About Newsies: The Broadway Musical

"Newsies: The Broadway Musical" is a stage performance captured live at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Released in 2017, it is based on the famous 1992 Disney movie, "Newsies," which itself was inspired by the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899. The musical portrays a group of defiant newsboys ("Newsies") who stand up against the exploitative practices of newspaper moguls Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.

Making / Production

The musical was directed by Jeff Calhoun. Alan Menken composed the music. Harvey Fierstein, Jack Feldman, and Alan Menken worked on the script and lyrics to give the classic story a fresh, contemporary feel while retaining the period setting.

Actors

• Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly - The lead Newsie, Jordan brings a mix of rugged charm and raw energy to his performance.
• Kara Lindsay as Katherine Plumber - Lindsay portrays a reporter who becomes the Newsies' voice, bringing a strong, independent spirit to the role.
• Ben Fankhauser as Davey - In his role as the strike's leader, Fankhauser perfectly captures Davey's earnest, principled character.
• Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Crutchie - Keenan-Bolger's performance conveys at once the joy and hardship of life as a Newsie.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "Newsies: The Broadway Musical" was aired in theaters as a three-day cinema event by Fathom Events.
• The show ran on Broadway for over 1,000 performances before closing in 2014.
• The real newsboy strike of 1899 lasted two weeks and resulted in a compromise where the newspaper moguls agreed to buy back unsold papers.
• Some of the dialogue in the musical is directly pulled from accounts of the strike.

Awards

"Newsies: The Broadway Musical" won several awards, including the 2012 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Choreography. It was also nominated for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Jeremy Jordan, and several other categories.

Quotes

• "That's the power of the press, Joe. They can make a hero out of anyone, even you." - Katherine Plumber
• "We're doing something that's never been done before! How's that a plan?" - Davey
• "For sure them streets of New York ain't paved with gold, but I'm walkin' with my buddies and together we're bold!" - Jack Kelly

Music and Soundtrack

• "Seize the Day" - An anthem for the Newsies, highlighting their resolve.
• "King of New York" - A playful number revealing the Newsies' dreams.
• "Santa Fe" - Jack Kelly's heartfelt solo, expressing his longing for freedom.
• "Watch What Happens" - Katherine Plumber's song about the power of the press.