Thursday, January 22, 2015

Read All About It...Newsies Makes Headlines!

NEWSIES delivers the best synchronized dancing I've seen since A Chorus Line. Worthy of its 2012 Tony Award for best choreography, NEWSIES is a high-energy, well-performed story of young paperboys' defiance of exploitation by big business...This is based on a true story! 

Now at The Fox Theatre through Sunday, January 25, NEWSIES On Tour garnered the grandest, most heartfelt standing ovation I've seen on an opening night in ages!


Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)
Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

A 1992 movie of the same title didn't do so well, but Disnesy's NEWSIES stage performance has taken command of audiences, bringing adults to their feet and smiles to children's faces...and putting Newsboy Caps on their heads. 

Is NEWSIES responsible for the resurgence of this 1900s fashion? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. Even Nordstrom sells them! And there were quite a few in the audience opening night. I love seeing that kind of support for such a magnificent show.


Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)
Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

Looking back through modern history, there have been many newsboys strikes, but this show is the story of one strike in particular. A newsboys strike that took place in New York City in 1899. And it has a few familiar names...Pulitzer, Hearst and Roosevelt, to name a few.

This musical changed the name of the lead character--the leader of an emerging newsboy union--to Jack Kelly, brilliantly performed by Dan DeLuca. This young man has not only mastered dancing and acting, he puts on a rather convincing turn-of-the-century New York City accent.

The entire cast is brilliant. It truly has been a while since I've seen a cast work so incredibly well together. Either their each and every one 1,000 percent dedicated to their art or they're all best of friends offstage. Perhaps they're both. The performance is flawless!


Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)
Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

The cast truly is brilliant...they're ALL amazing! The "is-it-for-real?" developing love story between Jack Kelly (Dan DeLuca) and Kathrine (Stephanie Styles) was delightful in humor, as well as romance. You can't help but root for shy Davey (Jacob Kemp)--I was a very shy kid, so I identified with this character--and Crutchie (Zachary Sayle) is a personal favorite--his resolve and determination are heroic...my kind of character.

The dancing and acting are joined by superb singing. It's as if their voices were made for each other. Their voices harmonized perfectly, just as their dance steps. I think the only thing I didn't like about this show is that it was over in two hours...I'd have stayed as long as they'd have kept dancing! 

The first thing that caught my attention--and kept it throughout--was the set(s). Tony-nominee (for Newsies) Tobin Ost did a magnificent job. 

Check out this Broadway.com video interview with Ost, when he discusses how the sets were inspired by the printing press used in the show.

AND...there's tap dancing! Exceptional tap dancing. It thrills me to no end to see so many young people who obviously have an amazing grasp on this delightful style of dancing. It's been a favorite of mine since I was a kid--although I never learned myself--I so love to see a spectacular tap performance. 


Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)
Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

One of the more profound lines in the show is delivered by then Governor of New York Teddy Roosevelt, "Each generation must, at the height of its power, step aside and invite the young to share the day." The youngsters in Disney's NEWSIES on Tour...not only share the day, they've seize the day, to the enjoyment of Atlanta and I'm certain every city on its national tour.

Get you tickets to NEWSIES right away...it'll be in the headlines for quite some time, but only on stage in Atlanta through Sunday.

A huge wanderlust ATLANTA "Thank you" to Broadway in Atlanta and BRAVE PR for inviting me to the show. I hope you will make the time to see it as well.

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