Stage Production Notes
Newsies started life as a movie musical directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, and released in 1992. The film starred Christian Bale and was loosely based on the real-life events of the newsboy strikes of 1899. Although not a commercial success, the film gained a cult following.
According to MTI, Newsies was the “single most requested title by professional and amateur theatre groups.”
The long-awaited stage version was announced early in 2011. The production premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in September 2011. Several reports note that the run was intended to be a limited engagement, readying the show for amateur release shortly afterwards.
The reviews and audience response were ecstatic. David Rooney of the New York Times praised Harvey Fierstein’s book and the exuberantly athletic ensemble. Despite not being a fan of the movie, Rooney claimed the stage show “has a stirring, old-school sincerity that’s hard to resist.”
David Barbour noted in Lighting and Sound that the show “offers far more commercial promise than anything Disney has produced in years,” and provided audiences with “a rowdy, uncomplicated good time.”
Rumors quickly flew of a Broadway transfer and in March 2012, Newsies opened at the Nederlander Theatre. Again, Disney intended for the show to have a limited run, but due to popular demand the show remained open and became of one of the highest grossing musicals of the 2011-12 season.
The production was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, winning for Best Choreography (Christopher Gattelli) and Best Original Score (Alan Menken and Jack Feldman).
The critics gave the Broadway production equally rave reviews.
Thomas Antoinne held high praise for leading man Jeremy Jordan, stating “His Jack Kelly is one for the books… There are a handful of triple threats working on Broadway today, but not one young leading man with the charisma, full-on talent, and star quality of Jeremy Jordan.
The Broadway run played 1005 performances, closing on August 24, 2014.
The North American Tour began shortly after and ran for 700 performances across 65 cities.
By the end of the tour, combining Broadway and tour numbers, Newsies had played to 2.5 million audience members.
Newsies started life as a movie musical directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, and released in 1992. The film starred Christian Bale and was loosely based on the real-life events of the newsboy strikes of 1899. Although not a commercial success, the film gained a cult following.
According to MTI, Newsies was the “single most requested title by professional and amateur theatre groups.”
The long-awaited stage version was announced early in 2011. The production premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in September 2011. Several reports note that the run was intended to be a limited engagement, readying the show for amateur release shortly afterwards.
The reviews and audience response were ecstatic. David Rooney of the New York Times praised Harvey Fierstein’s book and the exuberantly athletic ensemble. Despite not being a fan of the movie, Rooney claimed the stage show “has a stirring, old-school sincerity that’s hard to resist.”
David Barbour noted in Lighting and Sound that the show “offers far more commercial promise than anything Disney has produced in years,” and provided audiences with “a rowdy, uncomplicated good time.”
Rumors quickly flew of a Broadway transfer and in March 2012, Newsies opened at the Nederlander Theatre. Again, Disney intended for the show to have a limited run, but due to popular demand the show remained open and became of one of the highest grossing musicals of the 2011-12 season.
The production was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, winning for Best Choreography (Christopher Gattelli) and Best Original Score (Alan Menken and Jack Feldman).
The critics gave the Broadway production equally rave reviews.
Thomas Antoinne held high praise for leading man Jeremy Jordan, stating “His Jack Kelly is one for the books… There are a handful of triple threats working on Broadway today, but not one young leading man with the charisma, full-on talent, and star quality of Jeremy Jordan.
The Broadway run played 1005 performances, closing on August 24, 2014.
The North American Tour began shortly after and ran for 700 performances across 65 cities.
By the end of the tour, combining Broadway and tour numbers, Newsies had played to 2.5 million audience members.
Filmed Live Production Notes
In August 2016, Disney Theatrical in partnership with Fathom Events announced that Newsies would be screened in cinemas worldwide.
The show was filmed during a special invite-only performance on September 11, 2016. Members of the original cast joined the North American tour in Los Angeles for the recording. Additional footage, including close-ups and tricky camera angles, was shot over four days following the live capture.
