Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Spartans Seize the Day in Newsies, JR.

Months of hard work memorizing lines, building sets and numerous rehearsals paid off during the Middle School fall musical, Disney’s Newsies, JR. led by Middle School Theatre Director Jeremy Sweetlamb. During each of the three sold out shows, the student actors transported audience members to the streets of New York City at the turn-of-the-century when powerful newspaper publishers raised prices at the newsboys' expense. The charismatic Jack Kelly, played by Caden Chen ’29, rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. The newsies learn that they are stronger together and they created a movement to fight for what's right.

“We can’t deny the social importance of this show. While today’s kids may feel completely divorced from the strife of working and homeless kids in New York, the fact is that these conditions still exist in other parts of the world today, and we should not consider ourselves numb to them,” said Sweetlamb in his director’s notes.

The combined efforts of Musical Director Kendra Lipman, Choreographer Kassie Kelly and Technical Director Robert Whyburn brought the Black Box Theatre to life, which was a new and smaller location for the cast members to perform. 

 

“It’s hard to take such tough subject matter and turn it into a bright and bouncy musical with so much incredible dancing and singing, but that’s what our adults have done. I am extremely proud of this show and all that we have accomplished under tight space constraints," says Sweetlamb.

Chen, who took on one of the leading roles, called the entire experience from start to finish “fun and exciting,” thanks in part to the upbeat songs and dance moves he and the rest of his cast performed.

Sweetlamb says he and Lipman selected the fall musical last spring, based on parts they felt meshed well with the voices of current Middle School students. The musical also checked the box on having roles that would attract more boys to participate, which Sweetlamb says is always an ongoing battle.

Students were able to get a head start on learning the songs and choreography prior to the first day of school, thanks to pre-season musical camp in mid-August. Auditions were held the first week of school, and since then it has been full speed ahead with set design, wardrobe, learning lines, improving the songs and tightening up the dance moves. Sweetlamb says all of their hard work paid off.

“The shows were fantastic,” said Sweetlamb. “Rehearsal is the work and performance is the play! I'm so proud of these kids and our adult team who pulled everything together. Now, we nap.”

The next production in the lineup is the Upper School Winter Play “Our Town,” on stage during Discovery Weekend December 7-9 in the Helm Fine Arts Theatre. Click here for details and show times. Upper School Theatre Director Mike Dolan says the Theatre Department and the students intentionally chose this play for this election year because of its “timeless themes and beautiful language.” The play insists that all people should be treated with respect and dignity, and that the cycle of life we all share is far more important than the differences that can divide us. 

Stage Manager - Krish Nath ’30

Asst. Stage Manager - Liam Ware ’29

Qlab/Music - Rayyan Khan ’29

Costumes - Medha Sitaram ’29

Costumes - Aspen Gipprich ’29

Costumes - Henry Waldron ’31

Hair - Finley Wilson ’29

Lights - Barrett Wink/Dune Reid ’30

Follow Spot 1 - Isha Goel ’30

Follow Spot 2 - Connor Ly ’31

Properties - Neil Felger ’30

Stage Crew - Colin Kindel ’30

StageCrew - Jacob Baldwin ’29

StageCrew - Audrey Kim ’29

StageCrew - Jackson Neugart ’31

Stage Crew - Keeli Sun ’31

 

Jack Kelly - Caden Chen ’29

Katherine - Juliet Dalzell-Payne ’29

Crutchie - Addie Gunnin ’30

Darcy/Pat - Ellie Freels ’30

Morris Delancey - Charlotte Elwell ’30

Oscar Delancey/Roosevelt - Pierce Bares ’31

Wiesel/Seitz - Vihaan Subramanian ’29

Les - Jake Bohrer ’31

Davey - Emily Yang ’30

Joseph Pulitzer - Smyan Sharma ’29

Bunsen - Aspen Gipprich ’29

Hannah - Athena Toba-Keith ’29

Snyder/Bill - Laksh Kadam ’29

Medda Larkin - Ella Dillard ’30

Spot/Police - Nishk Kadam ’31

Dorothy/Police - Zoey Snyder ’31

Race - Clark Schutt ’29

Albert - Elias Ferng ’31

Muriel - Victoria Kauachi ’31

Nancy - Stella Carrington ’31

Specs - Finley Wilson ’29

Pigtails - Lauren Patrick ’31

Hazel - Allie Nelson ’29

Buttons/Olive - Madeleine Bischke ’31

Tommy Boy - Lucia Shen ’31

Romeo - Sammy Hanna ’29

JoJo - Alida Hudson ’30

Dance Newsie - Cate Condon ’31

NYC Woman/Scab 2 - Wynnie Burke ’31

Ada/Brooklyn Newsie - Soöa Cheeran ’31

Ethel/Brooklyn Newsie - Alana Dunn ’30

Scab 1/NYMan - Alex Garcia ’31

Scab 3/Brooklyn Newsie - Alice Xie ’31

Police Chief/Brooklyn Newsie - Zain Bhiwandiwala ’30

 

Director - Jeremy Sweetlamb

Musical Director - Kendra Lipman

Choreographer - Kassie Kelly

Technical Director - Robert Whyburn

Scenic Designer - Theada Haining

Carpenter/Runner - Cam Allen

Director of Fine Arts - Liz Moon