Jack Kelly News

There is a reason that many consider Moorhead High Schools Theatre Department as one of the top in the area. They always seem to step it up every single year and this was no exception. Director Rebecca Meyer-Larson said that she was waiting online and secured the rights for Newsies about 30 seconds after they became available. This is a show she has wanted to put on since the 1992 movie.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Moulin Rouge announces the details of its Broadway transfer, and more!

Although the Lythgoe family is best known for producing reality television shows like 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'American Idol,' live theater is in their blood. 'It's more part of my DNA,' says Kris Lythgoe. 'I really grew up surrounded by the tradition and frankly know nothing else.' Lythgoe says that tradition included spending his summers in the orchestra pit watching his mother direct, his winters in the editing suite with his TV dad, Nigel Lythgoe, and his Christmas holidays watching panto productions written and directed by both his parents. 'In Britain, the first introduction to theater is through panto for any child,' he says. 'So, whether or not my parents were in the business, the first introduction to theater and the breaking down of walls is what we call panto for kids.'

The award-winning Company Theatre (TCT), continues its 40th anniversary celebration by announcing its 2019 theatrical performance season, featuring the finest productions in theatre, music, comedy and mystery.

Stop the press! Midland University Arts brought a newsworthy event to the Kimmel Theatre last night. NEWSIES, The Broadway Musical, opened to an enthusiastic packed house. 'Fake news' has it that the show running through November 11th is nearly sold out. But don't let that stop you. Check out ticket availability and book your seat to see this uplifting, toe tapping production.

Look at him, he's the 'King of New York! ' North Carolina Theatre audiences may remember New York actor Jason Gotay as Jack Kelly in the North Carolina Theatre production of NEWSIES last summer. Last month, he opened in the off-Broadway world premiere of RENASCENCE at The Transport Theatre Group. Later this month, he returns to the North Carolina Theatre stage as Aladdin in the Lythgoe Panto Production of ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH. Hear what he has to say about playing Jack Kelly, taking on the role of Aladdin in a new story about everyone's favorite street-rat, and the importance of introducing kids to the theater.

Michael Dunaway's senior year at Nashville's Hume-Fogg Academic High School's has indeed been a busy one for the young song-and-dance man who this week opens in his school's staging of Disney's Newsies, one of the most-often produced shows of the 2018-19 season. Playing the musical's iconic leading man Jack Kelly, Dunaway leads off his final year as HFA's leading man with one of the most coveted roles in contemporary musical theater.

While the 1992 movie Newsies received mixed reviews and did not perform well in movie theaters, it developed quite a following as a home movie. The inspirational movie, based loosely on the historical newsboys' strike of 1899, starred Christian Bale as Jack Kelly and David Moscow as David Jacobs. In 2011 Disney Theatrical Productions adapted Newsies for the stage, and it opened on Broadway in 2012, earning eight Tony Award nominations. Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and book by Harvey Fierstein, has found its way onto stages in many schools and community theatres, building up a new generation of Newsies fans. With its rousing musical numbers and high-energy dancing, Newsies is sure to bring audiences to their feet. Under the direction of Adam Gustafson and Kyle Weary, Theatre Harrisburg's Newsies opened at the Whitaker Center on November 2nd, when I had the opportunity to view this delightful show.

If you need any more evidence that Newsies is popular just look around Fargo-Moorhead as 3 different productions of the show are being put on this year. What I love about our local theatre community is that you can watch multiple productions of the same show and each school puts their own special touches into the shows. Fargo North High and directors Tom & Rachel Gillen are the next to tackle this show and they did not disappoint. Led by a 22 member pit orchestra directed by Greg Schultz to get the music flowing. I assume most are familiar with the story, but just in case Newsies is based on the real life newsboy strike in New York in 1899.

Extra, Extra, read all about it! Disney Newsies is coming to Marshwood High School! Based on the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899, Newsies depicts the story of New York newsies, boys and girls who sold newspapers on the streets, who went up against two newspaper publishers, Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal, to fight for their chance to earn a liveable wage.

The Atlanta Lyric Theatre is presenting quite a treat for Atlanta audiences this month.

Producer Mark Cortale has announced a star-studded lineup for the sixth season of his celebrated Broadway @ NOCCA concert series in New Orleans. Three of Broadway's biggest names will share the marquee with one of opera's premiere stars in 2018-19.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the Globe's 21st annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The holiday musical will run November 3 - December 29 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Previews run November 3 - November 7. Opening night is Thursday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. The Grinch is directed by James Vasquez, with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. The original production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien with additional lyrics by Theodor S. Geisel, additional music by Albert Hague, and original choreography by John DeLuca.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents John Arthur Greene in "These are the shows I didn't book…and why" on November 25th, 2018. 

Steven Pasquale and Kerry Washington alongside Eugene Lee and Jeremy Jordan are gearing up to star in the new Broadway play American Son, beginning performances today, Saturday, October 6. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

Circle Players continues to celebrate of its 2018-19 season with tonight's opening of Hair, the 1969 tribal love-rock musical that made musical theater history with its premiere 50 years ago. Directed by Jason Lewis and choreographed by Tosha Pendergrast, the eagerly anticipated production features a cast of Nashville's favorite actors, with Nicholas Page as Claude.

They're the Kings of New York! Meet the cast of the Franklin Performing Arts Company production of Disney's Newsies! Photos shot in New York, NY by Ali Wonderly. The production stars Christopher Rice as Jack Kelly and features choreography by Chaz Wolcott.

NENAproductions Theater Project, Ocean Grove's resident theater company, presents 'The Secret Garden,' a musical adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel of the same name.

For plenty of fast-paced action, along with some stellar performances by a fresh-faced cast of eager young theatrical triple threats and a coterie of Nashville stage favorites, one need look no further than Disney's Newsies, the latest onstage offering from Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, the iconic Music City venue that's been entertaining audiences for more than half a century. In its way, The Barn (as it is affectionately known in these parts) and its laudable history ensure that its treatment of the popular musical theater title lend the show's historical basis more than a little gravitas in the making of a stage spectacle.

"EXTRA, EXTRA!" Disney's NEWSIES! is hot off the press at The Public Theater of San Antonio. Based on the real-life strike of 1899, NEWSIES! tells the story of Manhattan newsboys as they take a stand against publishing giant, Mr. Pulitzer, to get the pay they deserve. It is a powerful story of hope, loyalty, and fighting for what you believe in.