Despite being filmed at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles the film is billed as “Straight from the Broadway stage.”
The screenings took place around the world on February 16, 18, and 22. The screenings were viewed by over 200,000 people, took in $3.47 million, and became the highest grossing Broadway film for Fathom Events. An encore screening was held on March 4, 2017.
To celebrate the release, Playbill published a slide show of behind-the-scenes pictures from the shoot.
Disney from Anywhere released Newsies: The Broadway Musical for digital download around the world on May 23, 2017.
Newsies returned to cinemas for a special summer screening on August 5 and 9, 2017. In June 2018, Disney announced encore cinema screenings for July 26 and 28.
Newsies was made available to stream on Netflix from September 5, 2017.
On August 21, 2020, Playbill hosted a free watch party. Before the online screening, director Jeff Calhoun, Jeremy Jordan, and Kara Lindsay participated in a short Q&A.
Newsies is available to stream on Amazon, AppleTV and Disney Plus (as an affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases made through these links).
In August 2016, Disney Theatrical in partnership with Fathom Events announced that Newsies would be screened in cinemas worldwide.
The show was filmed during a special invite-only performance on September 11, 2016. Members of the original cast joined the North American tour in Los Angeles for the recording. Additional footage, including close-ups and tricky camera angles, was shot over four days following the live capture.
Despite being filmed at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles the film is billed as “Straight from the Broadway stage.”
The screenings took place around the world on February 16, 18, and 22. The screenings were viewed by over 200,000 people, took in $3.47 million, and became the highest grossing Broadway film for Fathom Events. An encore screening was held on March 4, 2017.
To celebrate the release, Playbill published a slide show of behind-the-scenes pictures from the shoot.
Disney from Anywhere released Newsies: The Broadway Musical for digital download around the world on May 23, 2017.
Newsies returned to cinemas for a special summer screening on August 5 and 9, 2017. In June 2018, Disney announced encore cinema screenings for July 26 and 28.
Newsies was made available to stream on Netflix from September 5, 2017.
On August 21, 2020, Playbill hosted a free watch party. Before the online screening, director Jeff Calhoun, Jeremy Jordan, and Kara Lindsay participated in a short Q&A.
Newsies is available to stream on Amazon, AppleTV and Disney Plus (as an affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases made through these links).
Learn more about the filming of Newsies with associate director Richard J. Hinds on episode 27 of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast. Available on all podcast apps.
Newsies Production Credits
Theatre: Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles
Producer: Disney Theatrical
Book: Harvey Fierstein
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Jack Feldman
Director: Jeff Calhoun
Musical Director: James Dodgson
Orchestrations: Danny Troob
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Mark Hummel
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli
Scenic Design: Tobin Ost
Costume Design: Jess Goldstein
Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter
Sound Design: Ken Travis
Original Projection Design: Sven Ortel
Projection Adaptation: Daniel Brodie
Hair and Wig Design: Charles G. LaPointe
Fight Direction: J. Allen Suddeth
Stage Manager: Jeff Norman
