Get Ready to Strike! 'Newsies' Opens at Del Val This Weekend

Del Val’s musical, “Newsies,” will open with a free performance for senior citizens on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 5 p.m., and continue at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, March 1, 2, 8 and 9, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on March 9.

Tickets for the March shows cost $16 and can be purchased at the door or online

Showtimes:
February 29 @ 5:00 pm (Senior Preview)
March 1 @ 7:00 pm
March 2 @ 7:00 pm
March 8 @7:00 pm
March 9@ 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm Click here to purchase tickets!

Based on the real-life newsboys’ strike of 1899, the plot revolves around newsboy Jack Kelly (Dakota Krouse) and his pal Crutchie (Owen LaRue) and the greed of publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Peter Cantilina) and the love of Pulitzer’s daughter Katherine (Jessica McGlothlin sometimes, and Swara Modi other times).

Aidan O’Connell, who plays a newsboy named Davey, said, “My favorite thing about this production is the enthusiasm every cast member had for it since day one. Watching this enthusiasm blossom into real skill and art has been a pleasure to see, especially in the newer actors.”

Neither Jess nor Swara sits on the bench when she is not the leading lady; they also share the role of the newsboy Splasher. The most challenging part of this year’s show “is equally working on my roles as Katherine and Splasher and evolving each character,” says Swara, who played Peter Pan two years ago and Wednesday Addams last year.

Jess, who played Wendy in “Peter Pan” and Wednesday’s boyfriend’s mother last year, is happy “to play a funny, strong, and complex leading lady, alongside getting to sing, dance, and have fun with all of the exceptionally talented people that make up the ensemble. But playing a poor newsboy and a refined, wealthy young lady require very different acting physicality as you can imagine.

“Additionally, playing two roles also means I have had to learn and know two tracks simultaneously, where I have to be in Scene 1 as Katherine versus where I need to be as Splasher, for example. Furthermore, playing two parts means you get half the time to rehearse each role with the rest of the cast, so a little bit of theater homework needs to get done outside of rehearsal time too!”

Aidan, Jess, and Swara agree that the finale is their favorite part of the musical. “I absolutely love the song ‘Once and for All,’ where all the newsies of the different boroughs unite as one and it is a very powerful moment of the show,” said Swara.

Jess said, “There are lots of physical and technical elements that come into play in that moment that are so amazing to watch and to be a part of, It’s one of the most exciting parts of the show!”

Adian said, “It's a climax all the newsies work towards during the show, and the stone-cold focus the kids have during the show perfectly encapsulates the musical's themes of growing up and finding one's voice in an absolutely jaw-dropping fashion.”

The cast also includes Alex Apgar, Max Verdicchio, Lila Pfefferle, Briana Kraucheunas, Nolen Petty, Eden DeLorenzo, Bryan Sozanski, Isabella Diaz, Jocelyn Denne, Mark Melnichenko, Ewan O’Connell, Mia Nassi, Abigail Kuster, Levi Cantilina, Ava Donnelly, Farrah Roberson, Claire McGovern, Audrey LaRue, Lily Brunell, Cabela Cotte, Abigail Drake, Josie Pitzner, Bria White, Briley Myhre, Joaquin D’Orazio, Jackson Knight, Joseph Zaleznack, Phoenix Wiggett, Christian Shebchuk, Ryan Carr, and Nathaniel Pescatore.

Clinton Ambs is the director; Aidan Camano, vocal director; Heather Fleischman, choreographer; Lisa Cartwright, manager of props and costumes; Eric Fiorito, set designer and builder; Carolyn Wolsiefer, business manager; Lia MacNamara and Adrienne Wolfram, stage managers; Jocelyn Denne, student choreographer; Dakota Krouse, dance captain; and Kal El Fiorito, student production manager.

The pit orchestra musicians, conducted by T.J. Hayden, are Lilly Fleming, Griffin Engelhardt, Dustin Ciano, Sofia DeLisle, Maya Sliver, Neha Kulkarni, Jordan Yiu, Manny Modugno, Milo Thomas, Julian Dippolito, Kacey Burd, Pierre Milcar, Paul Bezner, and Kara Sadiang-Abay.