Performances fill Smith Theater to capacity
By Christian Landry I
In a year full of firsts, Roxbury Latin’s first Winter Musical was a huge success. This year’s production was Disney’s Newsies, a story about a group of young kids who sell newspapers in New York. The group is led by Jack Kelly, played by Nick Chehwan I, an energetic and passionate leader who organizes a strike against the newspaper company The World, after Mr. Pulitzer (Ian Richardson I) raises newspaper prices. Jack unites the different bands of Newsies from all across New York and forms a union against the newspapers. He is only able to organize everyone with the help of his friends, especially Crutchie (Ale Philippides III) and Davey (David Sullivan III). Despite Crutchie’s capture and imprisonment in The Refuge, a children’s prison, and Pulitzer’s attempts to bribe and thwart Jack’s plans, the Newsies push strong and eventually, with the help of Governor Roosevelt (Teddy Glaeser III), are able to get what they want.
The group is led by Jack Kelly, played by Nick Chehwan I, an energetic and passionate leader who organizes a strike against the newspaper company The World, after Mr. Pulitzer (Ian Richardson I) raises newspaper prices.
Jack is also able to find love after meeting and enlisting the help of a young newswriter, Katherine Plumber/Pulitzer (Anne Joseph, Winsor). In addition, as with every Musical, there is rowdy group singing from both the bad and good guys, including “Seize the Day,” “The Bottom Line,” “Once and for All,” and more. Featured solos included Jack Kelly (Nick Chehwan I) in “Santa Fe,” Medda Larkin (Katie Burstein, Winsor) in “Ain’t That Rich,” and Katherine Plumber/Pulitzer (Anne Joseph, Winsor) in “Watch What Happens.” Unfortunately, Christian Landry I was not a nun in any of the performances, only in the preview Hall.
Friday, February 28 was the debut performance for the Musical. The Smith Theater was filled to the brim, and all of the cast members played their part. The next day, Saturday, February 29, was also a success, with one of the biggest crowds ever seen in a RL theater for a Saturday performance.
Many teachers and students called the production one of the best they had ever seen at Roxbury Latin, with stellar vocals and acting. In addition, under the direction of Mr. Opdycke, the orchestra was also organized, well-practiced, and accurate. Finally, a big thank you goes out to Mr. Nelson, the director, Mr. Opdycke, the music director, and everyone who came out to watch this year’s production of Newsies.
