For three nights only an ensemble of student performers will don wrinkled shirts, vests and soot-covered faces to transport audiences to 1899 Brooklyn, when newsboys took a stand against the rising price of newspapers.

Members of the cast and crew in Disney’s “Newsies” will share this story with the campus community Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium. First Year Players, a theater organization with more than 180 members, has worked since the beginning of the fall semester to prepare a show — and a creative space — for first-year and transfer students.

“FYP is like a big family and a community for a lot of people,” said Hannah Fleager, public relations director for FYP.

This year, students have flexed their performance muscles while preparing for “Newsies.” And after months of rehearsal and hard work, they’re ready to share it with the community, said CJ Santosuosso, director of the show.

With a pit made up of both music and non-music majors, with a cast of diverse performers, Santosuosso said this show has everything it needs to be an exciting production.

“It’s like nothing we’ve done before and nothing this campus has seen,” Santosuosso said.

While brainstorming the group’s creative vision, Santosuosso said FYP wanted to throw the stigmas surrounding the show out the window.

The original screenplay was written solely about men newsboys, Santosuosso said, but FYP’s adaptation removes the focus on gender. Their production focuses on young people asking for a spot at the table and for their voices to be heard.

For cast members, “Newsies” is not only a show of the past but a reflection of contemporary times. Madeline Wasson, a cast member, said the show echoes what’s going on in the world right now. To her, it conveys a different perspective on relevant issues regarding the current political environment.

Wasson’s character, Katherine Plumber, embodies many of the feminist aspects of today’s culture, she said. She is a driven reporter and activist, alongside the newsies. While she plays the main character’s love interest, Wasson said Katherine’s role has been strengthened in FYP’s new take on the show.

“A lot of times in Disney movies, female characters get washed over as just the love interests that are there for the men, but I’m trying to make sure people understand that she’s a powerful woman,” Wasson said.

First Year Players’ cast is made up of freshmen and transfer students. Courtesy of Erin Gavle

Katherine’s strong and independent demeanor is further highlighted by her costume, which was created by junior Isabella Falcione. As costume designer for the show, Falcione said she was able to create a sophisticated look through intimate details.

For other characters, Falcione enjoyed exploring details to accurately reflect the time period — using suspenders, colored socks and mixing patterns to create the perfect look. The worn, yet vibrant attire Falcione has fashioned for the newsies fits well with the show’s setting, said Daniel Preciado. As co-artistic director, he oversees all aspects of the creative design, including the set and lighting.

The stages of emotion experienced in this musical are further highlighted by musicians in the pit orchestra. The emotion of the piece shifts from energetic, eight-minute dance breaks to more somber moments. All of these feelings are expressed through song and dance, said Gabriel.

Since many people auditioned for instrumental parts which weren’t included in the original composition, Pit Manager Evan Lewis said it took additional effort to transpose parts to fit the new instruments, but the result was worth it.

Another way FYP has added its own twist to the original musical is by having the crew perform in the show, as well. This idea originated back in June, when Santosuosso was on the phone with Kaitlyn Menegio-Stahl, the show’s stage manager. Santosuosso said they had always talked about wanting the crew to feel more involved in the show.

“The goal is to have a good experience,” Santosuosso added. “I think if you asked any crew member, this is more about just moving set pieces for them.”

For Preciado, what has come as a result of such a hardworking staff, cast and crew members is what he’s most proud of.

“That’s the thing about FYP. Everyone works so hard for something so fleeting just because in three days, you get to experience a whole array of emotions,” Preciado said. “I think that the audience will be able to get that same energy that we work towards giving to everyone else.”

Published on April 11, 2019 at 12:06 am