Date: June 27, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Sutter Street Theatre Annex, 710 Figueroa St., Folsom, CA 95630
Callbacks to take place Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th at 7:00 PM.
Please bring a headshot and resume if you have them. Prepare a song and bring sheet music or a backing track. Dress to move and bring dance shoes and tap shoes if you have them. Please be prepared to list any conflicts you have for rehearsals.
Timeline:
Rehearals are June 30 – August 5 from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Shows run August 6th – 29th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 4:00 PM.
Synopsis:
It’s time to carry the banner on your stage with Disney’s Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!
Roles:
The role of Jack is precast.
Crutchie: A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy-sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie should still be included in the dance numbers.
Davey: Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living, but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance.
Les: Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies.
Newsies: Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage.
Scabs: Three newsies who are hesitant to join the strike.
Spot Conlon: The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
Katherine Plumber: An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key.
Darcy: The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
Bill: The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies’ cause. Can double as a newsie.
Wiesel: Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper-pusher.
Oscar and Morris Delancey: Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.
Goons: Assist the DeLanceys in roughing up the newsies at the end of Act One.
Joseph Pulitzer: A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack.
Seitz: Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
Bunsen: Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
Hannah: Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.
Nunzio: Pulitzer’s barber
Guard: The Guard removes the newsies from Pulitzer’s building.
Snyder: The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.
Medda Larkin: Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice.
The Bowery Beauties: Female performers at Medda’s Theater.
Stage Manager: Introduces Medda’s act.
Nuns: The three nuns offer breakfast to the hungry newsies. Feel free to cast additional nuns.
Photographer: Takes the triumphant photo of the newsies at the end of “Seize the Day.”
Mr. Jacobi: Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.
Policemen: Assist Snyder and turn against the newsies in the fight that concludes Act One.
Mayor: The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike.
Governor Teddy Roosevelt: A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.