Students stage fictional account of NYC strike

San Marcos Academy will present Disney’s Broadway Production of NewsiesMarch 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 3 p.m. in the Robinson Christian Center on the Academy campus.  

Students, parents and staff have all contributed toward the production which features over 40 young performers. The three showings are open to the public and free of charge.

“The students have a great affection for the material and have been eager to bring their interpretation to the stage,” Director Daryl Fleming said.

With the assistance of Dr. Brian Guenther as Musical Director and Sarah Fleming Walker as choreographer, the cast has tackled the full production. “The students have impressed us all with their enthusiasm and energy,” Fleming said. “They have surprised even themselves with their talent for singing, dancing and acting.”  

Although Newsies is ultimately a work of fiction, the historical newsboy strike that took place in New York in July 1899 was every bit as dramatic. 

It lasted more than two weeks and was well documented by dozens of newspapers, which relished a bunch of kids bringing down their goliath competition: the New York World.  

Joseph Pulitzer, played by Dr. Guenther, the Academy’s president, was not actually in New York City during the strike, and Governor Theodore Roosevelt, played by Senior Carter Pruitt, did not intervene. 

However, these two titans make for terrific drama onstage.

Other characters in the musical are based on historical figures. Newsies leaders Kid Blink and Morris Cohen were the inspiration for Jack Kelly, played by Mac Daniel Howard; Katherine Plumber, played by Cortlyn Haresnape, reveals traces of investigative journalist Nellie Bly; and vaudeville performer and producer Aida Overton Walker inspired a new take on Medda Larkin, played by Qaiynat Jassani.

Newsies were required to purchase their papers from a publisher and then sell them to make their money back, along with a slim profit. Eventually exploited beyond reason by their publisher, the young salesmen have no choice but to strike. 

Jack Kelley, who at 17 is one of the veteran newsies, befriends Davey, played by Daven Meredith, and his young brother, Les, played by Mia Clay. 

Although Davey is reluctant to join the strike at first because he and his brother must sell papers to provide for their family, he feels that the newsies have a right to protest the price increase.  

Katherine Plumber, a young journalist, hopes to become more than an entertainment writer and joins the “Children’s Crusade.” In a rare turn for a musical, the ensemble of newsies becomes the main character in the show.

Included in the cast of Newsies are Truett Martin (Race); Selah Portis (Albert); Hudson Lee (Romeo); Addy Cianciotto (Crutchie); Brendan Loyd (Finch); and Jaden Fisher (Henry). 

Also portraying the host of newsies are Connie Clevenger, Mason Groves, Faith Guenther, Athena Christensen, Zach Christensen, Grace Barrett, Lacey Fields, Ella Burton, Austin Payne, Alden Epps, Iliamna Sommerlatte, Bennett Blair, Isabella Allsup and Frankie Blair.  

Pulitzer’s staff includes actors Claire Brinkley, Katalina Mendez, Robby Newman, Aaron Emerich, Doyce Gore and Ian Faris. Gabby Cianciotto plays a Bowery Beauty and Cameron Opiela plays the deli owner, Jacobi.