– By Cate Marquis –
The Muny’s “Newsies” is an uplifting, hopeful, dancing extravaganza that was inspired by an actual newspaper boys striking in late 19th century New York, a show that mixes drama, humor, hope and heart, with a bit of history. If you love dancing, athletic, exuberant dancing, this is the Muny show to see.
“Newsies” based on a Disney movie that was inspired by a real newspaper boys strike in summer of 1899, a time before child labor laws and when labor unions were new, although both ideas were on the verge of really taking hold in a country was in a mood for reform – well, at least for ordinary people is was. That may sound like a rather sober basis for a musical (and the real strike didn’t end as well as in this show) but with an uplifting book by Harvey Fierstein, and tuneful music by Alan Menken with snappy lyrics by Jack Feldman, it is a very entertaining package and a whole lot of fun.
Despite the challenges these boys face, “Newsies” is filled with hope and optimism for the future, in an underdog story about some exploited but resilient newspaper boys who may have little but have each other and their own dreams, as the 20th century is about to dawn.
The scrappy, self-reliant “newsies” are mostly orphaned or abandoned boys who sell newspapers on the streets of New York to earn a meager living. Jack Kelly (Jack Roden) is the brash, outgoing leader of the newsboys selling Joseph Pulitzer’s New York City daily newspaper. Jack’s pal is Crutchie (Nolan Almeida), a boy who uses crutches because of a twisted foot that isn’t healing right. Crutchie is a wary kid who is prone to expect the worst, having recently escaped from a “refuge,” a kind of Dickensian for-profit institution for homeless children that all the newsies try to avoid, but Jack helps and encourages him.
The show opens with those two boys, who have slept out on a rooftop. Jack wakes with the rising sun, in his usual joking, optimistic mood, and opens the show with the song “Santa Fe,” the place he dreams of moving to some day.
Jack and Crutchie set out for work, and join other newspaper boys, “newsies,” as they gather in the courtyard of the Pulitzer newspaper headquarters, to pick up their papers, or “papes,” for the day from a man named Wiesel (Rich Pisarkiewicz), whom they all call “Weasel.” The boys have to buy the papers and then sell them on the street, so they have to calculating closely how many to buy because they can’t return unsold ones. But the newsies are a scrappy lot, who like to tease and kid around, and they keep their spirits up, singing “Carrying the Banner.”
This morning, there are two new kids, brothers Davey (Bryce Williams) and sassy little guy Les (Jaron Bentley). Unlike the other newsies, the brothers actually have parents and a home, but their dad out of work due to an injury and with no income, they are trying to earn some money for their financially-struggling family. After a bit of teasing, the newsies welcome them in.
Meanwhile, newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Michael Park), is worried about profits and circulation numbers. Pulitzer comes up with an idea: charge the newsies more for their papers. Although his assistants Seitz (Drew Battles) and Bunsen (Jonah D. Winston), and his secretary Hannah (Kylie Edwards) object to the cruel idea, Pulitzer is pushes it forward, noting that it will force the boys have to sell more papers to make the same meager living, thus boosting circulation and cutting costs at the same time. When the newsies show up the next day to pick up their papers, they get the bad news about the price of the papers going up. They decide to strike – even though they don’t even have a union.
Other characters in the story include a young “girl reporter,” Katherine (Kayla Pecchioni), who helps the newsies and Medda Larkin (Anastacia McCleskey), an entertainer who owns a burlesque theater, where artistically-talented Jack has painted some of the scenery for her, who also helps. The newsies have colorful names like Romeo, Mush, and Specs, with colorful personalities to match. On the other side are Pulitzer’s “muscle,” local bullies known as the Delancey boys, Morris (Joshua Messmore) and Oscar (Christian J. Collins).
“Newsies” is a show with a huge cast, both for the speaking parts and actors generally, but even more so with all the dancers. These high-spirited boys (some played by women) dance up a storm, with numerous big stage numbers. There are also showcase numbers for the youngest cast members and even a tap dance number, making this a perfect Muny production.
Songs with tunes by Disney favorite composer Alan Menken keep things lively and the underdog story delights the audience as the boys fight back against exploiting adults. Standout tunes include “King of New York” and “Seize the Day.”
But this is really a dance fan’s show. From the very start, this show fills the Muny stage with dancers. We first meet the newsies in a high-octane dance number where they fill the large stage – kicking up heels, cartwheeling across the stage and doing flips, in a high-energy, highly entertaining mix of jazz, modern, ballet and acrobatics that is a thrill to watch. Dance scenes are sprinkled throughout the show as the scrappy kids let off steam and Acrobatic and high flying jumps are plentiful and there is even a little bit of tap dance in the mix.
“Newsies” has drama, comedy, ambitions and dreams, and even a little romance, in this uplifting underdog story, plus all that dancing and tuneful songs. The acting is great, the dancing is fantastic and the multiple-level moving sets are the best of the season, so you don’t want to miss this one.
“Newsies” is on the Muny stage in Forest Park through July 22, 2026.
© Cate Marquis
