By, Maggee Bleyer (Reporter for Music Department and Interact Club)
Week 7
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Newsies unite! Practices, likewise the strike, march on as March approaches! Cast members are learning new dance moves for special songs in Newsies and memorizing their lines to every bit and word for memorable scenes. The school year increases towards the end as the opening night becomes a clearer picture.
Being the King of New York is quite the challenge, but the newsies have already claimed that seat! After Katherine brings attention to the newsies’ strike by placing them right on the front page of the New York Sun, the newsies are elated and have found new hope for the strike. Riley Allen, junior (newsie: Mike), Eli Sherman, freshman (newsie: Romeo), and Lexi Peach, senior (newsie: Splasher) are all getting a taste of the newsies’ excitement. I asked these three newsies, what are the dancing challenges that come with the upbeat song, King of New York, how does the dancing represent the show as a whole, and--a fun one--what is something that they would like to be famous for?
Riley Allen: “Tap is something I haven’t done since I’ve been in high school. It’s very different from what I’ve done before, and that’s definitely a challenge. The dancing in Newsies is very upbeat and energetic. I feel like that really represents the same cheerful and fun demeanor that the newsies themselves show throughout the musical. I think it would be really neat to be famous for making music! I don’t make music, but it would be cool.”
Eli Sherman: “Lots of quick rhythms are the biggest issues that many of us newsies face. The dancing in King of New York takes a lot of memorization. Tap is a little bit of a different style and I’ve never really used it before, so it’s somewhat strange to get accustomed to. However, once everyone gets into it, they’ll enjoy it a lot! King of New York represents the optimism of the newsies. Throughout this song, they’re trying to make something good out of a bad situation. It’s never a good feeling to be beaten down by Pulitzer and his goons! I would like to be famous for my relationship with Jesus. I want to be known as a kind friend who demonstrates the love of the Lord! I also want to be known as a talented musician and a well-educated young man.”
Lexi Peach: “With King of New York, I’ve never tapped before so it’s an entirely new thing to experience. At the same time, though, it’s super fun. As a whole, the dancing is super energetic and fun. It just kind of shows how exciting the show is and how exciting the boys are. In context to the show, I think I’d like to be famous for tapping because it’s so fun!”
Balancing your passion for one school activity with another can be tough. Your practices can be collided with one another, your mind can get confused, and you might lose hope . . . however, most students fail to see the negative side! Audrey Baker, freshman (roles: Nun and Bowery Beauty), Harley Curtis, junior (roles: Photographer and Brooklyn Newsie), Nerea Coimbra Hinojosa, sophomore (role: Brooklyn Newsie), and Boyd Holt, senior (role: Spot Conlon), are four of the many students in the music department who have to play their roles in other activities along with the MCHS musical, Newsies. I asked these four busy people, what is their role in the musical, do they enjoy playing their role, how do they juggle their other school activities with the musical, and if they’re enjoying their musical experience so far?
Audrey Baker: “I am a Nun and Bowery Beauty. I love all of my roles but my favorite role is being a Bowery Beauty. I love to dance with my other two Bowery Beauties! It’s fun to be placed in a theatre with Miss Medda and my two girls. In the musical, we are said to be exciting and I think that’s so much fun! I have a planner and, at the beginning of the week, I write everything down. I then figure out how to make it to everything. I would say I’m very organized! The activities I partake in besides musical are soccer and band. I love the musical experience so much! I love all types of music and dancing.”
Harley Curtis: “I am a Brooklyn Newsie and Photographer. I enjoy these roles a lot! I love being the photographer, even if I’m only in this role once in the musical. I get to have an explosion when I take the picture of the newsies from the camera! I find that amazing. I love being a Brooklyn Newsie. I get to sing with all of my friends, like Audrey Baker. I think it’s really cool. When it comes to my activities, which involves Chess Club, Band, and Soccer, musical is my first priority. Sometimes I do not go to Chess Club depending on the musical practices and it really just depends on soccer. Honestly, I love my musical experience! It’s a lot like band but more laid back. We have more hours to get stuff done and we have so much fun!”
Nerea Coimbra Hinojosa: “I am a Brooklyn Newsie. I love my role because I had never performed in a musical before, so this is my first time doing this! I think this whole thing is very funny but a bit stressful at the same time. Having soccer and musical practices is a bit difficult because, sometimes, the schedules are the same. From there, I have to choose between the musical and soccer. I am enjoying my experience in the musical a lot. As I had said, it’s my first time performing in a musical. I love it because it is something new for me! I really want to do my best.”
Boyd Holt: “In Newsies I play Spot Conlon, the leader of the Brooklyn Newsies. In some ways, I think I’m almost as brave as Spot Conlon. At times, I can be headstrong like him. I am also a man walking across the stage buying a newspaper in Act I. I’m enjoying my roles a lot! For activities outside of musical, I have to figure out how to go to the practices and meetings. I also have to figure out when everything is due. I am in Interact Club, National Honor Society, Track, and Band. Other than that, I like the musical a lot! I like how it’s something to do other than stay home. It’s all I can do to get away from my brother, Ivan! No offense to him, of course. It’s also a way I can relax and still be doing something. Musicals are a special activity I’ve always enjoyed.”
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. <<<GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.>>> Stay tuned for more weekly story updates about the musical.
