Tipton HS to perform 'Newsies' this weekend
Apr. 26—TIPTON — How a group of children fought back against a greedy newspaper publisher will be portrayed on stage this weekend by Tipton High School students.
"Newsies," a musical which follows Jack Kelly as he leads a strike of newsboys, opens Friday in the high school auditorium. A pit orchestra will provide the music.
Kelly, played by Aidan Blair, organizes the strike after newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the price newsies must pay for the paper. The newsies then sell the papers on the street.
"I really like the songs," Blair said. "It pushes me out of my comfort zone."
Blair is joined by Dylan Rockwell, who plays Davey. The two team up to orchestrate the strike.
While many of the newsies are orphaned or immigrant children — accurate to the newsboys' strike of 1899 which the musical is based on — Davey and his younger brother become newsies when their father loses his job.
"He's a goodie two shoes who think's he's too good to be selling papers," Rockwell said.
The two characters become close friends during the show.
Rockwell said he went for Davey as he fit his vocal range as a bass.
"I feel like his personality fits me the best," he said. "Me and Davey would either love each other or hate each other."
Other cast members nodded in agreement.
Katherine Palmer, an enthusiastic reporter, stumbles upon the newsies' strike and is determined to get the scoop.
Halle Cole tried out for Katherine and got the role.
"It's a fun character; she sassy and spunky," Cole said. "And I'm not like that in (real) life. It's fun to be that one stage."
"Newsies" is popular a musical for school productions. It's also one of director Jenny Haynes' favorites.
"I've always loved it," she said. "It's a great show with pretty good songs."
The show has large cast, which is likely one reason why it's a popular school performance. There are 40 Tipton students in the show, including one sixth grader.
Other cast notables include Avery McDonough, who plays Crutchie, and Emma Watson, who plays secretary to Pulitzer the publisher.
"She's the evil girl," Watson said of her character. "She helps the evil guy."
Watson is also the student director.
This is McDonough's second time performing "Newsies." She did it once before with Kokomo Curtain Call.
"It's always been one of my favorite shows," McDonough said. "It's an encouraging story."
"Newsies" runs through Sunday. It's the final school theater performance for juniors and seniors as Tipton High School only does performances every other year.
"I'm excited for people to come and see all the hard work they've put in," Haynes said.
Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.
