Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) will host a Newsies Fan Day at the Millburn theater on Sunday, October 2nd. Newsies Fan Day is an opportunity for Newsies fans nationwide to celebrate this cult phenomenon. Participants will have the opportunity to attend a Newsies Fan Reception at 5pm in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery on the campus of Paper Mill Playhouse. At 6:00pm, there will be a Newsies Cast Talk-Back where both the stage cast and members of the film cast will discuss Newsies. The Newsies Fan Package costs $25 and includes: the Newsies Fan Reception, Newsies Cast Talk-Back and a Newsies gift. To participate in Newsies Fan Day, you must hold a ticket to the Newsies fan performance at 7:00pm on Sunday, October 2nd, sold separately. Radio Disney will be on campus to join in the festivities.
Paper Mill Playhouse has arranged a special ‘FAN' rate of $129 per night at the beautiful Hilton Short Hills for the evenings of October 1st and October 2nd. To make a reservation at Hilton Short Hills, please visit: http://tiny.cc/rbo7i and enter the promo code FAN or call Hilton Short Hills at 973-379-0100.
Newsies begins at Paper Mill Playhouse on Thursday, September 15, and will be performed eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday, through Sunday, October 16. Show tickets and Newsies Fan Packages may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or by visiting the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 35% discount on tickets and should call 973-315-1680.
The film Newsies has grown into a cult phenomenon with a generation having grown up on the movie's driving, infectious score since its 1992 theatrical release and subsequent DVD. Newsies has for years been the single most requested title by professional and amateur theater groups, according to the world's largest dramatic licensing agent, MTI. This new stage version keeps many of the film's beloved songs and adds several new numbers by the original team of Menken and Feldman.
Newsies is inspired by the real life ‘Newsboy Strike of 1899,' when newsboy Kid Blink led the ragged orphans and runaways known as newsies on a two-week-long action against Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. Set in New York City at the turn of the century, the musical is the tale of newsie Jack Kelly, who dreams of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when Pulitzer and Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsies' expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies his army of newsies to strike.
Featuring music by eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast; Sister Act; The Little Mermaid), lyrics by Jack Feldman and a new book by four-time Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy), Newsies is adapted for the stage from the 1992 live-action Disney feature film musical. Newsies will be directed at Paper Mill Playhouse by Tony® nominee Jeff Calhoun (The Will Rogers Follies; Brooklyn: The Musical; Grey Gardens). Tony® nominated Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific; Altar Boyz; Silence: The Musical) serves as choreographer.
Revolutionary newsie Jack Kelly will be portrayed by Jeremy Jordan of Broadway's West Side Story and Rock of Ages. Tony® Award nominee John Dossett will play newspaper giant Joseph Pulitzer. Kara Lindsay will play Katherine
Jordan will be joined by fellow newsies: Ben Fankhauser as Davey; RJ Fattori and Vincent Agnello sharing the role of Les; Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Crutchie; Tommy Bracco as Spot Conlon; Brendon Stimson as Oscar Delancey, Mike Faist as Morris Delancey; Aaron J. Albano, Ryan Breslin, Kyle Coffman, Max Ehrich (Jack U/S), JP Ferreri, Garett Hawe, Corey Hummerston, Evan Kasprzak, Andy Richardson, Scott Shedenhelm and Ryan Steele.
Rounding out the cast are: Mark Aldrich (Seitz), Helen Anker (Medda), John E. Brady (Wiesel), Kevin Carolan (Roosevelt), Julie Foldesi (Ms. Baum), Stuart Marland (Snyder), Michael McArthur, Jack Scott, Nick Sullivan (Bunsen) and Laurie Veldheer (Hannah).
Newsies is generously supported by a grant from The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. Investors Savings Bank is the proud sponsor of Paper Mill Playhouse's 2011-2012 season.
Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theaters. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
