NEWSIES: BEHIND THE SCENES
By, Maggee Bleyer (MCHS Student Reporter for Music Department and Interact Club)
Week 1
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
The MCHS music department’s musical cast is now kicking into 2nd gear! Based on a true story taken place in the troublesome year of 1899, Newsies is about a group of newspaper boys going on strike against the greedy Pulitzer who decided to up the cost of newspapers for the newsies. Many miraculous scenes and lovable characters are coming to life as musical practices begin to get busy.
Carrying the Banner is one of the most amazing vocal and dance numbers in Newsies. The dancing will lift you off of your seat and the rowdy newsies will get you laughing! Carrying the Banner is all about the newsies’ lives, which are not as great as they joyfully sing them to be.
I asked McKenzie Henson, a senior at MCHS and a fellow newsie, how she feels about the dancing in Carrying the Banner:
Me: “You have to be an incredible dancer if you want to be a newsie for this dance-heavy show. How has the dancing in Carrying the Banner impacted you?”
McKenzie Henson: “Being able to dance in Carrying the Banner is a really fun experience but also challenging. Dancing is so much fun and being able to do such a complex dance with my best friends makes it better. It will be something that we remember for a long time. Paige Heinrich is an amazing choreographer. She teaches us so well! In the end, we look so good. We couldn’t do the shows we do without her. It will be such a fun dance for people to watch. It’s so engaging and there’s never a dull moment.”
McKenzie Henson and Chase Dowdy
There are many characters in Newsies that have a story to tell in this trying time. One of the characters you are bound to love is Crutchie. Throughout the poor living environment for him and his limping leg, Crutchie still finds joy in life. I asked Chase Dowdy, a freshman at MCHS and the face of Crutchie, how he’s enjoying the process of Newsies so far:
Me: “Now that musical practice has started up, how do you feel about the process of putting this huge musical together?”
Chase Dowdy: “It’s fun and exciting! The musical is challenging but the thing that makes it better is the enjoyment we obtain from the entire experience.”
Me: “Awesome! I’ve seen you practice as Crutchie and you really bring that engaging character to life! Do you feel any connections between you and your character, Crutchie?”
Chase Dowdy: “Crutchie and I have similar aspects such as comradery and the sense of friends being family and close to one another.”
Newsies is sure to make you feel a sense of excitement and rebellion all in one. These cast members have a lot of work to do to make this riveting musical come to life. If you see a cast member with tired eyes, just remember that it’s from hard work that is sure to pay off! Newsies is coming to life March 26th-29th. Stay tuned for more weekly story updates about the musical.
PRESENTED BY MCHS MUSIC DEPT ~ MARCH 26 - 29th, 2020