It was the first time River’s Edge Theatre allowed musical theatre students to pick the show.
Drama teacher Nicole Roberge and musical director Glenda Ottens were hesitant at first, unsure what the Riverside secondary teens would bring back to them.
But when they suggested the Port Coquitlam high school present Newsies — a story based on the 1899 newspaper carriers’ strike in New York City that established children’s labour laws in the U.S. — Roberge and Ottens were on board.
After all, the musical would be a first for School District 43, Roberge said, and it would feature a large cast — with enough parts to accommodate everyone in the class.
For the main roles, Roberge and Ottens selected Logan Willis and Javid Nouripour (who was in Romeo and Juliet in last year’s Summer Teen Theatre Troupe at Place des Arts) to double as the hero Jack Kelly, a newspaper delivery boy.
He dreams to escape the Big Apple for the warmer weather down south.
And for the character of Katherine Plumber, the reporter who breaks the story about how the newsies are treated, the teachers chose Kirsten Clark and Brielle Chan.
The production “is very upbeat and has a large ensemble,” said Clark, 17, who was in the ensemble for last year’s school version of Rent.
“We love it because it’s very family friendly,” added Willis, 17, who also graduates this year and played Roger in Rent.
Staged managed by Jenna Traub, Newsies also puts the students dancing skills to the test.
There are a lot of large dance numbers, said Roberge who choreographed the routines. “It’s very high energy.”
An adaptation of the 1992 Disney film, the school edition includes a Tony-award winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman — with seven new songs for the stage version; however, the film tunes Carrying the Banner, King of New York, Santa Fe and Seize the Day remain.
Last year, to mark the release of Newsies for amateur licensing, Playbill partnered with the Disney Theatrical Group and Music Theatre International for a Seize the Day Challenge, a community service campaign. Roberge said her students are embracing the Seize the Day mantra, too, for their production.
• Newsies runs Feb. 21, 22 and 23, and Feb. 28 and 28 and March 1 at Riverside secondary school (2215 Reeve St., Port Coquitlam) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance via brownpapertickets.com or $12 at the door on show night. Call 604-941-6053.
