Show Guide

SynopsisAct One New York City - Summer - 1899. Dawn breaks over the tenement rooftop where Jack Kelly, a brashand charismatic boy of 17, tells his younger pall, Crutchie, of his desire to journey west to find a betterlife (“Santa Fe - Prolugue”). The church bells signal the beginning of the work day for the newsies ofNew York. Jack and Crutchie climb down to join the band of newsboys who are always looking for aprime selling spot and a way to make an old story new (“Carrying the Banner”). Wiesel and the toughDelancey brothers open the window of The World to distribute papers to the newsies for fifty cents perhundred. Two new boys appear in the line: Davey, 16 and his adorable younger brother Les. Sensingan opportunity, Jack suggests a partnership. High above, in his office, publisher Joseph Pulitzercomplains that circulation and profits are down sinc ethe end of the Spanish American War, meaningfewer people are being influenced by his agenda. He decides to raise the newsies’ price, forcing themto sell more paper to earn a meager living (“The Bottom Line”).

Later that day, Jack takes Davey and Les to a burlesque theatre to evade Snyder, a crooked manwho runs The Refuge, a juvenile jail from which Jack once escaped on the the back of Governor TeddyRoosevelt’s carriage. Jack introduces his partners to the theatre’s owner and star, Medda Larkin, whoshows off Jack’s impressive scenic paintings. The boys then settle in to watch her perform (“That’sRich”). Up in the box during the next number (“Don’t Come a-Knocking”), Jack discovers a pretty girlwho brushed him off that morning, a reporter who is reviewing the show the The Sun and has no timefor his advances. Taken by her beauty and pluck, he sketches her face on a piece of newsprint (“I NeverPlanned on You”) and the disappears, leaving the drawing behind.

The next morning, the newsies are shocked by price hike, which William Randolph Hearst has alsoadopted at the Journal. Barely able to feel themselves and with nowhere to turn, they start to panic.Jack instinctively rebels, refusing to work until the price comes back down. Taking jack’s lead, thenewsies get swept up in the moment, declare themselves a union and decide to strike (“The World WillKnow”). Convening in nearby Jacobi’s Deli, the newsies plan to spread the word to the other boroughs,especially Brooklyn, home of Spot Conlon, whose rough reputation is legendary. The girl reporter -byline Katherine Plumber - appears and promises to get their story in The Sun if the give her the scoop.Jack is skeptical, but he doesn’t want to let the girl get away again, so he agrees. Alone and nervousin front of her typewriter, Katherine begins to write (“Watch What Happens”).

Only a few newises have assembled to strike the nest day, and none from the other boroughs. Jackurges Davey to convince the frightened kids not to back down. When scabs arrive to take the newsies’place, Jack asks them to stand in solidarity with all the city’s working children who are being exploited.The scabs throw down their papes, just in time for Katherine and her photographer to snap a photo(“Seize the Day”). But the newsies are soon surrounded by goons and engage in a fierce fight. Whenthe cops arrive and start beating kids, the newsies run. Snyder's appearance scares Jack away, butnot before he sees Snyder take down Crutchie and carry him off to The Refuge. Reaching the temporarysafety of his rooftop, Jack paces, feeling guilty about his role in the tragedy and longing for escape(“Santa Fe - Reprise”).

Synopsis (continued)

Act Two The next morning, the beaten and discouraged newsies are sitting in Jacobi’s Deli when Katherinearrives and shows them their photo on the front page of The Sun. Their sudden fame cheers them upand ignites their dreams (“King of New York”). Backstage at Medda’s theatre, Davey, Katherine andLes find Jack alone and ashamed, painting a backdrop. Despite the newsies’ story “above the fold” andplans for a rally, Jack doubts their prospects until his partners convince him to double-down and seethe strike through (“Watch What Happens - Reprise”).

Discovering the headline, “Newsies Stop The World,” a furious Pulitzer seeks to obliterate the rootof the defiance. Snyder describes Jack’s criminal past and escape from The Refuge. Just then, a cockyJack arrives to announce the newsies’ rally. Pulitzer scoffs and assures Jack that no paper will coverit, therefore, it won’t exist. He then reveals his daughter, Katherine, who lef a life of luxury to write for arival paper, and Snyder, who emerges from the shadows. Amid Jack’s shock and panic, Pulitzer offersa choice: go to prison or renounce the strike and leave New York with pockets full of cash. The Delanceysescort Jack to the cellar to ponder his decision on an old printing press (“The Bottom Line - Reprise”).

That evening, Spot Colon crosses the bridge with his gang to join the newsies from every boroughat Medda’s theatre for the rally (“Brooklyn’s Here”). When Jack arrives, they leap to their feet, but theircheers turn to boos as he warns them that they are no match for Pulitzer, advising them to go back towork. Jack takes his payoff money ay the door and exits quickly. On his rooftop, Jack finds Katherinegoing through his drawings of The Refuge’s bleak conditions. He snatches them from her, and the arguefiercely until she kisses him. Katherine then shares her plan to have the newsies distribute her article,“The Children’s Crusade,” which denounces the exploitation of working kids of The City and calls for acitywide strike. Before heading to an unused printing press Jack has recently discovered, they sharetheir hope in one another (“Something to Believe In”). Katherine and Jack join the newsies in the cellarof The World and work through the night to print and distribute The Newsies Banner (“Once and forAll”).

