From the company that brought you Mamma Mia! and Something Rotten!, get ready for Ovation Theatre Company’s latest summer blockbuster, Newsies, at the Derry Opera House later this month.
In turn-of-the century New York City, charismatic newsboy Jack Kelly leads a band of teenaged “newsies” in a revolt. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies fellow newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right. Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score packed with non-stop thrills.
James Bridges of Hooksett enjoys portraying Jack Kelly. “He’s not like your classic (protagonist) in that he’s not super pretty all the time and nice, which I think is pretty cool.” Bridges is excited for the audience. “There are some of the most talented dancers I’ve ever seen – it’s kind of intimidating. They’re brilliant; the cast is brilliant; the creative team is brilliant. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a timely message, with all of the strikes we’re seeing now.”
Noah Ramirez of Concord plays Albert the newsie and agrees this story has “a message that will hold the test of time.” Ramirez also notes “It’s such an immersive show – much different than what you’d get in a normal production of Newsies.”
Newsies features spectacular dancing and powerful singing, with a cast of actors ages 15-56 drawn from all over New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. This production is led by veteran creative team Director Meg Gore, Music Director Sarah Herron, Dance and Fight Choreographer Katy Gore, Tap Choreographer Adam Furgal and Stage Managers Tim Gore and Audrey Labbe. The cast includes Ava Amaro, Avenley Allen, Carter Blanco, Chloe Ferraro, Dan Gore, Katy Gore, Michaela Horan, Colby Lynch, Joseph Smith, Maddie Tufts, Mason Turek and Randy Williams of Londonderry; Adam Day, Elizabeth Herron and Jonathan Uber of Hampstead; Greer Danzey and Alycia Leriche of Derry; Debrah Hernandez of Chester; James Bridges of Hooksett, Jonathan Kaplan, Ryan Kaplan, Jacques Lopez, Jillian Mastroberte and Stephanie Wan of Windham, Samantha Rapaport of Salem, Morgan Conte and Katie Scali of Sandown, Emma Durand of Hudson, Shane Gillis of Nashua, Shannon Bolser, Phaedra Brown and Maria Huard of Bedford, Audrey Malynowski of Manchester, Noah Ramirez of Concord, Carson Michael Curtis and Ryan Curtis of Brentwood, Dana Gastich-French of Exeter, Lauren Legault of Amesbury, MA and Chris Losco of Lowell, MA.
In an age of screens and streaming, there is still nothing like live performances, especially in theatre. Avenley Allen, who directed Ovation’s most recent production and plays a newsie in this one, agrees. “It’s so different because it’s so engaging. Even though it’s on a stage, separate from the audience, the audience is totally part of the story and you can’t get that from a screen. That’s something you can only get on the stage and that’s something that’s super valuable.”
Newsies will be presented on Friday, July 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 22 at 1 and 7 p.m. at the Derry Opera House, 29 West Broadway, Derry.
Tickets are $20 through July 15 and $25 beginning July 16 and are on sale at ovationtc.com.