A Review by Suzanne Birrell.
Original company, North American Tour of NEWSIES. ©Disney.
Photo by Deen van Meer. (When they do this, the crowd goes wild!)
Newsies stole our hearts when they opened the show last night in Los Angeles. But before you read any further, stop and
buy your tickets. It's a show you want to see more than once and tickets are fast becoming scarce. It's an old fashion crowd pleasing rousing musical based on a real event that grabs your heart from the first song. The audience was drawn in from the moment the music started. The onstage energy was frequently rewarded with applause that wouldn't stop until they started again and the standing ovation at the end was immediate.
Dan DeLuca (Jack Kelly). Original North American Tour company of NEWSIES. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.
The story starts with the main character Jake singing to his friend Crutch about not wanting to live a small life in a big city but rather a big life in a small town where friends are all like family. You get a sense of family in this production-a cast of best friends. The energy is contagious. We are brought into to the story because we want the same things and have the same fears.
Original company, North American Tour of NEWSIES. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.
And then the dancing begins. Wow. Newsies won 2012 Tony Awards for best score and choreography and will definitely go down as being one of the all-time great dance productions. But great choreography only works with great dancers. These guys (and ladies) are giving it all. From hard hitting tap routines where every foot hits the floor at the precise same time to incredible gymnastic feats where they hit the floor on the beat. And all this while singing. Exhilarating. Powerful. Or as the gentleman to my right uttered frequently, "YEAH!"
Stephanie Styles (Katherine) and Dan DeLuca (Jack Kelly). Original North American Tour company of NEWSIES. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.
Dan DeLuca was Jake Kelly. Totally believable and that he could sing with such power after dancing with such energy was unbelievable. Angela Grovey as Medda Larking played her part with verve. Not only is she a fabulous singer, she is fun! She gave us an infectious performance. Stephanie Styles played Katherine with perfect comic timing.
Dan DeLuca (Jack Kelly) (center) and the original North American Tour company of NEWSIES. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.
Newsies has a perfect mix of fun and serious. The scene of the police brutalizing the paperboys was both artistic and powerful and reminded me of recent encounters in Oakland between the police and the college kids marching for the 99.
The set was indescribably fabulously ingenious. Congratulation to the entire production team for a flawless production.
This show is definitely suitable for all ages. I highly recommend it as a must see-DO NOT MISS. It's only in town for four short weeks. Get your tickets HERE! Read more about the show
HERE!
Runs thru April 19, 2015 at The Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
Original company, North American Tour of NEWSIES. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.
Dan DeLuca (Jack Kelly) (center) and the original North American Tour company of NEWSIES. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.