Preview of Sensory-Friendly 'Newsies' by BMA

SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE OF DISNEY’S NEWSIES BY BROADWAY METHOD ACADEMY HITS WESTPORT STAGE

Broadway Method Academy (BMA), the resident conservatory of Westport Country Playhouse, announced a Sensory-Friendly performance “Disney’s Newsies” which will take place on Sunday, February 16th at 11:00 AM.

The performance will offer a variety of accommodations including accessible family restrooms, dimmed lighting and lowered sound effects, as well as break areas on each floor. Stress balls, earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones will also be available to those who would benefit from them. Staff will include a variety to education and special needs professionals as well as artists, friends, and family members who are passionate about creating a welcoming and accessible theater experience.

“With this sensory-friendly performance, it is our hope to accommodate those who might feel deterred from a typical performance, since we believe theater audiences should accurately reflect the community around us,” said Connor Deane, BMA Executive Director. “We are thrilled to work with our students and partners at Westport Country Playhouse to create a more accessible theater experience in our community by planting seeds of inclusion and tolerance through the arts.”

The cast will be headed by Joey Barreiro (national tours of “Newsies,” “A Bronx Tale”) as Jack Kelly; Aisha De Haas (Broadway’s “Caroline, or Change,” “Rent”; Medda in the national tour of “Newsies”) as Medda Larkin; Alaina Mills (national tour of “Beautiful”) as Katherine Plumber; and James Judy (Broadway’s “Into the Woods,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” national tour of “Newsies”) as Joseph Pulitzer. The ensemble will feature 40 students from Broadway Method Academy.

Set in turn-of-the century New York City, “Newsies” is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged newsies. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (“Little Shop of Horrors”, “Sister Act”) and Jack Feldman and a
book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (“Kinky Boots”). Featuring a live orchestra and 40 BMA students alongside Broadway professionals, and songs like “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize
the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” “Newsies” is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message,
perfect for the whole family and every audience.

The creative team also features set designer Ryan Howell, lighting designer Weston G. Wetzel, costumer designer Dustin Cross, and wig designer Kaitie Adams. Garrett Taylor conducts the 11- piece orchestra. Connor Deane, J. Scott Handley, and David Dreyfoos serve as executive producers. “Disney’s Newsies” is produced by Broadway Method Academy, the resident conservatory of Westport Country Playhouse.

Sensory-Friendly Performance
• Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 AM

Tickets are $45 and are on sale now at Westport Country Playhouse. A limited number of premium $65 tickets, which include a reception in the Playhouse’s Smilow Lounge during intermission, can only be purchased by phone or at the box office. Group discount for this BMA production is 15% off for groups of 15 or more. Student ticket price of $20 with valid high school, college, university, or international student ID at the box office or by phone, subject to availability. Limit 1 ticket per ID. Student rush ticket price of $15 starting at noon day of performance only with valid high school, college, university, or international student ID and subject to availability.

Purchase tickets to “Disney’s Newsies,” at www.westportplayhouse.org, or call or visit the
Westport Country Playhouse box office at 203-227-4177, located at 25 Powers Court, Westport,
CT. For more information about Broadway Method Academy, visit
www.broadwaymethodacademy.org

All play titles, artists, and dates are subject to change.