First, stop reading, go to croswell.org and get Newsies tickets while there are still tickets left, then return here and continue reading.
Do you have your tickets? OK – proceed.
On rare occasion absolutely everything lines up the right way to create one of the best shows you have seen in ages. That is exactly what is happening right now at The Croswell Opera House with their production of Disney’s Newsies, which is in a word incredible.
Start with outstanding direction by Debra Calabrese that keeps the action flowing and always focused. Add the best choreography you could imagine from Jodi Hissong and strong vocal direction by Wynne Marsh (with a great orchestra conducted by Raymond Novak). Stir in a cast of dreams – every cast member is pitch perfect and in-step throughout. Pick your favorite Newsie and follow them for the evening – the many dances they are in, the perfect attention to period detail, the tap number, the athletic movement. Yeah. Perfection. Finally, put it all on Marty Flake’s set (Broadway designer Tobin Ost served as consultant) and the show looks and feels professional top to bottom.
Kevin Ludwig turns in a strong, powerful Jack Kelly with vocals that are to die for. A junior at University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre Program, keep an eye on him and see everything he is in while still here locally. Next stop, Broadway.
Elise Brown plays his novice-writer-romantic-interest with melodic clear diction in her tricky numbers and you actually find yourself rooting for these two to hit it off — when they do, the air is electric. Oh, and both leads sing, act, dance, and tap. Yeah, so there is that.
Other strong newsie performances are turned in by Ben Bascuk as Crutchie, Will DuPois as Davey and Olivia Grzebik as Les. You will have your favorites, and rest assured they all sing and dance with aplomb. The kids have the audience in the palm of their hands from their very first number, and by the time the taps come out in “King of New York” your hearts too.
The adult roles are also outstanding here — Phil Skeldon is spot-on as Joseph Pulitzer, Eboné Waweru is delightful as chanteuse Medda, John Lamb plays a liekable Teddy Roosevelt.
The basic storyline involves the newsboys who deliver Pulitzer’s paper in NYC. When he hikes the price the newsies must pay per paper they sell, a strike is on. Katherine is a young writer who picks up the story, gets it on the front page, falls in love with Jack, and with some twists and turns the plot thickens and the battle is on. The large production numbers are told in dance throughout the show – and Hissong has given then striking masculine athletic movements that mix ballet, modern dance, and gymnastics.
Therein also lies a conundrum – it’s a Disney show, so its family friendly right? That means I can bring the wee ones, right? NO – both the movie on which it is based and the musical are not written for young children. It’s adult fare that your 12 and ups will absolutely love, but leave the tiny ones at home — most won’t understand any of the politics, won’t be interested in the love story, and will squirm and wiggle throughout. If your child can’t sit still for two hours plus in their seat, then they are not old enough for Newsies.
Normally, when slight technical glitches appear, they usually appear on opening night – and that happened here with glitchy mics and a phantom mic-sound eminating several times during the evening (good luck trying to figure out which one of the 40+ body mics has gone rogue!) And lighting, while generally fine, is insuffient in scenes played on the second level – during a lovely scene between Jack and Katherine, there is shadow on faces, but things look great when they spot them for their song. Just put a spot on them for the entire scene. It gets lost at the back of the stage on the second level.
I can’t emphasize enough the talent that is involved in this show. When Croswell announced their season, Newsies was the show that of course struck every young actor’s fancy. When it came to auditions, Newsies was the show that drew the young folks in droves. The best of the best are on stage here. 15 universities are represented in this group of young singer/dancers and a dozen high schools as well.
Newsies is musical theater at its finest. It won Tony awards for Best Choreography and Best Score, and was nominated for 6 others. I loved Newsies on Broadway (more than any other show that season), I loved it on tour, I loved it when Fathom movies showed the stage production at movie theaters, and later loved it on Broadway HD. And I loved it at Croswell last night and give it my highest recommendation – not to be missed.
Photo courtesy The Croswell Opera House.
Newsies continues at The Croswell Opera House in Adrian, MI through August 18th, tickets at croswell.org or 517-264-SHOW only — Croswell does not use any third party sellers — do not be swindled through other outlets.
Mostly Musical Theatre 
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