Review: Disney's 'Newsies' at White Plains Performing Arts Center

Dedicated to the memory of Peter Gisondi, Sr., a generous supporter of this theatre

White Plains, NY - White Plains Performing Arts Center is a not-for-profit professional regional theatre located in the heart of downtown White Plains. Disney’s NEWSIES The Broadway Musical is a WPPAC Mainstage Production that features both union and non-union actors from Broadway, national tours and regional tours across the country, but it is not part of a tour.

From the program: “These productions are created from scratch, staffed with professional production teams (directors to designers,) large LIVE orchestras and boast high-quality sets and costumes. On this production, the White Plains Performing Arts Center’s production staff and crew has created or coordinated all elements of staging, musical direction, set, lighting, props and sound.”

NEWSIES is based upon the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899, a fight for the chance to earn a livable wage. The two-week strike was significant because it was carried out by children and it ended in a compromise; the price of the “papes” would remain the same, but the publishers would buy back any newspapers that the newsies could not sell. The memorable music was written by Alan Menken with lyrics by Jack Feldman, and features a book by Harvey Fierstein that is based on the Disney film.

I managed to see the Broadway production of NEWSIES, so I always come to any subsequent productions with high expectations for everything, but especially for the dancing. One of the best parts to this Disney show is seeing a stage full of young men dancing up a storm and the WPPAC choreography by Josh Assor and its execution did not disappoint. There were the necessary newspapers thrown into the audience and the secretly printed flyers fell from above in the second act. The audience that was full of young, well-behaved patrons and the adults that brought them cheered for each and every production number.

It was my first visit to this venue, and I was delighted to be invited to see WAMS graduate Jack Saleeby on stage in the featured role of Finch. Although I had enjoyed some of his Connecticut performances, I made a point of making the journey to New York to see him in the state where he is now based. It was easy for me to pick him out of the group of talented young triple threats, and I enjoyed every minute of his performance. Maybe it was just me, but I thought that he occupied a featured position in many of the dance numbers, and it was certainly well-deserved. I missed Mr. Saleeby when he most recently appeared as Regy in his original musical BRIGHT AND BRAVE at Dixon Place and he also appeared as Scarecrow in the national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ. I did get to enjoy his performance in JCS at Seven Angels in Waterbury, CT.

Leading the cast in the role of Jack Kelly was Equity member Alex Prakken. I was impressed to read that not only does Mr. Prakken return to NEWSIES after playing Oscar Delancey in the First National Tour, but he played the role of Jack at Paramount and La Miranda. I also had the chance to see this talented singer in the role of Jesus in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre at UConn Storrs in 2018. This triple threat hit all the right notes, of his character, his musical performances, and in the challenging choreography, making this Jack most memorable.

Matthew Oster, who was part of the WPPAC production of AIDA, almost managed to steal the scenes in which he appeared in the role of Crutchie, but then he was sharing the stage with so many other supremely talented young dancers. Equity member Nathan Cockroft, who appeared in HEATHERS at WPPAC, tackled the role of Race, Talen Piner played the roles of both Albert and Bill in his WPPAC debut, Zach Eisenberg (ELF at the Ogunquit Playhouse) was Specs in his WPPAC debut.

Marcus Parfitt played both Henry and a scab in his WPPAC debut, Equity’s Elijah Dillehay appeared as Elmer, a scab and Spot Conlon in his WPPAC debut. Alec Gallzzi (who once played Jojo in NEWSIES) was the charming Romeo, Timothy Matthew Flores played Mush in his WPPAC debut, and Wichita State University grad Casey Bagnall played Buttons, Darcy and the third scab. Noah Barnes (BFA from SUNY Fredonia) and Austin Turner (WPPAC debut) played the nasty Delancey brothers, Morris and Oscar respectively, while Sean Casey Flanagan (MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET national tour) appeared as Wiesel, Stage Manager, Mr. Jacobi and the Mayor.

Dean Cestari stood tall in the role of Davey, as he did this past summer at Theatre by the Sea, and I got to see young Sammy Dell in the role of his younger brother Les. Mr. Dell, who was a part of the First National Tour of SCHOOL OF ROCK in the role Billy, shares the role of the youngest newsie with Caleb Reese Paul (FINDING NEVERLAND national tour) throughout the run.

“This is so much better than school…” - Les

Equity member Mark Bradley Miller (THE SOUND OF MUSIC tour) had the great voice required for Joseph Pulitzer. James Conrad Smith (HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at WPPAC, LEGALLY BLONDE at Downtown Cabaret) played both Seitz and the then Governor Roosevelt. Chistopher McHugh appeared as Bunsen and a guard in his WPPAC debut, and Steven Schroko (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL) played Snyder in his WPPAC debut and Zach Eisenberg served as the dance captain.

Kristen Seggio (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at WPPAC) lit up the stage in the role of the feisty reporter Katherine, never slipping into the background of her many scenes. While one very young audience member cried “ewww” when she first kissed a shocked Jack, bringing many chuckles from the crowd, the rest of us appreciated her spunk.

Ellisha Marie, who attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and played a church lady in the WPPAC production of THE COLOR PURPLE, rose to the big personality and singing voice of Miss Medda Larkin.

Shout outs to the two other talented actresses in the cast. Alex Skarmeas, a Boston Conservatory grad who has been a part of the Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals (Five Points,) played a nun serving the spiritual and nutritional needs of the young men, and at the other end of the spectrum, a scantily clad Bowery Beauty. Jamie Zeidman (HUNCHBACK at WPPAC) played the roles of Hannah, a nun and the other Bowery Beauty at Miss Medda’s.

The fine live orchestra was conducted by Stephen Ferri from behind his piano and the maestro was visible to the actors via three monitors strategically placed in the comfortable theatre. Ricky Romano played keyboard 2, Philip Varricchio was on reed 1, David Salter played guitar, Ryan Resky played trumpet, Art Triggs covered the trombone, Gary Capozziello was on violin, Andrew Borkowski played cello, Lexi Bodick was on bass, Joe Spinelli was on drums with Spener Inch on percussion.

Frank Portanova, who directed THE BODYGUARD, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, HUNCHBACK, DOGFIGHT) directed the production with a deft eye, probably because his directed the school pilot productions of Disney’s MARY POPPINS and Disney’s NEWSIES. WPPAC Executive Producer Mr. Ferri served as musical director.

The NEWSIES set designed by Ryan Howell, whose work I have seen at Broadway Method Academy, needed to be compact to fit upon this stage, but it still managed to contain the elevated area, the clotheslines of laundry and the all-important huge doors of the newspaper office. The set was greatly enhanced by the moody lighting designed by Adam Honore (see Strike photo above) that made the most of both light and shadows. Costumes designed by Tuacahn Center for the Arts were nicely of the period and Antonio Consuegra was the costume coordinator. Sam Panzier did very well with the properties design, finding the old fashioned typewriter.

NEWSIES runs approximately two and one half hours with one fifteen-minute intermission and the production runs through January 12, 2020. If you head to catch a performance, and I urge you to do so, carefully read the instructions on the WPPAC. Not only are there directions to the venue, there are plenty of helpful hints on parking.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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