Extra, Extra! Newsies above the fold production
#LSN_Arts Paramount
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO - November 16, 2018 (LSN) Extra, Extra! Newsies above the fold production now playing at the Paramount Theatre! High-kicking newspaper kids practically leap off the stage at the Paramount Theatre, where Disney’s Newsies is currently being staged in Thunder Bay by the senior students of Paramount Live. The liveliness and zest of Paramount Live’s staging brought down the house on opening night as the “newsies” took to the stage to tell this story based on real-life events of the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City.
A group of newsboys led by ruffian Jack Kelly (Jack Kotanen) fight against Pulitzer (Katherine Nemec) for fair wages. Jack and fellow paper sellers Crutchie (Katie Comeau) and brothers Davey and Les (Quinn Stewart and Gabby Carlin) realize their livelihood is on the line. They decided to fight by organizing against Pulitzer, hoping a shutdown of newspaper sales will force Pulitzer to reconsider. Helping Jack — and becoming a romantic interest in the process — is newspaper reporter Katherine Plumber (Micaela Morrow).
Director Candi Badanai skillfully directs and choreographs this constantly moving piece of dynamic theatre on the Paramount stage with a cast of 34 actors. “They love the music, and have whole heartily taken on the challenge of all the dancing, “said Candi Badanai. “It’s a new Disney Broadway musical with a classic feel to it. There is also a heartfelt message in this show that is filled with singing, dancing, comedy, love… what is there not to love about Newsies?” And the cast has been having the time of the life over the past two months rehearsing this show.
After seeing this production on opening night, many patrons commented in disbelief that this caliber of show came together in such little time. Candi Badanai smiled and said “it couldn’t be possible without the talent that we are so fortunate enough to work with. Each day these students enter the rehearsal studio with so much energy and love for this show and doing musical theatre that they make it easy. They bring joy to my heart. We do it for them, and no matter how large of a production some of our musicals are, such as Newsies, we work together as a team (theatre family), to create the magic together.”
