Newsies Stop The World!

Newsies, the heart wrenching, true story of the newsboy strike in 1899 was brought to life by the Granite Hills Theater. On opening night, May 2, the entire theater was packed. The play was filled with beautiful singing and dancing that created the feeling that the audience had been transported to 1899.

The actors and actresses portrayed newsboys that were going on strike. The strike was important because it changed America forever and showed the world how dangerous child labor can be. The children were going on strike because the price of newspapers increased, and the newsboys couldn’t afford them. The villain of the story is Pulitzer because he ran all the newspapers, and raised the prices for selfish reasons.

Although it started because of the price of papers, it created a ripple effect for all issues with child labor. The newsboys were all around high school age but most were homeless or couldn’t afford basic necessities.

The play showed how throughout history children were taken advantage of, even if they had disabilities, like the character “Crutchie,” played by Jackson Miller (22).

Not only did the play tell the tale of the poor newsboys that were standing up for themselves, but it also told the story of unlikely love. The main newsboy, Jack Kelly, played by Alex Frost (19), is a homeless artist who is the natural leader of the boys. A young journalist, Katherine Plumber, played by Klarissa Miller (19) is Pulitzer's daughter. She decides to help the boys by writing stories about the strike so the word gets out. The newsboy and young journalist end up falling in love, and with their combined strengths help the rest of the boys find their voice.

The singing and dancing performed in the play were outstanding. Tap dance was incorporated into many scenes, as was jazz and musical theater. The theater students spent countless hours practicing and rehearsing the magical musical.

“We put a ton of work in at rehearsals. It was very tedious at times, but also a lot of fun,” said Shawni Bing (20), who plays the character Race.

The fantastic acting, beautiful singing, and coordinated dancing captured how history was changed forever. The theater students spent long days and nights working on choreography, lines, and songs. Their hard work paid off though because the show was magnificent. Our Granite Hills theater showed how important it is to stand up for yourself, even if you're young, and to seize the day.