By The Pulaski News
PULASKI – Performances of the Pulaski High School production of “Newsies” are 7 p.m. Feb. 9, 2 p.m. Feb. 10, 7 p.m. Feb. 16 and 2 p.m. Feb. 17.
Reserved-seat tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the Pulaski News office at Pulaski High School or by calling 822-6800.
Amy Tubbs is the director. Kathryn Brown is the choir director. Melissa Welsing is in charge of choreography.
Others helping with the musical are: Jackson Smith, orchestra director; Spencer Karls, scenic designer/crew chief; Bryan Brown, sound designer; Kimberlee Miller, lines rehearsal/characterization director; Rolean Wernicke, costume designer.
“Newsies” is based on the Newboys Strike of July 1899 and is adapted from the 1992 Disney film.
It was first produced on Broadway in 2012.
The show is fictional but based on real people.
Joseph Pulitzer wasn’t actually in New York during the strike, and Gov. Theodore Roosevelt didn’t actually intervene.
Newsies leaders Kid Blink and Morris Cohen were the inspiration for Jack Kelly and Nellie Bly inspired Katherine Plumber.
When the newspaper publishers decide to raise the cost of the newspapers for the newsies to buy, the newsies go on strike to change unfair labor practices.
Jack Kelly (played by Caleb Miller) and Davey (Marcus Moss) unite the newsies to strike against newspaper goliath Joseph Pulitzer (Benjamin Petroll).
Katherine Plumber (Ava Baenen) documents the process and publishes stories in the newspaper.
The newsies are played by Amber Ahlswede, Ryan Bouchard, Alyssa Bruckert, Adrian Caylor, Trentin Dauk, Hannah Dornfeld, Connor Heezen, TJ Hock, Marie Kraning, Rylee Miller, Cole O’Brien, Alyssa Rettke, Giselle Rottier, Lauryn Wessely, Caleb Wilinski, Mickey Wirtz and Autumn Wood.
The cast is completed by Evan Brenkus, Riley Brown, Allison Carter, Abigail Cheney, Oriana Cheney, Hunter Chrisman, Grace Christiansen, Regina Clark, Bailey Denny, Grace Drake, Jessica Goska, Abby Harris, Allie Huber, Amelia Lara, Braydon Lom, Gavin Mangold, Heidi Matz, Avery McCallum, Sienna Potts, Jade Sampo, Lindsey Seaquist, Ethan Theoharopoulos, Jena Truckenbrod, Joanna Vesterdall, Katelyn Wessely, Bailey White, Karissa Willette, Gracelyn Williquette and Brittney Winter.
Members of the orchestra are: piano, Karen Rafn; keyboard, Cecilia Maroszek; keyboard, Corinne Galligan; flute/piccolo, Victoria Vaile; clarinet, Maddie Wendrick; saxophones, Ben Evenson; trombones, Sarah Kurowski; trumpet, Shawn Postell; bass, Will Voelker; guitar, Kaiden Crouse; drum set, Scottie Smith; auxiliary percussion, Alyssa Uttech, Ella Sobieck and Hadyn Sobieck.
Stage crew members are: Lighting, Nick Diefenthaler, Rachel Page; spotlights, Heather Le Comte, Nicholas Symons; soundboard, Gavin Naumann and Jacob Spredeman.
Backstage crew members are: Ashunti Allen, Jayden Lepp, Haley Brabant, Iyana Ramey, Jade Chrisman, Kiley VanSchyndel, Sinai Guzman, Hannah VanEnkevort, Coreena Hernandez and Ruby VanZeeland.