Cast Member Reflects on the Spring Musical

The high school has a fantastic theater program that has put on many amazing productions; however, this year's Newsies stood out among the rest. As a cast member, I found myself engulfed in the rich history of the show. The story and writing never failed to amaze me, and with the help of the director's enthusiasm, the students took on the roles and really represented the characters. Seniors Sullivan Smith and Morgan Monthei played the leads, Jack Kelly and Katherine Plumber, respectively, taking their last year on the stage to truly shine.

The musical Newsies is an adaptation of the 1992 Disney film, which was based on true events. The true story of the newsboys of New York has many overlaps with the Broadway show, including time period and even a few characters. The story takes place in 1899, where young newsboys and street vendors joined together to fight for their rights against Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. These main themes are displayed in the show, as Jack Kelly, an inspired 17-year-old from New York, leads a strike to protect and speak out for the little guy. The core power struggle between the underdog and the upper class eventually comes to a close with a heartwarming reunion of friends and a promise for the future.

Our previous director, Cathy Quigley, had been running the school's musicals for years; and although she did a great job, a new director still sounded exciting. With no previous connections at the high school, Ray Crozier came into the process as our new director. Taking on that leading role comes with many daunting tasks, but he stayed calm and supportive throughout every rehearsal and run. His experience and expertise pushed us to be more brave and courageous on stage. Even on our bad days, he always found a way to make us laugh. Additionally, with tremendous planning and work from our choreographer, Margaret Moran, we were able to dance not just smoothly, but also emotionally. The featured dancers made our show dazzle and pop, and we only have Moran to thank for spending those long rehearsals going over the steps. Most importantly, the show wouldn't be the same without the outstanding collection of costumes made by Mary Boeni. Boeni has been with the high school since the production of The King and I in 2018 and she has stuck with us through every single production step, making sure we mirrored accurate newsboys as we were up there dancing.

Finally, a musical wouldn't be possible without music, so even though Dr. Leo Zumpetta was also newer to the spring show scene, he got us through and helped us perform those songs to the best of our ability. All of these astonishing directors put this show together to be as sensational as it was. As I was talking to Monthei, she said, “This was the best show I've ever been a part of in my life. From my amazing castmates to my innovative director and incredibly patient choreographer, I've never felt more supported throughout a role than I have been in Newsies this year. They really listened to us and worked with us to create something I'm so proud of and will miss so much.”

The themes of this story include love, brotherhood, and fighting for each other. I think everyone in the cast felt these things at some point. With beaming faces and proud smiles, the cast took our final bow, and ran off stage, ending this year's musical. I couldn't have asked for a better show, and it is needless to say that everyone had an unforgettable experience. Hopefully this has inspired you to consider auditioning next year for Mamma Mia! Here we go again!