CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia Theatre Festival’s production of Disney’s “Newsies” opened in UVA’s Culbreth Theatre Thursday evening, kicking off the show’s 10-day run through July 19 and bringing together performers from Broadway to Charlottesville.
The musical tells the story of the newsboy strike in New York City in 1899, following a group of “newsies” as they fight news mogul Joseph Pulitzer for better working conditions, learning the power of the press and of standing together in the process.
Ahead of opening night, Director and Choreographer Matthew Steffens, a UVA alumnus and Broadway veteran, told Cville Right Now that local talent, “brings a heart to the show.” The company includes 13 young artists from DMR Adventures joining a cast totaling 37 – the largest the festival has seen in its 52 years.
Henry Crater, who plays Jack Kelly, newspaper boy turned union leader, leads the action of the show, carrying its emotional weight. His rendition of “Santa Fe” and chemistry with other “newsies” and Isabel Leoni’s determined Katherine Plumber – the show’s female lead and aspiring reporter on the union cause – create a well-rounded character that is hard for viewers to take their eyes off of.
Jack’s best friend Crutchie, played by UVA student Luke Sullivan, also gives a notable performance as an injured newsboy.
Chad Marges, in the role of newer and more well-off newsboy Davey, is dynamic in his scenes with Crater, and the two are standouts on stage together as their characters clash but ultimately unite behind the strike and the other newsboys.
Jack Esplin, who plays Davey’s younger brother, is a scene-stealer and pulls off many of the show’s comedic moments, with the surrounding newsies adding their own unique personalities and athleticism in impressive and demanding choreography during their numbers.
Steffens noted that the work put into the show’s choreography has made the show one-of-a-kind and the tumbling and acrobatic feats of the newsies, often pulled off as they belt out numbers, certainly won’t be found anywhere else in Charlottesville this summer.
Established actors James Ludwig and Nyla Watson – as Joseph Pulitzer and Medda Larkin, respectively – bring their depth of experience on Broadway to the table and, as seasoned performers, raise the quality of the show even higher as they help a younger company shine through.
The “young artists,” many cast by DMR Adventures as a VTF community partner, have their own dedicated number in “Brooklyn’s Here,” and step up to have just as much of a presence as their older castmates when in the spotlight.
Towering over the company are two 21-foot structures that transform Culbreth Theatre into New York City at the turn of the 20th century and metal scaffolding that comprises the backbone of multiple settings, well-utilized by the cast in blocking that accommodates the show from its high-energy to slower moments.
Stage lighting is another high point, with the production having rented extra lights and elevates both the set and the action, making for an immersive show where attention to these details makes for an exciting and worthwhile viewing experience.
The story is appropriately feel-good and easy to grasp for audiences and the relevance of the musical’s themes of finding empowerment even in dire circumstances will likely resonate with viewers.
“Whether it’s 1899 or 2026, there are still similar struggles of not only economic equality but justice,” Steffens said. “It speaks to the eight-year-old and the 88-year-old.”
Tickets for VTF’s production of Disney’s “Newsies” are available for purchase on the Virginia Theatre Festival’s website, with the show running through July 19 with evening and matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays.
