Blog

General Audition Information

Contact Cockpit with questions, additional information:
Email: cockpitincourt@ccbcmd.edu
Call: 443-840-ARTS (2787)

Court Jesters Young People’s Theatre

Disney’s Newsies
The Broadway Musical

Music By Alan Menken,  Lyrics By Jack Feldman, Book By Harvey Fierstein
Based on the Disney Film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions

Disney’s Newsies is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 423 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 | Phone: 212-541-4684 | Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShow.com

Show Synopsis: Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies”. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!

Character Descriptions:
(Note: The age written in breakdown is the age of the character. All cast members must be 18 or younger)

Jack Kelly: Male, Age 16-20, The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an orphaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself out West. Fiercely protective of his best friend, Crutchie, and strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City. Though living on the streets has given him a tough-guy exterior, Jack has a big heart and can demonstrate a sweet vulnerability – especially when it comes to bantering with a certain female reporter. Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality. (Vocal RangeBb2-A4)

Crutchie: Male, Age 13-17, A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papers. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy- sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie should still be included in the dance numbers. (Vocal Range C3-A4)

Davey: Male, Age 15-20, Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living, but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance. (Vocal Range D3-A4)

Les: Male, Age 10-15, Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies. (Vocal Range Db3-Bb3)

Newsies: Age 10-20, Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage. May be cast male or female.

Spot Conlon: Male or Female, Age 17-20, The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”

Katherine Plumber: Female, Age 17-20, An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key. (Vocal Range A3-F5)

Darcy: Male or Female, Age 15-20, The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.

Bill: Male, Age 15-25, The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies’ cause. Can double as a newsie.

Wiesel: Male, Age 35-50, Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper- pusher.

Oscar and Morris Delancey: Male, Age 15-20, Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.

Joseph Pulitzer: Male, 35-50, A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack. (Vocal Range F4-C3)

Pulitzer’s Staff:

Seitz: Male or Female, Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.

Bunsen: Male or Female, Age 35-50, Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.

Hannah: Female, Age 20-40, Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.

Nunzio: Male, Age 30-50, Pulitzer’s barber.

Snyder: Male or Female, Age 45-65, The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.

Medda Larkin: Female, Age 25-45, Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice. (Vocal Range F3-E5)

Mr. Jacobi: Male or Female, Age 35-55, Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.

Governor Teddy Roosevelt: Male, Age 50-65, A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.

Female Ensemble: Newsies, Nuns, The Bowery Beauties, Scabs, Stage Manager, Photographer, Customers.

Male Ensemble: Newsies, Guards, Policemen, Mayor, Goons, Scabs.

 Grand Horizons

 By Bess Wohl

Directed by Linda Chambers
Show Dates: July 19 – August 4

Grand Horizons is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. www.dramatists.com

Show Synopsis: Fifty years into her marriage to Bill, Nancy wants a divorce. While her husband seems unfazed by the decision, her two adult sons are shaken to the core, forced to reexamine everything they thought they knew about their parents’ outwardly happy lives. As the family grapples with their new reality, each must reckon with their own imperfect past and how their love for each other might express itself in new and unlikely forms.They are residents of a private home in an independent living community for seniors called Grand Horizons.

Character Descriptions:

BILL: the husband; late ‘70’s. He is preparing for a late-in-life career as a stand-up comedian.

NANCY: the wife; early ‘70’s. She works with refugee organizations, at present coordinating a clothing drive.

BEN: their oldest, mid-to-late 40’s. He is a lawyer in the midst of a tough case with an unsympathetic judge.

BRIAN: their youngest, late ‘30’s, early 40’s. He is a theatre teacher at a middle school, immersed in a production of The Crucible.

JESS: Ben’s wife, mid-30’s, very pregnant. She is a therapist and wants very much to be helpful.

TOMMY: A brand new and brief acquaintance of Brian, ‘20’s.

CARLA: Bill’s girlfriend; cheerful, frumpy, warm; not the floozy one might imagine, late ‘50’s.