NewArts & The 1214 Foundation Present Disney's NEWSIES

NewArts presents Newsies, the Tony Award-winning Broadway phenomenon, August 3 -12 at Masuk High School in Monroe, CT. The musical is based on the historical newsboy strike of 1899 that shook the ivory towers of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. The history lesson leaps onto the stage with soul-stirring music, amazing heart, and stunning choreography and stars over 120 area youth onstage, backstage and in the orchestra.

This production of Newsies features choreography adapted from Tony Award-winner, Christopher Gattelli's Broadway production and is directed by NewArts Producing Artistic Director, Michael Unger.

Performances will take place at Masuk High School - 1014 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 06468 Friday August 3rd at 7PM, Saturday August 4th at 2PM and 7PM, Sunday August 5th at 2PM, Friday August 10th at 7PM, Saturday August 11th at 2PM and 7PM, and Sunday August 12th at 2PM. The show is double-cast to involve more children in the program - please check our website for more details (www.newarts.org).

The young artists who participate in NewArts productions not only work together to create high quality productions while interacting with Broadway professionals on a daily basis, but they are also taken on a journey beyond the shows themselves. Interwoven within the rehearsal schedule is a custom-built, character development curriculum designed by volunteers from the Yale School of Management and the University of Pennsylvania Masters of Applied Positive Psychology department. This challenging character development curriculum equips the cast and technical crew members with essential life skills such as grit, resilience, and post-traumatic growth which extend well beyond the stage into everyday life to help these young artists flourish as individuals and members of their community.

The NewArts experience is unique from any other performing arts program. Michael Baroody, MD, founder of the 12.14 Foundation explains, "the participating children will be entertaining the community with a Broadway-quality performance, but more important, throughout the rehearsal process, they are learning how to overcome obstacles, work as a team and realize the best versions of themselves."

Whether performing onstage or helping behind the scenes, the NewArts mastery experience in combination with the 1214 Foundation's flagship character development curriculum ARC (Aspire, Reach, Confidence) guides students through the pathways of self-efficacy, self-regulation and self-awareness to improve students' overall well-being.