“Newsies”… All the Theatrics Fit to Show!

There’s something about “Newsies” — Disney’s Tony Award-winning musical about the newsboys’ strike of 1899 when news delivery boys from across New York City rallied against rising distribution prices and poor (child) labor conditions — that inspires raw patriotism.

Maybe it’s the steel-wrought set, harkening to the ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ photograph that so glorifies American ingenuity and industrialism. Or maybe its those New York City turf wars depicted in the show — Brooklyn is boss, in case you were wondering — that remind us of just how tough and scrappy we can be. Or (spoiler alert!) maybe it’s the improbable love story between an orphan newsie and the spunky daughter of a media tycoon… Only in America, right?

Whatever it is, it’s worth experiencing.

Story aside (and who doesn’t love a good David vs. Goliath showdown?), “Newsies” is all the theatrics fit to show, to borrow (and adapt) the motto of one of America’s popular newspapers.

A splendid cast full of cheeky personalities and exquisite choreography matched with raw athleticism, and, of course, adorable newsboy outfits…. If only history class had been this high-spirited!

“Newsies” plays through June 21 at National Theatre.

*Photos credit Deen van Meer