Stepinac Theatre Announces Cast for Landmark "Newsies" Production

The acclaimed Stepinac Theatre has announced the cast for its forthcoming production of Disney’s smash-hit musical, Newsies.

Stepinac was among a select group of high schools in the U.S. that was chosen to mount a production of the musical before it is released to general licensing. Inspired by the real-life Newsboys strike of 1899, Newsies is based on the 1992 film and the 2012 Tony Award-winning Broadway show that followed.

The large cast of 51 young actors and crew of the renowned all-boys Catholic high school will stage six performances at Stepinac’s Major Bowes Auditorium, 950 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains at 7:30 PM, December 1, 2, 8 and 9 and at 2 PM, December 9 and 10. Cost of tickets is $22 for adults and $18 for seniors and children under 12. For information regarding tickets, please call (914) 946-4800 Ext. 200.

Jeremy Fuentes of Mahopac, a Stepinac sophomore, will play the lead male role of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city and leads a strike with his fellow newsies after publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense.

Jazzy Cores of Mamaroneck, a junior at Rye Neck High School, will play the female lead character of Katherine Plumber, a young reporter who becomes a love interest of Jack.

Supporting character roles will be performed by Stepinac students Kurt Thaler of New Rochelle, a senior, who plays Joseph Pulitzer; Nicolas DeSanctis of Ossining, a sophomore who will perform as Crutchie and Lachlan Boyle of Hartsdale, a junior, who portrays Davey.

With a score by Westchester native and Tony Award-winner, Alan Menken, Newsies received eight Tony Award nominations and two wins.

Frank Portanova (Class of ’93), Director of Stepinac Theatre, said: “Stepinac is honored and excited to partner with Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Group on a special pilot production of Disney’s smash-hit musical, Newsies. The core values - of courage, empathy, and solidarity - celebrated in Newsies are so vital for our young people today. With so many communities ravaged with injustices, it is important that our students are emboldened to stand with our beleaguered brothers and sisters and say, ‘We will fight for you!’ Stepinac High School offers this show as a prayer that will inspire our students to make a vow to answer the call for those in need.”

In 2014, Stepinac’s highly respected theatre group was one of only six high schools in the U.S that Disney Theatrical Group granted permission to stage a special pilot production Disney's Mary Poppins, and in the following year it became the only school in the nation that was licensed to produce Elton John’s Billy Elliot. Both productions won several Metropolitan High School Theatre (Metro) Award nominations as well as awards in top categories.

This year, Stepinac’s production of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame captured the top Metro accolade for overall production as well as awards in major acting categories among other Metro wins.

About Archbishop Stepinac High School

The mission of Archbishop Stepinac High School is to offer young men of the Archdiocese of New York a highly competitive academic and extracurricular program that will prepare them for college and leadership roles. The faculty and staff accomplish these objectives by pursuing excellence and creating a supportive, disciplined atmosphere with a strong sense of camaraderie and Christian values that is unique to the Stepinac experience. For more information, visit www.Stepinac.org.