The next morning, Pulitzer’s office is flooded with angry calls from every corner of the city, whichhas been effectively shut down by its children. Jack, Davey and Spot barge in and return Pulitzer’sblackmail money (“Seize the Day - Reprise”). Pulitzer refuses to back down until Governor Rooseveltappears with Katherine’s story and Jack’s drawings of The Refuge. His leverage quickly eroding, Pulitzercompromises by agreeing to buy back unsold papers. Outside, Jack announces the end of the strike.Crutchie appears amid the jubilation, followed by a handcuffed Snyder, who is bed off to jail. Despitehis dreams to Santa Fe, Jack realizes that the newsies are his family and Katherine gives him somethingto believe in - so he’s staying put for now (“Finale”).

Characters

Jack Kelly The leader of the Manhattan newsboys -anindependent dreamer who yearns of a better life

Crutchie Jack’s best friend, a newsie with a bum leg thatcauses him pain, but helps him sell papes

Davey Starts selling papers to help his family, but isswept up inthe stike

Les Davey’s younger brother, inspired by the freedomof the newsies’ life

Weisel “Weasel” runs the distribution window the TheWorld

Oscar & Morris Delancey Thugs who work along side of Weisel

Snyder Crook who runs The Refuge- a child jail runningunder the guise of an orphanage

Medda Larkin Star of The Bowery; offers her theatre as ameeting space and safe haven for the newsies

Katherine Young reporter with a secret; breaking genderstereotypes in journalism

Joseph Pulitzer Owner and publisher of the New York Worldnewspaper

Mr. Jacobi Deli owner who allows the newsies to congregateat his restaurant

Spot Conlon Leader of the Brooklyn newsies

Musical NumbersAct One

Santa Fe (Prologue) Jack, Crutchie

Carrying the Banner Jack, Newsies

The Bottom Line Pulitzer, Company

Carrying the Banner (Reprise) Newsies

That s Rich MeddaDon t Come a Knocking / I Never Planned on You

Bowery Beauties / Jack

The World Will Know Jack, Davey, Les, Newsies

The World Will Know (Reprise) Newsies

Watch What Happens Katherine

Seize the Day Davey, Jack, Newsies

Santa Fe (Reprise) Jack

Act TwoKing of New York Davey, Katherine, Les, Newsies

Watch What Happens (Reprise) Davey, Jack, Katherine, Les

The Bottom Line (Reprise) Pulitzer, Company

Brooklyn s Here Spot Colon, Newsies

Something to Believe In Katherine, Jack

Once and For All Jack, Davey, Katherine, Newsies

Seize the Day (Reprise) Newsies

Finale Newsies, Jack, Company

Working Kids Inspire MusicalInspiration Newsies is based on the real-life New York Newsboys’ Strike of 1899.Children who sold newspapers on the streets were referred to as “newsies” The New York newsieswent up against two newspaper publishers, Joseph Pulitzer of The World and William RandolphHearst of The Journal, to fight for a fair price for newspapers.

The Spanish American War made New Yorkers hungry for headline and circulation boomed as aresult. Once the war ended, people were less inclined to buy papers - war was bad for the world, butgood for the newspaper business. The strike was the result of the publishers refusing to lower the priceper paper that the newsies has to pay back down to pre-war prices. The newsies were not willing to paymore for their papers to make up for the lack of headline, so, inspired by the trolley workers’ strike, theyrefused to work, with a goal of making the newspaper tycoons treat them as legitimate members of thebusiness.

The strike lasted two weeks, from July 19 to August 2, 1899. During that time, the newsboys drewsupport from newsies all over the Northwest, as well as other young workers like messenger boys,bootblacks and factory workers. The kids banded together to support one another, and at times thingsbecame violent- scabs who crossed the picket lines, were attacked on the streets, their papers rippedfrom them and destroyed to prevent their sale.

The newsies eventually came to a compromise with the publishers: they would purchase their papersat the higher rate, but the publishers would buy-back any unsold papers. This was more valuable to thenewsies that a lower price would have been because it lowered their risk and allowed them opportunityto sell even greater numbers of papers.

On Screen In 1992, Walt Disney Studios released a live action musical based on the real-lifeevents of the Newsboys’ Strike. The film was meant to be a revival of the live-action musical genre.Thought it was not a hit in theatres, its memorable songs and athletic dance numbers made it a fanfavorite and it quickly gained a cult following.

On Stage A stage adaptation of Newsies was in great demand, so Disney Theatrical Groupbegan working on developing a stage play. Alan Menken and Jack Feldman were called back to workon the score, and Tony Award- winning book writer Harvey Fiierstein signed on to adapt the screenplayfor the stage. With this dream team in place, Disney Theatrical began a several year process of makingNewsies as beloved on stage as it was onscreen.

Together with Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, Disney mounted a four week engagement totest the martial. When that production recieved rave reviews and international interest, the producerschanged course and mounted a limited Broadway run. Newsies opened at the Nederlander Theatre inMarch 2012. After a successful touring production, the stage musical was was filmed and released tomovie theatres to much excitement.

119 years after kids made history, the story of New York’s newsboys and their struggle for justiceis now on the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres stage.