Friday, March 8, 2019

Review: Newsies at Bellarmine

Plot Summary:

With the Spanish-American War over, newspaper sales were down, and Joseph Pulitzer decided to increase the price that newspaper boys pay for 100 newspapers from 50 to 60 cents. The boys (many of them orphans), loosely organized, decide to strike to force Joseph Pulitzer (and other newspaper publishers) to back down. With the help of Governor Theodore Roosevelt, the newsies eventually prevailed.



Bellarmine Production

For a high school, the production of Newsies at Bellarmine was not half-bad. The dancing was unsynchronized, and the music lacked punch. Except for the lead JP Micallef (playing Jack), Lauren Chivers (as Katherine Plumber), and Leo Mangalindan (as Joseph Pulitzer), the overall singing was a bit on the weaker side. The stage was stark (similar to the Disney Newsies production).

Now that I have seen it, I don't know whether I would ever choose to see it on Broadway. The music and the dancing did not really appeal to me. It is not in the same league as Chicago, Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, or Avenue Q.

Bellarmine Newsies Cast

CharacterActor
Jack KellyJP Micallef
CrutchieEli Gordon
DaveyConor Gallivan
LesDonovan Cozort
Darcy/SnyderDominic Mattiello
Bill (Hearst)/Scab 3/KidWill Wrapped
Wiesel/StageManager/Mr. Jacobi/MayorArash Shabany
Oscar DelanceyJesus Perez Frias
Morris DelanceyArturo Collazo
Joseph Pulitzer/GoonLeo Mangalindan
AlbertFabian Lucero
ButtonsGabriel Young
FinchLucas Kihmm
HenryJosh Frojelin
Jo JoAllison Dosdos
MushMichael Young
RaceJosiah Cannon
RomeoCameron Tsang
ElmerAbbe Pingol
SpecsDylan Jee
SplasherKaylie Moniz
"Tommy Boy"May Nagao
"Mike"Jocee Ang
"Ike"Prema Yousuf
Spot Conlon/Scab 1Francesca Meninger
Katherine PlumberLauren Chivers
Seitz/PolicemanQuinn Dembecki
Bunsen/Policeman/GoonZen Chamberlain
Hannah/Nun/PhotographerAnela Quiroz
Bowery Beauty/NewsieHannah Luscher
Nunzio/Guard/RooseveltWill Meckstroth
Medda Larkin/NunGigi Ward
Woman/Nun/Bowery Beauty/NewsiePhoenix LaFreniere
Dance SwingsDominic Macasiray
Carolyn Zazueta


Musical Numbers
Act 1

Prologue: Rooftop, Dawn
"Santa Fe" - Jack, Crutchie

Scene 1: Newsboy's Loading House & Newsie Square
"Carrying the Banner" - Jack, Newsies, Nuns

Scene 2: Pulitzer's Office
"The Bottom Line" - Pulitzer, Seitz, Bunsen, Hannah
"Carrying the Banner" - Newsies

Scene 4: Medda's Theater
"That's Rich" - Medda
"I Never Planned On You/Don't Come a-Knocking" - Jack/Bowery Beauties 

Scene 5: Newsie Square, Next Morning
"The World Will Know" - Jack, Davey, Crutchie, Les, Newsies

Scene 6: Jacobi's Deli & Street, Afternoon
"The World Will Know" - Jack, Davey, Les, Newsies
"What What Happens" - Katherine

Scene 8: Newsie Square, Next Morning
"Seize the Day" - Davey, Hack, Les, Newsies

Scene 9: Rooftop
"Santa Fe" - Jack

Act 2

Scene 1: Jacobi's Deli
"King of New York" - Davey, Katherine, Les, Newsies

Scene 2: The Refuge
"Letter from the Refuge" - Crutchie

Scene 3: Media's Theatre
"Watch What Happens (reprise)" - Davey, Jack, Katherine, Les

Scene 4: Pulitzer's Office & Cellar, Afternoon
"The Bottom Line" - Pulitzer, Seitz, Bunsen
"Brooklyn's Here" - Spot, Newsies

Scene 5: Brooklyn Bridge & Medda Theatre
"Brooklyn's Here" - Spot, Newsies

Scene 6: Rooftop, Night
"Something to Believe In" - Katherine, Jack

Scene 7: Pulitzer's Cellar
"Seize the Day" - Newsies
"Once and for All" - Jack, Davey, Katherine, Newsies

Scene 8: Pulitzer's Office, Next Morning
"Seize the Day" - Newsies

Scene 9: Newsie Square
"Finale Ultimo" - Company


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