Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
#1Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 1:40pmI was just reading up on the history of Newsies and learned that it was a major "box office bomb" and "was not well received." So just out of curiosity, why would Disney make a movie that was not very successful into a Broadway musical?
#2Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 1:52pm
(1) Because it's Disney.
(2) Because, in theory, they're "fixed" it.
(3) Because it's Disney. They'll put anything on stage now. Look next season for "Spin and Marty" and "Davy Crockett".
http://docandraider.com
#2Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 1:58pmAll of those things are true, but while it was a flop at the box office it has gained a following on DVD.
Moneyspider
Stand-by Joined: 12/16/10
#3Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 2:29pmIt's a cult classic that appeals to the same demographic whose favorite part of HSM is "I don't dance".
#4Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 2:42pm
Newsies is very popular. I remember being in the costume shop of my college theatre and someone popped in the soundtrack - everybody started singing. It was something we all knew and loved. I can be in a group of friends and someone can say "Try Bottle Alley or dah harbah" and someone we'll all jump in.
And for the record I have no favorite part of HSM
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#5Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 2:43pmI'm delighted to hear there will be a musical production of Newsies. Sure, it's cheesy as hell, but it does have a cult following. We watched it in school when I was in 7th grade (for it's historical content, supposedly) and we all fell in love with it. Some of the songs and choreography are quite fun, and it's hilarious to see Christian Bale singing... You should check out the dvd if you haven't seen it! As with the film, though, I could see this musical being a flop (financially). Not sure enough people know about it... I hope it's good!
#6Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 2:47pm
@Eris0303 Agreed- my friends and I know all the lyrics too! ("try Central Park it's guaranteed...")
And I don't understand what is meant by the HSM reference Moneyspider made, but yes- both Newsies and HSM were choreographed and directed by Kenny Ortega.
#7Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 4:05pm
I was bitten by the Broadway bug right around 9/11, when I saw my first shows (Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King). After the attacks, my mom was scared of being in the city, so that's when she subscribed to the Paper Mill for me, and we started seeing tons of local productions. Along with that, she got me tons of musical movies. I watched them all the time growing up. Newsies was one of them. It was one of the movies that made me love musical movies, and encouraged my love for theatre even more. I've wanted to see it onstage since I first saw it on the screen. At 7, I had somehow managed to teach myself most of the choreography to the dance break in King of New York. I copied the other songs too, but that was my favorite. Those home videos of me alone in the basement belting out those songs, and dancing are absolutely humiliating, but I won't deny it - I was pretty damn good :)
Being older, I am able to see that Newsies isn't all I had cracked it up to be when I was younger. It has a lot of major flaws, but I still love it. I couldn't be happier that it's coming to the Paper Mill, and I'm so excited to see what they do with it.
showchoirguy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/14/10
#8Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/10/11 at 7:44pmI have recently discovered Newsies this year (my musical theatre class did a medley) and I must say I am extremely excited for this show and I also hope it makes a debut on broadway :)
#9Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/11/11 at 2:25amIt may not have been "well received" but I personally have never met a theater geek who doesn't love it. There are a lot of twenty somethings that grew up on and I know lots of people myself included fell in love with musicals because of this movie. I would not even call it cheesy its just that perfect feel good movie that you can rely on to have a great time...and the music is some of Menken's best stuff! The choreo is super cool and the theatricality of the film should land onstage quite gracefully.
Chorus Member Joined: 12/31/69
#10Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/11/11 at 2:30amIt gota big cult following on video, quickly, I didn't grow up with many gay kids, but every girl I knew my age LOVED the movie. in fact when my first girlfriend (don't laugh) found out I lvoed musicals she showed it to me for the first time. I still don't see it having a huge future, unless Harvey's new book is even more campy, outside teen and preteen girls and some teens, I think some of the music is wonderful but nearly everything else awful. But no matter, it'll have a good school run at any school that has enough boys to play the newsies...
Chorus Member Joined: 12/31/69
#11Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Posted: 8/11/11 at 2:41am
"
(3) Because it's Disney. They'll put anything on stage now. Look next season for "Spin and Marty" and "Davy Crockett"."
Unless it's something that proved a European success, but has a new downbeat ending and scared backers away like Hunchback of Notre Dame apparently did...
