Ian Cheeseman explores the magic of musical theatre, from witnessing Alan Menken’s genius at the London Palladium to the talented young cast of Newsies Jr. at Hyde Festival Theatre, bringing history to life with passion, energy, and show-stopping performances.
TWO weeks ago I was at the London Palladium watching and listening to one of my musical heroes, Alan Menken, talking about the amazing career he’s had, telling stories of how he wrote some of the greatest musical theatre songs of my generation and playing & singing them. It felt very emotional, not least because his signature songs are generally heart felt, yearning songs.
Part of your World (Little Mermaid), Beauty and the Beast, A Whole New World (Aladdin), Sister Act, Somewhere that’s Green (Little Shop of Horrors), Just around the Riverbend (Pocahontas) and Out There (Hunchback of Notre Dame) are just a few examples. One of his lesser know musicals is Newsies, which started life as a film in 1992 but was set in New York in 1899.
It tells the story of how Newsies, the young sellers of the newspapers, went on strike against Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of New York World, when he raised prices to make it impossible for the poor youngsters to make a living.
Their battle for survival was told through twelve Alan Menken songs, but the film bombed at the box office. In 2011 Disney Theatrical Productions produced a stage version which was performed at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, with Jeremy Jordan playing the lead role of Jack. The show went on to earn eight nominations for Tony awards and was performed over a thousand times on Broadway.
I’d seen snatches of the film but wasn’t really hooked until a stage version popped up at the Troubadour Theatre at Wembley. Because of my love of Alan Menken, I gave it a try. What a great experience it proved to be. It was one of the most immersive theatrical experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I entered the building there were printing presses and props from the World the show was set within.
The Musical itself had performers dancing in the aisles and the energy stage was breath-taking. The Dancing was wonderful and, of course, the songs were perfect. I took my family to see it, a few weeks later, and they loved it too.
What a challenge then for the Drama Dept, of Stockport, to take on this musical, especially as it’s Newsies Jr, which means all the performers are under 18.
Thirteen-year-old Jack, plays his namesake Jack Kelly, “It’s so interesting to hear the stories about real people and what happened to them. The Newsies were around my age and they had the courage to rise up and stand up for their generation. It’s a very uplifting musical, the songs are incredible. I’ve watched the original film, called the News Boys and this has always been my favourite show. I was jumping up and down when I found out it was available for us to perform. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from Jeremy Jordan, the original Jack on stage.
“As a boy in high school, I don’t always get the best reaction when I tell them what I do, but there are also a lot of supportive people too and of course here in the Drama Dept. This is something I love and I’d really like to do it when I’m older. It just feels like me!”
Fifteen-year-old Beth, who plays Catherine, tells me she doesn’t have to do quite as much dancing as some of the other performers, “My character does a bit of tapping which I’m very grateful for, but the rest of the cast are working so hard, learning all the dances and it looks so amazing. I like watching them from the sidelines. We don’t break the fourth wall in the show but there are some inside jokes between the characters and the audience. Most of the Newsies are cheeky chaps so it’s nice to have that relationship with the audience.
“I love history at school. This story is really interesting to me and I love English too. My character in the show is a writer for the newspaper, so I think I fit her quite well. I know Musical Theatre is a tricky career path, with so much time unemployed, auditioning and getting turned down but I always think that if you’re doing a job you love, life is so much better.”
Newsies Jr, by the Drama Dept, is at Hyde Festival Theatre from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th April. Tickets from www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/hyde/hyde-festival-theatre/newsies-jr/e-gxblje