Cast

The Minneapolis High School Theatre Department is proud to present the fall musical, Newsies, Jr., on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 at 7:30 PM in the MHS Auditorium. Tickets will be available the night of the performance for $5.00 and $10.00 for premium seats. If you wish to purchase advance tickets, please contact any of the cast and crew members, or contact Jan Clark at Minneapolis High School, 785-392-2113 or email jclark@usd239.org

Newsies was introduced to the public as a Disney film in 1992.  After growing in popularity when televised and offered on home video, the story was adapted as a successful Broadway musical.  

The musical is based on the 1899 Newsboys Strike that took place in New York City, Jack Kelly and his ragtag team of newsboys make a meager living selling newspapers on the city streets. But when the prices of “papes” are hiked and the newsies are hung out to dry, there is nothing left to do but “open the gates and seize the day!”   Newsies is an ebullient and joyful musical capturing the strength that young people have when they join together to stand up against injustice.  Adapted especially for young performers, this musical features a Tony Award®-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award®-winner Harvey Fierstein, and includes rousing songs like “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “King of New York.” Newsies JR. is packed with action and offers a timeless message perfect for the whole family and every audience. 

The cast members are as follows:  Jack Kelly-Conner Peck, Katherine Plumber-Shelby Davidson, Medda Larkin-Nyah Weis, Crutchie-Justin Villalpando, Davey-Brinley Boyer, Les-Lizzie Hyde, Race-Abby Shea, Muriel-Myka Deronnet, Spot Conlon-Maggie Shupe , Pigtails-Alayna Cossaart, Specs-Maleah Griffin, Buttons-Shelby Mullen, Jo Jo-Sha’uri Shipley, Romeo-Clare McKain, Tommy Boy-Shelby Mullen, Nancy-Viola Isaacson, Hazel-Emilia Ymballa, Policeman-Aiden Bond, Hannah-Sha’uri Shipley, Joseph Pulitzer-Levi Smith, Bunsen-Clare McKain, Seitz-Shelby Mullen, Snyder the Spider-Emery Stickles, Darcy-Jessica Young, Weisel-.Camden Robins, Pat-Levi Smith, Morris Delancey-Emery Stickles, Dorothy-Kali Torrence, Bill-Kaleb Ocker, Teddy Roosevelt-Kaleb Ocker.  Bowery Brigade (Vaudville Dancers): Olive-Myka Deronnet, Ada-Abby Shea, Dancers-Alayna Cossaart, Maggie Shupe, Meleah Griffin.

The crew members are Mattie Main-Lights Technician, Braxton Grimes-Spotlight.  Stage crew and make-up artists are Gavin Bond, Claire Christensen, Nevaeh Disney, Zach Heer, Grady Kelly, Mattie Maine, Alexis Myer, Shelby Vance, Jacob Woehl, and Raven Young.  

Disney’s Newsies JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Music Theatre International.  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (www.MTIshows.com).   The Broadway Jr. series makes popular titles affordable and accessible to middle schools and high school students.