Singing, dancing, and acting.

The UHS Drama Department is proud to announce that they are going to be putting on Disney’s Newsies! Though rehearsals have just started and opening night is months away, the cast and crew of Newsies are already so excited for the show.

What is Newsies?

Based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, a troubled newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist, away from the big city. Meanwhile, in an attempt to make more money, the owner of The World Newspaper, Joseph Pulitzer, raises the price of the newspapers at the expense of the newsboys. The Newsies decide to form a union and strike against Pulitzer. With help from the reporter Katherine Plumber, all of New York City soon recognizes the power “the little man” can have. 

“The Newsies that sell newspapers were striking for prices to be fair so they could afford to live,” is how Maddy Behling (12th grade; Katherine Plumber) described the musical. 

The Rehearsal Process

Opening night for Newsies is April 18th, and the cast is just getting started with rehearsals. “So far, we have really only done just blocking rehearsals and figuring out our motivations are as characters,” Ryan Crean (12th grade; Joseph Pulitzer) said when asked what rehearsal has been consisting of.

Blocking is when the director goes through each scene in the play or musical and tells the actors where to stand and what to do while delivering their lines. Sometimes it takes a whole rehearsal just to block one scene! “Crew wise, I am working on making transition lists and set pieces, getting everything ready for crew to come in later,” said Lily Weiksner (12th grade; Stage Manager).

With Newsies being a musical, the cast has the added challenge of singing and dancing. Singing rehearsals have already started and, with the help of choir teacher Mrs. Thompson, the cast of Newsies is learning how to properly sing their parts. More recently, dance rehearsals have started. The cast will learn song specific dances, choreographed by dance teacher Mrs. Jones, that they will have to perform while singing the songs. It proves to be difficult but the actors always find ways to pull it off.

One of the last things the actors do is work with the pit orchestra. The pit orchestra practices on their own, then joins the cast for specific music rehearsals, full of singing and dancing to the live music provided by music conductor Mr. Moran and the pit.

Once songs and dances are learned, and scenes are blocked, everything gets put together into one performance. This is when rehearsals consist of running through Act 1 and Act 2 of the show over and over again until it becomes second nature to the actors and dancers on stage, as well as crew backstage.

Finally, they arrive to tech week. This is the week of the show, when it all comes together. This is the week when the costumes for the cast arrive and when lights and tech get programmed just right for the stage. 

 During the four days leading up to opening night, cast and crew, alongside the pit orchestra, run through the entire show daily, with everything that they will be using or doing on the nights of the show.

Why Should UHS Students See Newsies?

The drama department works long and hard to put on a show that is entertaining and that honors the school. Attending one of their performances is a great opportunity to support your peers who may be on or behind the stage.

“Support the arts, there is a lot of talent and a lot of people from different parts of the school involved.” -Maddy Behling

“It’s a great story that a lot of people should see and hear and understand… and go hawks.” -Ryan Crean

“It is a very good show to see as a young adult, with all the strikes going on in the world, it’s important for people to understand it is real people behind these things.” -Chris Brookes (11th grade; Crutchie)

“We have one of the better drama departments in Frederick County, and people in the department put their whole heart and soul into what they do, and it really reflects on stage.” Brooke Dress (11th grade; Assistant Stage Manager)

“It’s a fun time, the cast and crew put a lot of effort in, working really hard, and students should see the work we have done.” -Lily Weiksner

Come see UHS Newsies April 18th-20th! Tickets will soon be available at showtix4U.com! Go Hawks!