This fall, the Pioneer Theatre Guild put on Newsies, a Broadway classic and CHS was well represented with students participating in the production, either through performing in cast, working behind the scenes in crew, or being a part of the Pit Orchestra. Newsies tells the tale of a group of tight-knit newsboys in 1899 New York City who decide to advocate for their rights as working people to gain equal pay. This beloved show is not only a timeless piece but also relevant to the issues we face today, from personal challenges to larger-scale problems in our world.
Newsies was a show that was very dear to the company, on and off the stage. CHS students who were members of the crew and cast experienced highs and lows throughout the wonderful process that we call theater. The show made a big impact on Kate Groves, a Community High senior, for whom the story of young Newsies uniting to beat the powerful antagonist resonated with what she’s currently feeling in the world.
Groves played Spot Conlon in the production, the highly respected leader of the Brooklyn Newsies. As someone who presents as female, she had the unique opportunity to play a role usually portrayed by male-identifying people. In fact, it was an intentional decision by the production team to make the Brooklyn Newsies all female-identifying.
“It was a lot of fun to have a girl power moment,” Groves said. “It was really funny because all the other Newsies in the show are afraid of the Brooklyn Newsies, so it was such a fun moment to be the leader of a group of girls that were so powerful and feared.”
Groves wasn’t the only one who felt that the show left a long-lasting impact in our community. In fact, Elle McCreadie, a senior at CHS, played multiple roles throughout the show, including a scab, a nun, and a Brooklyn newsie. She remembered sitting with her castmates as the directors talked to them before their first performance
“They talked to us, and were like ‘put everything that you feel into the show’, which seems like ‘duh’, but it really, really, really makes a difference,” McCreadie said. “I think that people really took everything that they were feeling and it truly just made the show so much better.”
The directors were happy to report after the show that many people came up to them and said that Newsies “was exactly what people needed.”
Countless members of the cast and crew agreed that the production of Newsies couldn’t have come at a better time. Those who were involved and those who attended all felt that it related back to incredibly large, real-world problems being faced today. Ellie Fox, a junior at Community who played Seitz, one of Pulitzer’s assistants, spoke to the show’s contemporary relevance.
“Newsies is a story about these kids who are being bullied and beat up by big corporations, and I think a lot of people are scared that’s what’s going to happen to our world,” Fox said. “But sending this message that it’s going be okay, and the underdogs will win and kids can do stuff even though they’re still kids is really important for comfort.”
One particular song in Newsies, “Once and For All,” is the main climax of the storyline. The Newsies have been putting up their fight against corporate manager Joseph Pulitzer, who is raising prices for Newsies to simply do their job. This song hits a musical and emotional pinnacle when the Newsies decide that their fight is worth winning. Not only is this a chill-inducing number, but the inspiration to advocate for change and the musical’s deep parallels in our current society follow audience members home.
Addie McCreadie, a CHS sophomore on props crew for Newsies, felt that “Once and For All” directly correlated to relevant issues in both our personal and professional lives, especially through the lyrics. The line that resonated the most with her is the first line of the song when the main character, Jack Kelly, sings, “A change is coming, once and for all.” McCreadie thinks that the lyrics about young people looking to stand up and make changes to the world are important messages to send.
“A lot of people can relate to the show just because maybe they feel underrepresented in the world, or they feel like they haven’t had the chance to stand up for themselves,” McCreadie said. “So it’s really important to kind of bring those issues to the stage and put a spotlight on them.”
Jacqueline Boynton, a CHS senior, played Ms. Medda Larkin in the production and she could really see the emotion that was directed into every single person’s performance. “I was never there in the actual rehearsals, because I wasn’t in all of the numbers,” Boynton said. “So, the week before tech week, seeing all the dances and seeing everyone so into the show, was so magical and beautiful.”
The company of Newsies brought an unforgettable show to the stage this past weekend, and the lessons and the words of motivation sprinkled throughout the script are sure to make a lasting impression on everyone who attended. As the Newsies proudly proclaimed, the world will know that “There’s change coming once and for all.”
