Local theatre company brings Tony Award-winning musical to Penticton stage
For its annual musical, Soundstage Productions is presenting “Disney’s Newsies,” one of the Penticton-based company’s most ambitious shows to date.
Tickets for the Tony Award-winning musical are now on sale at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. There will be four evening shows running Jan. 23-26, beginning at 7 p.m. each night, with an additional Saturday matinee at 1 p.m.
“People will enjoy this show because it is based on a true historical event,” director Lynne Leydier said in reference to the New York City newsboys strike of 1899.
“It is an uplifting and heartwarming tale of the age-old David and Goliath where the weak overcome the strong with guts, courage, love and dogged determination to fight for what is right.
“Jack Kelly is a young male role model, a hero-type with a strong moral compass who can lead not only with his heart, but his head, inspiring and helping not only himself, but all people.”
Josh Richardson plays the lead role of Jack Kelly, leader of the Newsies, who was first portrayed in the 1992 film by a young Christian Bale.
“I enjoy playing Jack Kelly because his natural leadership skills are contrasted in such a brilliant way by his emotional and compassionate side,” Richardson said.
“He stands up for what is right, is true and fights for what he believes in, which is why I think we need more Jack Kellys today. I would encourage young people to come out to see the show for these reasons.”
Richardson, 20, grew up in Mission and moved to Kelowna, where he earned a civil engineering technology diploma from Okanagan College. During that time he commuted to Penticton, appearing in supporting roles in two previous Soundstage shows.
Most of the cast has been performing since they were children, but Richardson got off to an abnormally late start, discovering theatre arts in Grade 11. He performed in high school productions of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Footloose.”
Other leads are played by Lucas Goulden (Crutchie), Nathan Heiberg (Davey), Tiana Ferlizza (reporter Katherine Plumber), Ashley Surowski (vaudeville star Medda Larkin), Dustin McGifford (Joseph Pulitzer, the show’s villain) and child actor Justice Gin (Davey’s younger brother, Les).
When researching the play, Leydier was also inspired by the female lead, who will be played by Ferlizza, a regular with Soundstage.
“Her character inspires women to break free of societal norms, to be true to themselves in spite of pressures to conform in order to do what she believes is right. She is brave, strong, intelligent, motivated, and her nononsense character has humour and also the ability to lead. She balances out her counterpart Jack and together they represent the voice of the future — equality and hope for a better world. Something we can and need relevant today in our politically-charged environment of separation.”
Also in the cast are male newsies Dustin Bettger, Connor Bews, Aaron Brown, Alex Holzhaus, Owen Kincade, Curtis Lloyd, Andreas Nordlund, Erik Rajmoolie, Lee Taylor and Kevin Taylor and the female ensemble of Catherine Critchlow, Amy Dickinson, Nilah Gaudiuso, Julia Mckibbon, Sarah Murray, Annabella Nordlund, Ella Nuttgens, Beth Scott and Selina Spence.
Other cast members include Micaela Humeny, Kiara Louw, Anne Ramey, Mark Beaton, Tyler Evans, Scott Parkin, Kirsti Hack, David Szabo, Simon Nuttgens, Dave Ramey, Derrek Beaton, and James Miller.
True to life, professional photographer Szabo is playing a photographer in one scene and Miller, a newspaper editor, appears briefly as the mayor of New York.
This is the first year that Soundstage has utilized the Lakeside’s new east ballroom. In addition to 100 extra seats per show, it has allowed the production to do more things.
“We have more height for set and special effect opportunities, more available seating, more room backstage for props and cast set-up, comfortable seats with better viewing, easy access to washrooms and just an allround more classy and professional space to work and experience a live performance,” Leydier said.
The behind-the-scenes crew includes choreographer Eve Noonan, costume designer Kerry Younie, backstage help Kirsti Hack, Tiffani Hoolaeff, and Lorrie Forde, lighting director Mathew Kowalik from Afterglow Audio and Electric, sound technician Rob Aarden, microphone technicians Michou Szabo and Susan Selles, publicist David Prystay and front-of-house supervisor Gisele Miller.
Next to “West Side Story,” Leydier describes this as the most elaborately-choreographed show Soundstage has ever presented.
“We have some amazing dancers in the show that are an inspiration for all the cast. Dustin Bettger, Kevin Taylor and Annabella Nordlund ... to name a few. This will be one of the most technically ambitious shows to date at the Lakeside. It is heavily a male ensemble, which is unique to music theatre shows.”
Soundstage is unique to most musical theatre groups in that it utilizes the talents of live musicians. This year’s orchestra features Dennis Nordlund (piano), Scott Gamble (drums), Loni Moger (guitar), Stefan Bienz (bass), Dillys Richardson (brass) and Sandy Andres (strings), under the direction of Leydier.
“Disney’s Newsies” made its Broadway debut in 2012 and ran for more than 1,000 performances. It received eight Tony Award nominations, including best musical, winning trophies for best choreography and best original score. A live version of the Broadway show, with Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly, is now showing on Netflix.
Music is by Academy Award-winner Alan Menken (“Enchanted,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and Grammy Award-winner Jack Feldman (“Copacabana”), with book by Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (“Kinky Boots”). Memorable songs include “Seize the Day,” “King of New York,” “Santa Fe” and “Carrying the Banner.”
“Disney’s Newsies” features two one-hour acts with a 15-minute intermission.
Reserved tickets are $45, plus service charge and GST. For additional information, phone 250-493-8221. Tickets are expected to soon be available online on the Lakeside’s website.