RTC Lower School Presents Disney's Newsies JR.

RTC MISSION STATEMENT

The Roeper Theater Company is dedicated to actively promoting the Roeper Philosophy by producing diverse, socially conscious theater that celebrates the indomitable human spirit and encourages peace, justice, courage, and reconciliation.

LAND USE STATEMENT

We acknowledge that The Roeper School rests on the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Anishinaabe, or Three Fires Confederacy. The 1807 Treaty of Detroit recognized these lands as belonging to the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot Nations. We at Roeper affirm the inherent sovereignty of tribal governments and thank them for their stewardship of this land in the past, present, and future. With our Native neighbors, Roeper will work to advance educational equity and promote a better future for the earth and all people.

SPECIAL THANKS

Susannah Nichols, The Stage IV teachers, Amy Cova, Meghan Stott

ROEPER MISSION

Educating and inspiring gifted students to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world.

SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS

Santa Fe (Prologue)............................................................Jack

Carrying the Banner..................................Albert/Race/Muriel Crutchie/Nancy/Newsies

Carrying the Banner(Reprise)...................................Newsies

Just a Pretty Face ...............................

The World Will Know............................Jack/Newsies/Muriel/

Watch What Happens.................................................Katherine Sieze the Day (Part 1).............................Davey/Jack/Muriel/

Sieze the Day (Part 2)......................................Davey/Newsies

Santa Fe ................................................................................. Jack King of New York .......................

Letter From the Refuge................................................Crutchie

Sieze the Day(Reprise).......................................................Jack Once and For All ............

TECHNICAL CREW

Sound Supervisor.........................................Justice Broughton

Audio Assistant & Stagehand................................David Atley Lighting Supervisor..............................................Dash Hunger

CREATIVE TEAM & CREW

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

When I became the Artistic Director of the Roeper Theatre Company, I put out an “official proclamation” that the RTC would never perform any Andrew Lloyd Webber, no fad or currently popular musicals, and absolutely no Disney. I broke that last rule with Newsies JR. Our mission statement claims that we are dedicated to actively promoting the Roeper Philosophy by producing diverse, socially conscious theatre that celebrates the indomitable human spirit and encourages peace, justice, courage, and reconciliation. And Disney or not, Newsies JR fits all of those criteria.

The story of Newsies JR is based on an actual strike that took place in New York City during the summer of 1899. The term “newsies” refers to the boys and girls that sold newspapers on the street. They would purchase the papers from the publisher and keep the profit from their sale. During a boom in circulation because of the Spanish-American War, publishers did everything they could, at great financial cost, to outdo one another. Because of this spending, they decided to raise their wholesale prices. When circulation declined, most papers brought their wholesale price back down, with the exception of Joseph Pulitzer’s The World and William Randolph Hearst’s The Journal--the very papers that the newsies were selling to make their livings. Newsies were selling fewer papers each week, and the cost difference became harder and harder to manage. The newsies went on strike against these two papers for about two weeks. During this time, they caught the attention of other newsies across the Northeast as well as other young workers. In her song, the character of Katherine compares this story to that of the biblical characters of David and Goliath, a ragtag group of children up against publisher giants. Their efforts seemed futile, and Pulitzer and Hearst paid them no attention. Eventually news of the strike reached these publications’ advertisers, who requested to have their bills adjusted. The publishers and the newsies finally came to a compromise. The Newsies would still purchase the papers at the higher price, but publishers would buy back any papers the newsies were unable to sell.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE, CONTINUED

Newsies JR also amplifies marginalized voices and spotlights theater history with its nod to the art form known as Vaudeville. Vaudeville is seen as the predecessor of American Musical Theater and consisted of short comedy skits, songs, dances, and a variety of other acts. Vaudeville was a place that authentically showcased the true diversity of the United States at the time by featuring performers of different cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The character of Medda Larkin is based on Aida Overton Walker, an African-American Vaudeville artist who refused to conform to the stereotypes of Black female performers. Medda’s fun diegetic number comments on society’s treatment of women at the time, claiming she’s not “just a pretty face.”

I’m very excited for you to see these incredible young performers give their all and tell this incredible story. I’ve had a great time talking with the cast about the history and context behind the show. Maybe if Disney continues to write more shows like this, I’ll consider dropping that rule from my “proclamation.” I’m sure this will be an entertaining and inspiring little history lesson for everyone. Enjoy the show!

Alex Pedica Director

CAST

Jack Kelly ................................................................. Max Turner

Crutchie ................................................................... Aria Vazzano

Katherine ..................................................................... Isa Bastyr

Les ...................................................................... Josiah Strawder

Davey ...........................................................................Richard Qu

Joseph Pulitzer .............................................. Jackson Ziemann

Medda Larkin .................................................... Parker Webster

Wiesel ................................................................. Will MacDougall

Bill ......................................................................... Liam McGrane

Darcy......................................................................... Isla Williams

Dorothy............................................................... Sutton Girlando

Bunsen ........................................................................Melody Rao

Hannah ............................................................... Sutton Girlando

Seitz ................................................................ Joseph Patrick Jr.

Snyder ....................................................................... Dean Weeks

Morris Delancy .................................................... Ginny Seybert

Oscar Delancy .............................................. Oliver Bockhausen

Teddy Roosevelt............................................Joseph Patrick Jr.

Police Chief ..................................................... Avleen Randhawa

Spot Conlon ........................................................ Amelia Huszczo

Woman ...................................................................... Isla Williams

Scabs ............................................................... Joseph Patrick Jr. Melody Rao Liam McGrane

Albert..................................................................... Rowan Pianko

Buttons ....................................................................... Willow Mau

Hazel..........................................................................Dee Harman

Jojo ................................................................ Maddie MacDonald

Muriel ........................................................... Piper Lasecki-Webb

Nancy .........................................................................Parker Cova

Pigtails ...................................................................Grace Devries

Race............................................................Charlotte Applebaum

Romeo ........................................................................ Seven Frase

Featured Newsie Dancer........................Emma Cangany-Reed

Specs ................................................................Adeline Van Etten

Tommy Boy .......................................................... Liam McGrane

Bowery Brigade ............................................................................

Ada ......................................................................... Isla Williams

Ethel.........................................................................Melody Rao

Olive ................................................................. Amelia Huszczo

Pat (The Stage Manager)...........................Avleen Randhawa

UP NEXT PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH

MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL

MARCH 21-23, 2025