Cast: Jeremy Jordan (Jack Kelly), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie), Ben Cook (Race), Sky Flaherty (Albert), Jordan Samuels (Specs), Michael Rios (Henry), Iain Young (Finch), Anthony Zas (Elmer), Nico DeJesus (Romeo), Nicholas Masson (Mush), Kara Lindsay (Katherine), Jack Sippel (Darcy), Kaitlyn Frank, Meredith Inglesby, Beth Stafford Laird (Nuns), Devin Lewis (Morris Delancey) Anthony Norman (Oscar Delancey), John E. Brady (Wiesel), Ben Fankhauser (Davey), Ethan Steiner (Les), Steve Blanchard (Joseph Pulitzer), Mark Aldrich (Seitz), Bill Bateman (Bunsen), Meredith Inglesby (Hannah), James Judy (Snyder), Aisha De Haas (Medda Larkin), Bill Bateman (stage manager), John E. Brady (Mr. Jacobi) Michael Dameski, Andy Richardson, Daniel Switzer (Scab), Michael Gorman (Mayor), Tommy Bracco (Spot Conlon), Nicolas Masson (Bill), Kevin Carolan (Govenor Roosevelt)
Theatre: Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles
Producer: Disney Theatrical
Book: Harvey Fierstein
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Jack Feldman
Director: Jeff Calhoun
Musical Director: James Dodgson
Orchestrations: Danny Troob
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Mark Hummel
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli
Scenic Design: Tobin Ost
Costume Design: Jess Goldstein
Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter
Sound Design: Ken Travis
Original Projection Design: Sven Ortel
Projection Adaptation: Daniel Brodie
Hair and Wig Design: Charles G. LaPointe
Fight Direction: J. Allen Suddeth
Stage Manager: Jeff Norman
Cast: Jeremy Jordan (Jack Kelly), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie), Ben Cook (Race), Sky Flaherty (Albert), Jordan Samuels (Specs), Michael Rios (Henry), Iain Young (Finch), Anthony Zas (Elmer), Nico DeJesus (Romeo), Nicholas Masson (Mush), Kara Lindsay (Katherine), Jack Sippel (Darcy), Kaitlyn Frank, Meredith Inglesby, Beth Stafford Laird (Nuns), Devin Lewis (Morris Delancey) Anthony Norman (Oscar Delancey), John E. Brady (Wiesel), Ben Fankhauser (Davey), Ethan Steiner (Les), Steve Blanchard (Joseph Pulitzer), Mark Aldrich (Seitz), Bill Bateman (Bunsen), Meredith Inglesby (Hannah), James Judy (Snyder), Aisha De Haas (Medda Larkin), Bill Bateman (stage manager), John E. Brady (Mr. Jacobi) Michael Dameski, Andy Richardson, Daniel Switzer (Scab), Michael Gorman (Mayor), Tommy Bracco (Spot Conlon), Nicolas Masson (Bill), Kevin Carolan (Govenor Roosevelt)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Thomas Antoinne, “Broadway Theater Review: NEWSIES (Nederlander),” Stage and Cinema (March 30, 2012)
- David Barbour, “Theatre in Review: Newsies (Paper Mill Playhouse)” Lighting and Sound America (Sept 27, 2011)
- Box Office Staff, “‘Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical!’ Becomes Top-Grossing Broadway Event in Fathom Events History,” Box Office Pro (Feb 23, 2017)
- Broadway.com, “Staff, Strike! Newsies Musical to Make Debut at Paper Mill Playhouse,” Broadway.com (Feb 14, 2011)
- Nick Dager, “From Stage to Event Cinema Screen,” Digital Cinema Report (Feb 15, 2017)
- Adam Hetrick, “Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical Sets Theatrical Release Dates,” Playbill (Nov 16, 2016)
- Adam Hetrick, “Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical Sets Theatrical Encore Screening” Playbill (Feb 23, 2017)
- Andrew Gans, “Disney's Newsies Musical Will Arrive on Netflix in September,” Playbill (Aug 23, 2017)
- Ryan McPhee, “Newsies Will Return to Movie Theatres in July” Playbill (June 8, 2018)
- David Rooney, “Newsboy Strike? Sing All About It,” New York Times (Sept 27, 2011)
- Maria Sciullo, “Filmed version of 'Newsies' leaps to record for cinematic presentation,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Feb 26, 2017)
Websites
- Disney, Newsies The Musical official website, http://newsiesthemusical.com/
- Disney Theatrical, “DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND FATHOM EVENTS PARTNER TO BRING THE TONY® AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL Newsies TO CINEMAS WORLDWIDE EARLY 2017” Disney Press Release, (Aug 2016)
Written by Luisa Lyons (March, 2017. Updated August 2017; June 2018; Aug 2020)