Admittedly, the story behind Disney's Broadway hit Newsies may sound a bit dull. In fact, when I told my mother that I had been invited to take my family to opening night, she made a face and asked, "Do you think the kids will like that?" Well...yes, in fact I DID think they would like it. Despite the premise-the show is based on an 1899 newsboys' strike against The New York World newspaper-I knew that this was a Tony award winner for best score (The music is done by Alan Menken, of Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid fame) and best choreography, which my kids would love. Plus, it's a Disney production, so at the very least I figured it would have interesting set design and cool costumes.
Was I right? Yes, yes, and yes. My family LOVED the show, and so did the other Tucsonans who attended Tuesday's opening night, giving the charismatic cast a standing ovation. Newsies was thoroughly enjoyable for all of the reasons mentioned above: charming music (and some catchy songs..."King of New York" has been stuck in my head ever since Tuesday night), wonderful dancing that had the characters flipping and flying all over the stage, and fabulous costumes and set design. I was amazed at what they were able to do with scaffolding and screens, and with the way the sets were incorporated into the choreography.
What I was most surprised by was that the little snippet of history the show imparted was actually quite interesting. I had never seen the 1992 movie on which this stage show is based, nor had I ever read about the real events that inspired the story, so it was all new(s) to me. My 8-year-old daughter was also very curious about the historical details, and I found myself whispering general explanations about unions and striking and the power of the newspaper empires during that time period. She was fascinated, and afterward said she liked learning about the history nearly as much as she enjoyed the "energy" of the dancers, and the "elaborate" sets and "realistic" costumes. We Googled the newsies strike of 1899 the next day, and learned more about this event that we never would have heard about were it not for this musical.
Whether you're a fan of the original movie, a general fan of musicals, or even just a bit of a history buff who also appreciates energetic choreography, Newsies is sure to bring you to your feet also!
What: Broadway in Tucson presents Disney's Newsies
Where: Centennial Hall
When: Through April 26 (times vary)
Tickets: Purchase tickets through ticketmaster.com.
Where: Centennial Hall
When: Through April 26 (times vary)
Tickets: Purchase tickets through ticketmaster.com.
