By Amber Rubio
The only protests to be heard surrounding The Stage Door‘s Newsies: The Musical at the Electric Theater in St.George, Utah, will be from the cast members themselves. The rise of child labor rights is brought into the spotlight with singing, dancing, and wit as you are transported back to 1899.
Newsies began as a Disney movie in 1992, with young Christian Bale playing the lead. The amazing success it brought on the screen was quickly followed by a theatrical premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey for a three-week run. Broadway was intrigued, and after several changes, it made its way to the Nederlander Theater for what was supposed to be a two-month run. As the reviewers began raving, Disney announced the show was an open-ended engagement and went on to show for 1,004 performances. The national tour that followed performed another 784 times. Newsies was a huge success, and was nominated for more than 16 awards in its short run time and won Tonys for best choreography and best musical score.
Newsies is the tale of a small group of orphans that survive by selling papers for William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Greed takes over and the price of papers rises to such a level that the newsies can not sell enough papers to survive on. Jack Kelly (Chris Oram) decides enough is enough and, along with his friends, faces the giants of the press industry. The strike quickly becomes more than just about wages, and becomes about the protection of the children in the work industry. Oram is a born leader with his strong stage presence and vocals.
Crutchie (Justin Gibb) does vulnerable and strong in all the right ways. Crutchie shares insights with a hopeless boy who has no reason to day-dream, but does anyways in spite of his hardships. Gibb plays and sings an amazing harmony with Oram in this best friend duo.
Davey (Tanner Sorensen) draws audiences in with his earnest desire to be a man by stepping up to help provide for his family, taking care of his younger brother, and being the brains of the strike with Kelly in the lead. Sorensen leaves viewers in awe, not only with his acting and singing, but also astounding tumbling skills as he navigates the stage.
Les (Charlie Stover), the younger brother to Davey, is an absolute scene-stealer. Stover delivers his witty and amusing lines with such feeling and character that this adorable actor is someone to be watched in every scene.
Katherine (Allison Ryan) has the voice of an angel. Her strength as she fights the injustices alongside the newsies while remaining sweet and feminine is a great contrast to the rough and rugged paper-sellers.
Medda (Mikalene Ipson), Pulitzer (Paul Nickels), Wiesel (TJ Weddington), Seitz (Aaron Reep), Oscar Delancey (Miguel Rodriguez), and Morris Delancey (Ivan Odom) all contribute to bringing the story to life as they inspire love and hate as each scene unfolds.
Spot Conlon (Mason Stevens), Elmer (Callie Rubio), Race (Miriam Hall), Finch (Talise Mosley), Albert (Jaxon Keeler), Romeo (Armando Serrano Jr), Mush (Jaidyn Harris), Specs (Elizabeth Riddell), Buttons (Aria Perry), Tommy Boy (Allana Young), Jo Jo (Paris Sullivan), Splasher (Ambrie White), Mike (Owen Scott), Ike (Jacob Cummings), Einstein (Tanner Reep), Slingshot (Nathan Williams), Two Bit (Jaden Taggert), and ShoeShine (Corinne Young) play more secondary roles within the newsies. The way they use the entire theater really draws audiences in to the story. The audience is surrounded by the fight, the passion, the suffering, and the victories.
Director/Producer Kerry Perry, Associate Producer Kathy Habel, Vocal Director Corrine Nelsen, Choreographer Megan Young, Fight Choreographer Kelly Thomas, Stage Manager Jalee Scott, Costume Designer Tina Forsyth, Set Designer Kerry Perry,Light Designer Josh Scott, Light Tech Jake Barrett, Spotlight Katie Rubio, Projectionist Armando Serrano Jr. and Kensington Owens, Sounds DesignerJesika Neemann, and Front of House Julie Fonseca are a dream team. The details and decisions are so focused and delightful. From the moment audiences the theaterenter the theater for the show, they are brought back in time as some of the cast comes to entertain before the curtains even open. The backdrops flow easily, creating something new to enjoy with each change in location. The blend of this good-sized cast’s voices was very pleasant to hear. The diversity of the choreography, in which the performers turn, stomp, leap, tap and tumble throughout the theater, is particularly enjoyable.
The world now knows the Newsies are here at the Electric Theater in St. George, Utah and musicalt therater lovers of all ages should, too.
The Stage Door’s presents Newsies: The Musical. Book by Harvey Fierstein, Screenplay by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, Music by Alan Menken with Lyrics by Jack Feldmen.
The Electric Theater,. 68 E Tabernacle St, St. George, UT 84770
August 15- September 7, 2019 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with three Saturday matinees at 2:00 PM on Aug. 24, Aug. 31 and Sept. 7.
Tickets: $16-$24
Contact: thestagedoortheater@yahoo.com, 435-656-4407
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