Three years ago, I found myself standing outside the Nederlander Theatre with a group of musical theatre geeks lovers hoping to score tickets to the day’s sold-out performance of Disney Newsies. When the show was announced, the Broadway run was slated for just 101 performances. By the time I arrived in New York City that week, I knew that the only way to see the show was to camp out in front of the theater waiting for the announcement of the day’s lottery winners. Our last night in New York City ended with a sprinkling of Disney magic and memories of one of the best musicals on (and off) Broadway.
Based on the musical film Newsies, the production is set in New York City and inspired by the Newsboy Strike of 1899. In true-to-life events, newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a 2-week long strike against some of the most powerful newspaper publishers.
In Disney Newsies, Jack Kelly is a charming newsboy and the leader of a band of teen “newsies” who dream of a better life, one that isn’t wrought with the hardship and frustration of living on the streets of New York. When publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the distribution costs of the newspapers to outsell his competitors, the newsboys organize a strike to protest. While you may find similarities between the film and the stage production, Disney Newsies debuts seven brand new songs composed and written by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman.
Disney Newsies has been seen by more than 1 million people and was the highest grossing show on Broadway from 2011-2012. It has also won Tony Awards for Best Choreography, Best Original Score and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Music.
Disney Newsies debuts at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on May 17th, 2016 and will run through May 29th, 2016. Single tickets start at just $25 and can be purchased online or in-person at the box office. Performances will be held Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m, and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. A limited number of discount tickets are also available on Goldstar.
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Tim & I saw this show when it came through Tucson this past year! Lots of fun!