Review: 'Newsies' by NewArts

Pictured above: Members of the cast of NewArts NEWSIES Photo by Jeni Beecher

Dedicated to Prof. Ruth M. Sasso, who was scheduled to attend this performance with me
Donations may be made in her honor to the 1214 Foundation, a nonprofit that combines her love of children and the arts

Watch what happens….

Monroe, CT - NEWSIES THE MUSICAL is the summer production by the NewArts wing of the 1214 Foundation of Newtown. The show involves over 100 local Connecticut children under the direction of Michael Unger with choreography adapted from the Christopher Gattelli’s Tony Award-winning, Broadway production. The lovely Kirsten Keating Liniger (A ROCKIN’ MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and LIBERTY SMITH with NewArts) recently earned her BA in Theatre Studies from UConn and serves as the Administrator of 1214 Foundation; it fell to her to make the curtain speech before the performance I attended while Executive Director and 1214 founder Michael Baroody, MD proudly looked on from the back of the modern Masuk HS auditorium.

The uplifting musical is set in turn-of-the century New York City and tells the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When the titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies his fellow young 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;) both Mr. Menken and Mr. Fierstein came to speak with the students involved with NewArts during the rehearsal process.

As usual, this NewArts show was double cast. The Journal cast performed powerfully the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,”and “Seize the Day,” The inspiring message of NEWSIES truly is perfect for the whole family and the multi-generational audience cheered throughout for this talented cast, crew and orchestra. The large ensemble easily filled the stage for the big numbers, with some of the youngest cast members lining the aisles and the space in front of the pit orchestra, encircling the audience with both sights and sound. Producing Artistic Director Michael Unger always knows how to showcase every actor no matter how small and effectively make use of the performance space; in this production the cutest of the newsies were carrying the banner everywhere to the delight of the audience.

Shanna Vanderwerker, an associate of NEWSIES’ original Broadway choreographer Christopher Gattelli, worked with NewArts this season as resident choreographer with Chaz Wolcott. The two “extrapolated” Mr. Gattelli’s original choreography to the NewArts cast, which has nearly ten times as many newsies as the original. What that meant for this production is that we were treated to dancing that was reminiscent of the choreography I remembered from the Broadway show and included the young dancers moving atop ripped newspapers that were then thrown into the audience. A signature NEWSIES move if ever there was one that I have missed in previous productions that I have reviewed.

The wonderful pit orchestra under the direction of music director James Abbott had only 14 musicians but sounded amazing as they covered those memorable pieces of music. The scenic design by James Dardenne was large but seemed to be easily movable for the young crew members; it had a gritty look (without the erector set metallic touch) and it worked for this setting. Costume design by Stevie Rival and Marie Armstrong evoked the newsies that hawked “papes” back in the era and of course featured too many caps to count. Lighting by Yael Lubetzky had a range of intensity that set the mood well, but there were some noticeable sound issues at this performance.

Becky Romano served as assistant scenic painter, scenic design charge and prop master and is a current student at UConn who worked on KING LEAR, 1776, NOISES OFF and NEWSIES with CRT at the university. She also won a CHSMTA Student Achievement Award for her work with Newtown HS’s production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Robin Rockwell, a rising junior at WCSU studying music ed, was the assistant music director for this production; her orchestra credits include THE GONDOLIERS with WCSU’s opera.

The members of the Journal cast all gave strong performances and I am sure that the alternate World cast did just as well at their shows. Kyle Shelton brought a natural charm to the role of Jack Kelly; Jason Winter plays the lead role with the World cast. Will Connors was memorable in the role of Crutchie; other newsies included Teigan DaCunha as Race, Charlie Hartel as Albert, Jackson Amos as Specs, Sadie Gureasko-Moore as Henry, Sophia Soriano as Elmer, Kyler Kumi as Romeo, Lexi Bisset as Mush and Nicole Kolitsas (GREASE at Immaculate HS) in the role of Finch.

Marina Kolitsas was simply luminous in her dream role of Katherine Plumber. This multi-talented young woman is such natural in any role and it was a pleasure to watch her bring this plucky young reporter to life. She shares the role of Ms. Plumber with Ashley Raymond. Another standout was Michael Spanedda as Davey, a role he seemed born to play. With Matiya Kouassi at his side as kid brother Les, Mr. Spenedda gave a very strong performance.

A happy surprise was to see Joseph DeVellis (YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN at TBTA) in the meaty role of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. The students around him rose to the level of professionalism that Mr. DeVellis always brings to the stage.

Jordan Gomes played Darcy, Joseph Soriano and Cat Da Rocha were the Delancey brothers, and Rebecca Spalvieri played Wiesel. At all performances, Christian Winter was Seitz, Miranda Wakeman was Bunsen, Jake Nicolari was Nunzio, Stage Manager, Mayor and a cameraman, Lauren Barrett was Jacobi and Melissa Shohet rocked it as Teddy Roosevelt. Madison Benson was big and brassy in the role of Medda Larkin and I easily spotted Newtown HS grad Teah Renzi, fresh from The Jimmy Awards, who was a riot as Pulitzer secretary Hannah and also danced as a newsie and a Bowery Beauty (because she can.) Congratulations to each and every member of the newsies chorus, the adult chorus and the strong dance ensemble on all of their hard work.

The 1214 Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Newtown, CT guided by a mission to equip students with life tools to flourish in a challenging world through a custom-designed character development program ("ARC") enhanced by a mastery experience in the performing arts ("NewArts"). Every ticket sold supports the longevity of our foundation's programs and helps further our empowering mission to help children of all ages flourish as individuals as well as members of their community.

I am most grateful to Peggy Lagasse, the sister of the late Prof. Ruth Sasso, who attended this performance with me in her memory. Remember that this show is double cast. Remaining performances include:

Saturday 8/11 at 2pm - World Cast
Saturday 8/11 at 7pm - World Cast
Sunday 8/12 at 2pm - Journal Cast

Purchase tickets to see NEWSIES: https://newartstickets.ticketleap.com/newsies/

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417