The Kings (and Queens) of New York

The company of Newsies at the Waukesha Civic Theatre. Photo credit: Anne Kenny Creative.

A review of Newsies

by Charlie Fetters, age 15

Stop the presses! Waukesha Civic Theatre has pulled it off yet again with their standout performances of Disney’s Newsies. This musical shows off the impressive vocals, dance moves, and acting of an outstanding cast. The collaborative nature of this show really shines through because of this—there’s a reason the name of the show is plural. With such strong and unique performers, this production is something the world should know about.

This cast truly did seize the day. Newsies is an incredibly difficult show to pull together, as the majority of ensemble numbers have energetic dances that are accompanied by lively vocals, making it difficult to balance the two. This group, however, made it look easy. I was impressed at their remarkable ability to execute intense choreography (props to Abby Rasmussen, the choreographer) while keeping a steady voice and acting as well.

Dynamic dancers are a MAJOR part of this show—it’s not Newsies without tap and jazz—and this cast brought that high energy, commitment, and enthusiasm to their performance. The way they moved was something you don’t see often, because they danced with their feelings influencing them. If the characters were hopeful, their dancing showed that; if the scene prior led them to disappointment, you could tell that they were upset through their faces and movements. The creation of emotion as well as character through dance makes it difficult to take your eyes off the stage.

Jack Kelly (played by Cobi Tappa), Katherine Plumber (Megan Rose Miller), Davey (Jacob Cesar), Les (Kyla Johnson), and Crutchie (Adam Frontera) were especially engaging. Their vocal abilities were consistently highlighted; they did an amazing job as soloists, as well as a group. The harmonies of each song really shone throughout the entire show, which I was extremely happy to see. I find the harmonies to be very integral to the overall score, and seeing everyone easily blend their vocals with each other AND the music, was extremely satisfying to see (and hear)!

In numbers such as "Carrying the Banner," "The World Will Know," "Seize the Day," "King of New York," and "Once and For All," I kept finding myself immersed in what the ensemble was doing, as they were ALWAYS acting. Their choices when interacting with each other were especially fun to watch, as it brought that familial connection the newsies have. There was never a moment where I saw a single actor out of character. They kept mannerisms, accents, and body language consistent, which is absolutely necessary to this show’s realism.

It takes a community to combat a challenge, and this cast is a perfect example of what community looks like. Creating connections between characters is what makes this show so unique, and this cast did it perfectly. The combination of thrilling choreography, standout vocals, realistic acting, and storytelling makes this production one of a kind to people everywhere. This incredibly talented cast deserves way more credit than they receive, because this is one of the best performances of Newsies I’ve ever watched.

This production runs through December 21st at the Waukesha Civic Theatre!