EXTRA! EXTRA! Newsies Strike Comes to Town
West Point High School Drama and Music Departments are performing the renowned and well-loved Disney musical, Newsies. Based on a 1992 Disney historical musical film, Newsies stage performances have won Tony awards and have been acclaimed for its now classic songs and dances. Newsies is a high energy show packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message perfect for the whole family and every audience.
Newsies tells the story of the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899. The New York newsies (boys and girls that sold newspapers on the street) went up against two newspaper giants, publishers Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal. The strike was the result of newspaper publishers raising the costs-per paper and refusing to lower the newsies’ cost, down to what it had been so they could earn a living wage. The newsies decided to strike to get newspaper tycoons to treat them as legitimate members of the business. The strike ended in a compromise, which was a significant moment in history. It was one of the first strikes carried out by kids and ended with the kids succeeding.
These talented high school students have been rehearsing and sharpening their skills from music, singing, dancing and acting to providing special lighting and sound for the production. Joining the high school this year are several West Point Middle School students. With musical accompaniment from the live orchestra, backstage crews, tech lighting and sound crews, to painting and building the set, many students are involved in this challenging project. Newsies is under the direction of Beverly Hammond, assisted by Josh Ware, with musical direction by Clyve Agcanas, choreography by Kirsten Palfrey, and orchestra direction by Tyler Zaprazny.
Performances will be at the W.T, Robinson/Sture G. Olsson Auditorium, located at WPHS at 1040 Thompson Avenue, West Point on Thursday, March 13th, Friday, March 14th, and Saturday, March 15th beginning at 7:00 PM each evening. Tickets are $15 and all seating is assigned. Orders can be placed in advance by contacting Winston Sheffield wsheffield@wpschools.net, Beverly Hammond dramadivabev@gmail.com, or contacting West Point High School office during regular school hours (804) 843-3630. Preordered tickets will be at the WILL CALL window on the night of the show. The Ticket Window opens at 6:00 PM and will also be selling tickets for that evening. Theater doors open at 6:30 PM.