The story of Disney’s Newsies leapt from the screen to the stage in the smash Broadway musical retelling of the real life 1899 Newsboy strike in New York City. The family friendly musical features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, D.C. will feature a holiday run for this fan favorite Disney musical.
“Newsies is a brilliant blending of a children’s crusade and a contemporary Gold Standard musical,” states director Molly Smith. “With today’s young people fighting passionately for gun control and climate protection legislation in new children’s crusades, we clearly see resonance with today’s young people. The plight of the newsboys and girls at the turn of the century is a passionate story, because they stood up for themselves and fought for fairness. With music that is hummable, wonderful acting with a top-notch cast, dynamic choreography and plenty of young people on stage, this is an ideal production to bring the whole family to the theater during the holidays.”
If you live in the DC area or are planning a trip for the holidays, you’ll enjoy the uplifting songs and choreography of Disney’s Newsies. When you see the show, you’ll no doubt leave singing some of your favorite songs from the musical including “King of New York,” “Carrying the Banner” and “Seize the Day.”
Newsies will feature Daniel J. Maldonado (Emerson Colonial Theatre’s Moulin Rogue!) as Jack Kelly and D.C. actress Erin Weaver (Arena’s Mother Courage) as Katherine Plumber with Edward Gero (Arena’s Junk and The Originalist) as Joseph Pulitzer. Making their Arena Stage debuts are Joe Montoya as Crutchie and both Josiah Smothers (The National Theatre’s Finding Neverland) and Hazel Hay as Les Jacobs.
Joining the cast are Arena veterans Ethan Van Slyke (Arena’s Oliver!) as Davey Jacobs, Thomas Adrian Simpson (Arena’s Anything Goes) as Wiesel, as well as D.C. native Nova Payton (Arena’s Smokey Joe’s Café) as Medda Larkin.
This front-page cast also includes Rory Boyd as Oscar Delancey, Wyn Delano as Snyder, Michael Hewitt as Morris Delancey and ensemble members Christian Douglas, Jamie Smithson and Carole Denise Jones.
Disney’s Newsies will run November 1-December 22, 2019 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. Tickets are on sale now. Purchase online at arenastage.org, by phone at 202-488-3300 or at the Sales Office at 1101 Sixth Street, SW, D.C.