Newsies

Chantilly High School

Photo credits: @chantilly_drama on Instagram

There’s change comin’ once and for all…

and with the stellar cast of Chantilly High School’s “Newsies” in tow, all it might take is a couple of fouettés. 

Whenever I see a cast having an absolute blast onstage, I know I’m in for a treat. This production was no exception; with riveting group numbers and an infectious ensemble, how could Pulitzer possibly say no? 

Well, if he does… bring an extra pair of tap shoes. That’ll do the trick.

Newsies

When I think of the most defining musicals of our generation, it comes down to a holy trifecta: Hamilton, Wicked, and Newsies. One might argue Newsies wasn’t nearly as commercially successful as the other two--heck, it only ran for two years on Broadway--but that would be to neglect the remarkable impact this musical has had (and continues to have), even at the regional and community level. 

I know you’ve seen that “barbershop haircut” clip at least fifteen times. 

“Newsies” originated as a 1992 Disney film starring Christian Bale (the blueprint for all Jack Kelly dreamboats to come), debuting classic songs like “Seize the Day” and “Carrying the Banner.” Really, almost all of the movie’s original score was carried over to the musical, considering Alan Menken did the score for both. 

Still, there are some significant differences between the two. When “Newsies” opened on Broadway in 2012, the entire character of female reporter Katherine was added to the show, which brought her solo anthem (“Watch What Happens”) and duet with Jack (“Something to Believe In”) along with it. Medda Larkin also got a solo number in the new production, as did Pulitzer.

While I’m pretty sure the real 1899 newsboys didn’t kick-ball-change their way to winning the movement, the musical’s events are based in actual American history. At the turn of the 19th century, 17-year-old Jack Kelly is living with a group of fellow newsboys on the city streets of New York. When greedy publisher Joseph Pulitzer decides to jack up his prices, making it harder for Newsies to make the same money as always, the boys form a union and go on strike. It doesn’t take long for an entire revolution to form, with Jack Kelly and his fellow Manhattan Newsies at the head of a movement to fight for the rights of working kids all over the city.

Today, “Newsies” is known for dynamic choreography, soaring ensemble numbers, and an act 1 finale that is singlehandedly responsible for amplifying (or destroying) the ego of tenors everywhere.

Enough APUSH! Let’s head to the auditorium, and take a peek into Chantilly High School’s latest production.

This Production

The production opens on a landscape of newsboys, fast asleep beneath the scaffolding of Lower Manhattan streets. Well, all except for two: Ben Corliss and Tiernan Zizolfo, as the charming Jack Kelly and lovable Crutchie, respectively. 

Corliss opened the show as a devoted dreamer, and crooned of the distant “Santa Fe” to Zizolfo: a heartwarming duet that illustrated the boys’ unbreakable friendship. Jack Kelly is arguably one of Broadway’s most iconic roles, and Corliss certainly came into his own as the charismatic leader: with a sure stance and cocky grin, Corliss had his fellow newsies (and the audience) raring to strike. 

Zizolfo was utterly lovable in the role of Crutchie, from a sweet smile to the enthusiastic wave of his crutch in the wake of the movement.  I have been a ride-or-die Crutchie fan since watching Andrew Keenen-Bolger in the Newsies pro-shot at age 10, so the level of innocence Zizolfo brought to the role was perfect. His bond with Corliss was undeniable, which made for a tear-jerking “Letter from the Refuge” as he kept up hope for his fellow newsies.

If Jack is the brawn, Davey’s the brains; luckily for us, Griffin Sebunia had both. While Sebunia’s Davey was initially tentative to protect his little brother Les (Meghan Fry), he skillfully transformed into an unfaltering union organizer. By the second act, he’d fully immersed himself into the movement, and delivered an incredibly determined “Watch What Happens (Reprise)” to re-inspire Corliss. Fry was right by his side, with a child-like charm that never failed to elicit a few giggles from the audience.

Rounding out the dream team was Meghan Bernet, who brought girlboss reporter Katherine Plummer to life. From her first strides across the Chantilly stage, it was clear Bernet exuded a classy confidence, with an even sharper tongue. Her determination was palpable, especially throughout the fast-paced “Watch What Happens,” where Bernet showed off her crystal-clear belt alongside a riveting series of discoveries. After exchanging more than a few witty remarks with Corliss, their relationship soon blossomed into a power couple worth rooting for.

Finally, where would “Newsies” be without its incredibly energetic ensemble? Chantilly’s was no exception to this rule, and every member of the cast was bursting with personality. From Julia Klun’s positively loudmouth Race to Thaddeus Yalong’s jokester Albert, each newsie brought their own exuberance to every musical number--a tight-knit community that was raring to settle the score. They took up every inch of Peyton Dunham’s scaffolded set, swinging from ladders and perching on balconies.

Who is it for?

The story of Newsies is one that rings true today, and is certainly fit for all ages. It’s your classic underdog story: pluck, pirouettes, and plenty of payback. Whether or not you’ve listened to Jeremy Jordan belt the glorious A4 in “Sante Fe (Reprise)” about a hundred times, this production is sure to strike a chord for mega-fans and newbies alike. 

Haha, get it? Newbies? …Like Newsies?

Unfunny joke aside, while Newsies contains a few subtle innuendos and mild depictions of violence, it’s a very family-friendly production on the whole. I’d personally recommend it for ages 8 and up.

There’s one more performance of Newsies at 2pm on Sunday, October 19th; catch it before it closes!

Check out chantillydrama.org for more information.