Newsboys on strike will take their singing and dancing to the stage at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J., according to the New York Times.
The 1992 Disney film Newsies follows the adventures of Jack Kelly (wonderfully portrayed by The Dark Knight’s Christian Bale) as he tries to run from his past and forge a new life as a newsboy in turn-of-the-century New York. His adventures put him up against publishing giants William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.
Though unsuccessful at the box office, Newsies experienced a second life on home video and numerous airings on the Disney channel. Alan Menken, the composer of the film, is also involved in the stage production. Menken’s relationship with Disney began with The Little Mermaid and has continued with the recently released animated film Tangled.
The NY Times article states the following:
The Paper Mill Playhouse production, which will run from Sept. 15 to Oct. 16 and has not yet announced its cast, has “latched onto exciting elements of what we had in the movie” and is “minimizing the things that were not so great about the movie,” Mr. Menken said.
The principal newsboys, Jack, David and Les, will remain the main characters, and a new female character — who will serve as a love interest for Jack — has been created for the stage show.
No word yet on whether Brooklyn’s Spot Conlon will appear in the new production. I will admit that he was always my favorite character. “Never fear; Brooklyn is here!” and “I say, that what you say, is what I say.” His screen time was minimal, but Spot stole every scene in which he appeared.
Hopefully all the songs from the film will remain, as well. Who can forget the emotionally charged “Santa Fe?” And of course there’s “Seize the Day” and “Carrying the Banner.”
The film is full of humor, heart, and catchy tunes. I highly recommend it. Hopefully the stage production will be just as entertaining. If it does well, it could end up on Broadway, where it may just possibly become the “King of New York.”