2019: Newsies

The Appleton North High School theatre and music departments presented the Broadway musical NEWSIES March 7-17. 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) and includes the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe.” 

North’s production featured a cast, crew, and orchestra of more than 100 students as well an elaborate set, state of the art projection technology, period costumes, jaw-dropping dance sequences, a powerful and energetic musical score, and a moving message for our times. Theatre director Ron Parker arranged a one-day vocal and dance workshop for the cast with New York actor Ben Fankhauser who originated the role of Davey in the Broadway production, and we brought in a special dialect coach to work with students on perfecting their turn-of-the-century New York accents. Weekly tap dance sessions were held since October in preparation for the performances. According to Parker, the most wonderful thing about Newsies is what it teaches: when faced with injustice and overwhelming odds, there is a hero in all of us who is ready and able to fight and win if we believe enough in ourselves and each other.

Newsies is inspired by real life events: the newsboys’ strike in the summer of 1899 lasted two-weeks and resulted in a considerable decline in circulation of the two most powerful papers in the country. The strike drew rallies of more than 5,000 as the young newsboys called on the public to boycott newspapers The World and The Journal. Shortly after the strike began the public showed their support and stopped buying the offending papers. Newspapers at that time were sold in bundles of 100 at a cost of 50-cents to the newsboys who would hawk them throughout the city. When the publishers raised the price to 60-cents and refused to buy back unsold papers it was a massive hardship on the group of poor orphans that largely comprised the child labor force of newsboys. In the end, Hearst and Pulitzer, though not lowering prices, did agree to buy back unsold papers as a compromise. The newsies’ strike spawned similar actions in other parts of the country as well. The strikes would eventually lead to the introduction of laws protecting children in the workplace.

Cast A

  • Jack Kelly—Jack Cain

  • Katherine Plumber—Grace Molter

  • Davey—Miles Borkowic

  • Crutchie—Michaela Frichner

  • Les—Katie Espinosa

  • Medda Larkin—Carlyn Davis

  • Pulitzer—Mark Woznicki

  • Hannah—Meg Cain

Cast B

  • Jack Kelly—Sean Flanagan

  • Katherine Plumber—Emily Tesch

  • Davey—Dylan Schang

  • Crutchie—Jando Valdez

  • Les—Ruby March-Torme

  • Medda Larkin—Kelly Cline

  • Pulitzer—Demitri Magas

  • Hannah—Julea Brinkman