By, Maggee Bleyer (Reporter for Music Department and Interact Club)
Week 3
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Soon, the world will know that MCHS’s production of Newsies is going to be a big hit! Practices are running smoothly as January slides into February. The newsies have been preparing their strike against the money-driven Pulitzer and his crew. Katherine Plummer, after fishing information out of the smug Jack Kelly, is on her way to creating a powerful article about the resounding strike.
A little history lesson about to be brought your way! The newsies’ strike of 1899 really happened! In hot, hot July of 1899, newsboys in New York City formed a union to go on strike against Pulitzer’s World and William Randolph Hearst’s The Journal. The reason for the strike resulted from the millionaires’ decision to raise the price of newspapers up to sixty cents--an added dime to the original fifty cents. In 1898, the Spanish-American War was erupting and newspapers concerning the subject sold fast. This gave Pulitzer and Hearst the idea of selling newspapers at an increased price. All was good for a while until the Spanish-American War ended. The public was not interested in the war anymore and wanted something new--but nothing was happening. The Streetcar Strike of 1899 was becoming a bit popular, but it wasn’t enough. With Pulitzer and Hearst refusing to lower their prices after the war, the newsboys went on strike. The group of ragged newsboys raised awareness by crowding the streets of New York and halting traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. Pulitzer and Hearst tried to hire adults, or, as known as to the newsies, scabs, to sell their papers for them, but the idea didn’t work out for too long. Eventually, newspaper sales were decreasing for the two greedy publishers and they had to give in. Newspaper prices stayed at sixty cents, but any unsold newspaper at the end of the day would be bought back at full price. The newsies won! They also earned respect from the public and brought attention to all of the poorly treated young workers of New York. The strike went on for two grueling weeks and ended in victory!
The World Will Know is an influential song for the newsies and all of the young workers in New York City. The newsies sing this song as they form their strike and let Pulitzer know what’s coming. The victorious history of the newsboy strike resonates in this hit.
There are many wonderful actors and actresses in MCHS’s production of Newsies. Notably, in the newsie group, there are four people who have never been in a MCHS musical production before until now! All being newsies, Alexandria Archer, a junior and the actress behind one of the fellow newsies, Anthony Bleyer, a freshman and the actor behind Elmer, Ally Bobbit, a freshman and the actress behind Buttons, and Gabe Henson, a freshman and the actor behind Specs, are all experiencing their first MCHS musical this spring. Musicals held here at MCHS are always astonishing. I asked these four newsies if this is their first time participating in a musical and their favorite scene in Newsies. I also asked them how they are enjoying their first ever MCHS production so far!
Alexandria Archer: “This is my first musical. I love Scene One because I get to do a lot of cool tricks and the dancing is so much fun! I wish I had been doing musicals a lot sooner than now, but I’m enjoying this whole process so far. It also gives me something fun and rewarding to do instead of being bored at home!
Anthony Bleyer: “This will be my first time participating in a musical led by Mrs. Mandrell. This excludes the 2019 MCHS Madrigal. However, this is not my first musical. So far in Newsies, my favorite scene is Scene One. Scene One is all about Carrying The Banner. At a very close second, Scene Eight, the scene that includes the song, Seize The Day, is another one of my favorites. I’m having an absolute blast with my first ever MCHS musical! This epic musical, combined with Mrs. Mandrell’s leadership and Paige Heinrich’s choreographing, has made this musical one I’ll never forget.”
Ally Bobbit: “This is my first musical and I couldn’t be more excited! I like Scene Eight because the newsies get to do a really cool dance and it contains one of my favorite songs! All the scenes are good though, so it’s hard to choose just one! I’ve been loving this truly amazing experience! We are all working so hard and are having fun in the process! I have a feeling the audience will absolutely love the musical and I can’t wait to see the finished product!”
Gabe Henson: “This is not my first time doing a musical. My favorite scene is Scene Eight because there’s a lot of fighting. It is really fun to fake fight with everybody. I love the experience of being in this musical so far! It is a lot of fun!”
If I were a newsie, I would wear my hat a lot! I’m already a hat-lover, so why not add another one to the collection? This thought led me to ask the new newsies a fun question: “Would you wear your newsie hat everyday if you could?”
Alexandria Archer: “Well, I probably wouldn’t wear my newsie hat everyday because it wouldn’t go with many of my outfits!”
Anthony Bleyer: “I would definitely wear my newsie hat everyday. It might mess up my hairstyle but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make!”
Ally Bobbit: “Definitely! It is a favorite part of my costume!”
Gabe Henson: “I would wear my newsie hat some days.”
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. Newsies is coming to life March 26th-29th. Stay tuned for more weekly story updates about the musical.