By GINA MAURER
Assistant Features Editor
With newspapers thrown about, fancy dance moves and songs by dirt-clad boys, the stage adaptation of Disney’s “Newsies” is thrilling audiences at the Nederlander Theater, just a short bus ride away in New York City.
I came into the city with my family through Broadway Ray, a charter bus tour company making trips to Broadway. The service is run by Ray Soehngen out of Manasquan, Toms River and the Cheesequake Service Area.
For the bus ride and an orchestra seat to “Newsies,” the package cost $149 each, which seems like a lot, but when you consider gas money and the hassle of driving into the city, it’s a pretty good deal. The bus was full and 10 plays were offered in all. I heard talk of “Mamma Mia,” “Pippen,” “Kinky Boots,” “Matilda The Musical” and “Rock of Ages,” just in the back of the bus. Call 732-528-8434 to reserve tickets and a bus seat from Broadway Ray.
The two-and-a-half-hour stage adaptation of the 1992 movie came to Broadway in March 2012 and was based on a true story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899. The strike was a result of the underpayment of newsboys who delivered Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst’s New York Morning Journal. The newsboys, known as newsies, went on strike for two weeks, causing Pulitzer’s circulation to decrease, which convinced him to increase the newsies’ pay if they came back to work.
In the musical production on June 29, newsie Jack Kelly was played by Broadway newcomer Corey Cott.
The young newsie is upset by Pulitzer’s rise in prices for the newspapers and leads a strike. His friends and other newsies join him to persuade Pulitzer to change the prices. Kelly meets reporter Katherine Plumber (played by Kara Lindsey) who covers the newsie strike. The two fall for each other, but she holds a secret that could change everything.
Through songs like “Seize the Day,” “Santa Fe” and “King of New York,” “Newsies” conveys to the audience the hope and anxiety newsboys struggled with to get what they wanted in the late 19th century.
Cott, 22, led the cast with a phenomenal voice that captivated and wowed the audience. Kara Lindsey also made her Broadway debut, but came across as too excited and slightly overacted the part. Nonetheless, her singing made up for the exaggerated acting.
Harvey Fierstein wrote the book for the stage musical “Newsies” and also wrote the book for the stage musical version of “Kinky Boots.”
With the cast’s flawless dance numbers and nimble back flips across the stage, it’s no surprise the musical won a Tony Award in 2012 for Best Choreography. It also took home a win for Best Score in 2012.
Audience members do not have to know any background information to enjoy “Newsies” and there was never a dull moment on stage, whether set pieces were moving, feet were kicking or the cast was singing.
Overall, the musical left viewers with a satisfying and happy feeling that people of any age can make a difference and hard work does pay off.
The Nederlander Theater is located at 208 W. 41st St. in New York City. Show tickets alone are at ticketmaster.com or call 866-870-2717. Tickets range from $67 to $167. The performance schedule is Monday through Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
