NEWSIES Auditions
April 26- May 11, 2019
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
Directed by Suzanne Fleenor
Choreographed by Anne Beck
Music Direction by Brent E. Marty
It’s time to carry the banner on stage with Disney’s NEWSIES! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, NEWSIES is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies 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 by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.
Prep Session – December 10 @ 7pm
Auditions – January 7 & 8 @ 7pm
Please come prepared with your best 16 bars of an appropriate song. Please bring sheet music – an accompanist will be provided. You will be provided with sides to choose from for the reading portion of the audition. All adults will be required to go through a movement audition. You will be given an opportunity to change clothes – please bring appropriate footwear.
All ages listed are “stage-age” or an age you can appear to be. All Newsies are between 13 and 20 “stage-age”. We intend to cast older performers that can appear younger. The vocal and physical demands of the roles require older more experienced performers. In general we will not see performers under 16 for any role. We will be casting an unspecified number of female Newsies.
Jack Kelly – The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an oprhaned dreamer and artist.
Age: 16 to 20, Vocal range A4 – Bb2
Crutchie – A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes.
Age: 13 to 17, Vocal range A4 – C3
Davey – A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance.
Age: 15 to 20 Vocal range A4 – D3
Les – Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle.
Age: 10 to 15, Vocal range Bb3 – Db3
Newsies – Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage.
Age: 13 to 20
Scabs – Three newsies who are hesitant to join the strike.
Age: 10 to 20
Spot Conlon – The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
Age: 17 to 20
Katherine Plumber – An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously.
Age: 17 to 20, Vocal range F5 – A3
Darcy – The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
Age: 15 to 20
Bill – The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies’ cause. Can double as a newsie.
Age: 15 to 25
Wiesel – Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name.
Age: 35 to 50
Oscar and Morris Delancey – Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.
Age: 15 to 20
Goons – Assist the Delanceys in roughing up the newsies at the end of Act One.
Age: 15 to 20
Joseph Pulitzer – A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line.
Age: 35 to 50, Vocal range F4 – C3
Seitz – Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
Bunsen – Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
Age: 35 to 50
Hannah – Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.
Age: 20 to 40
Nunzio – Pulitzer’s barber.
Age: 30 to 50
Guard – The Guard removes the newsies from Pulitzer’s building.
Age: 20 to 60
Snyder – The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.
Age: 45 to 65
Medda Larkin – Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies.
Age: 25 to 45, Vocal range E5 – F3
The Bowery Beauties – Female performers at Medda’s Theater.
Age: 18 to 30
Stage Manager
Age: 25 to 55
Nuns
Age: 20 to 60
Photographer
Age: 15 to 25
Woman – A newspaper customer.
Age: 15 to 45
Mr. Jacobi – Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike.
Age: 35 to 55
Policemen
Age: 20 to 60
Mayor
Age: 45 to 60
Governor Teddy Roosevelt
Age: 50 to 65
Ensemble
Videos
