audition, please prepare 24-32 measures of period appropriate music. Please bring a copy of your sheet music for the accompanist. This is a dance intensive production and a dance audition will be conducted, so please dress in or bring comfortable clothing and shoes.
Show Dates:
February 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
Synopsis:
Newsies is based on the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899. The New York newsies – boys and girls who sold newspapers on the street – went up against two newspaper publishers, Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the
New York Journal, to fight for the chance to earn a livable wage.
The Spanish-American War made New Yorkers hungry for headlines, and circulation boomed as a result. Once the war ended, people were less inclined to buy newspapers – war was bad for the world, but great for the newspaper business. The strike
was the result of the newspaper publishers refusing to lower the newsies’ cost-per-paper back down to the pre-war prices. The newsies were not willing to pay more for their papers to make up for a lack of headlines, so they decided to strike – their goal was to make the newspaper tycoons treat them as legitimate members of the business.
The strike lasted two weeks, from July 20 to August 2, 1899. The newsies eventually came to a compromise with the publishers: The price would stay the same, but the publishers would buy back any papers that the newsies couldn’t sell. The newsies’ strike is a significant moment in history: It is one of the first strikes that was carried out by children and it ended in compromise. The kids succeeded!
Character Breakdown (ages are approximate)
Jack Kelly
The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an oprhaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself out West. Fiercely protective of his best friend, Crutchie, and strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City. Though living on the streets has given him a tough-guy exterior, Jack has a big heart and can demonstrate a sweet vulnerability – especially when it comes to bantering with a certain female reporter. Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality.
Gender: Male
Age: 16 to 20
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Crutchie
A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy- sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie should still be included in the dance numbers.
Gender: Both
Age: 13 to 17
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Davey
Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living, but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: D3
Les
Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies.
Gender: Male
Age: 10 to 15
Vocal range top: Bb3
Vocal range bottom: Db3
Newsies
Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage.
Gender: Male
Age: 13 to 20
Scabs
Three newsies who are hesitant to join the strike.
Gender: Both
Age: 10 to 20
Spot Conlon
The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
Gender: Both
Age: 17 to 20
Katherine Plumber
An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourcesful, she boldy captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key.
Gender: Female
Age: 17 to 20
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Darcy
The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
Gender: Both
Age: 15 to 20
Bill
The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies' cause. Can double as a newsie.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 25
Wiesel
Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper- pusher.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 50
Oscar and Morris Delancey
Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Goons
Assist the Delanceys in roughing up the newsies at the end of Act One.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Joseph Pulitzer
A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 50
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Seitz
Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
Gender: Both
Bunsen
Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
Gender: Both
Age: 35 to 50
Hannah
Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.
Gender: Female
Age: 20 to 40
Nunzio
Pulitzer’s barber.
Gender: Male
Age: 30 to 50
Guard
The Guard removes the newsies from Pulitzer’s building.
Gender: Both
Age: 20 to 60
Snyder
The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.
Gender: Both
Age: 45 to 65
Medda Larkin
Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice.
Gender: Female
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: F3
The Bowery Beauties
Female performers at Medda’s Theater.
Gender: Female
Age: 18 to 30
Stage Manager
Introduces Medda's act.
Gender: Both
Age: 25 to 55
Nuns
The three nuns offer breakfast to the hungry newsies. Feel free to cast additional nuns.
Gender: Female
Age: 20 to 60
Photographer
Takes the triumphant photo of the newsies at the end of “Seize the Day.”
Gender: Both
Age: 15 to 25
Woman
A newspaper customer.
Gender: Both
Age: 15 to 45
Mr. Jacobi
Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.
Gender: Both
Age: 35 to 55
Policemen
Assist Snyder and turn against the newsies in the fight that concludes Act One.
Gender: Male
Age: 20 to 60
Mayor
The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 to 60
Governor Teddy Roosevelt
A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.
Gender: Male
Age: 50 to 65
Ensemble
Newsies
Gender: Both
Age: 10 to 20
Videos
