Some of the shows are already sold out which is easy to understand since I came away awestruck by the enormous talent of local teens starring in Reston Community Players' new musical, Newsies.
It's fun, it's delightful and solid entertainment at the Black Box Theatre at Capital One, Tysons.
Newsies has a huge cast, all who shine and capture us for more than two hours in a story based on the true newsboys' strike against the greedy Joseph Pulitzer when he tried to exact more money from the poor boys way back in 1899.
Led by "Jack Kelly" (Kyler Neville), the "boys" (and girls) dance and prance around the stage all night amidst scaffolding which triples and quadruples in set roles, including an escape from thugs, led by one bad boy, named, what else? "Mr. Snyder" (Anoushka Sharma).
Snyder leads the chase for the evil and conniving Mr. Pulitzer, one of my favorites of the night, exquisitely portrayed by Haydyn Dollery who can command a city, mind you, with his haughty demeanor and steely confidence, girded by a tall black hat and intimidating black suit.
In Pulitzer's first scene, an impish, silent barber, Nunzio (Allie Blanchet) tries to cut the hair of the newspaper publisher while he's seated at his desk and then stands, all the while yapping, yapping, yapping, followed by Blanchet who follows him around from desk to standing and back again, flopping back and forth from one of the publisher's arms to the other in an hilarious scene which also featured an impromptu hair balancing act by "Hannah" (Hadley Smith), who never seemed a trifle amiss that her hair was a muss.
Another of my favorite characters was Ms. Medda Larkin (Caitlyn Quigley) in colorful, flashy garb who makes several appearances "va-va voom!" a friend of the newsboys, and quite willing to hide them in her "venue."
Jane Keifer is "Les," a pesty newsboy who hops around non-stop with funny lines and antics. Elizabeth Cha is a lead dancer with plenty of energy to deliver "paps" 24 hours a day!
Jane Keifer is "Les," a pesty newsboy who hops around non-stop with funny lines and antics. Elizabeth Cha is a lead dancer with plenty of energy to deliver "paps" 24 hours a day!
What would a show be without romance and sex? Not a good one, and sparks ignite early on between the melancholic Mr. Kelly and an initially mousy woman, "Katherine Plumber" (Gwendolyn Ihdt), who undergoes a blossoming transition when love strikes!
Costumer Lori Crockett and her assistants, Lisa Leary and Jackie Tidball, have delivered a splendid assortment of apparel for the cast, all decked out in period clothing of caps, suspenders, vests, trousers, and ascots (a time or two).
Costumer Lori Crockett and her assistants, Lisa Leary and Jackie Tidball, have delivered a splendid assortment of apparel for the cast, all decked out in period clothing of caps, suspenders, vests, trousers, and ascots (a time or two).
The choreography, duets, quartets and ensemble singing were outstanding, and it doesn't matter that the songs are not familiar; they grow on you.
Like the taped music which seems very present.
Like the taped music which seems very present.
The fight scenes (by Ian Claar, choreographer) were almost too realistic, the effects heightened by Richard Bird's sound, causing me to wince more than once at the "blows."
Based on the 1992 Disney film, the show was a bit of a dud when it first screened, but over time,gained cult status on home video and was adapted for the stage 20 years later.
On Broadway, Newsies ran about two years and was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 2012, winning Best Choreography and Best Original Score.
The actors and seven apprentice technicians are part of RCP's new apprentice program from New York, which "includes pre-professional performance and technical opportunities for students ages 13 to 18, providing them with exposure to the process of building a theatrical production from the ground up," according to a RCP press release.
Kate Keifer, RCP’s president and Newsies' hair and makeup designer, expounds:
"The ability for our young performers to work with professional teaching artists from New York City and to perform at a brand new venue like Capital One Hall is a one of a kind experience. We aim to give each participant in our program a 360 degree view of everything that goes into mounting a theatrical production as they gain in depth knowledge in the areas of stage craft, theatrical design and production elements.”
With an upbeat message, Newsies will put some pep in your step to enjoy another day. After all, carpe diem!
The cast includes James Abidin, Bryson Begg, Henry Carter, Kidlat Keen Gant, Mayumi Raine Gant, Jahlil Greene, Ela Howard, Danielle Kessler, Mikayla Kirr, Josh Lewis, Myriah Miller, Sydney Schneider, Wyatt Unrue, Lana Vittor, Alexis West, and Elizabeth Wolfert.
Apprentice production members are William Daly, Caroline Firestone, Jaeden Kunkel, Rae Palma-Rivas, Kyle Ratner, Anna Schoenborn, and Morgan Weis.
RCP’s production of Newsies is directed and choreographed by Alisa Claire and Brian Collier, visiting teaching artists from NYC’s The LMproject.
Other members of the production team: Merissa Driscoll, musical director; Dan Widerski, technical director and set designer, assisted by Anna Mintz; Mary Jo Ford, properties and company manager; Franklin Coleman, lighting; Jack Rollins, stage manager and Dom Monette, assistant.
Newsies' music by Alan Menken; lyrics, Jack Feldman; book by Harvey Fierstein.
What: Newsies
When: 2 p.m, Sundays, July 10 and 17; 7 p.m. July 15 and 16, Friday and Saturday
Based on the 1992 Disney film, the show was a bit of a dud when it first screened, but over time,gained cult status on home video and was adapted for the stage 20 years later.
On Broadway, Newsies ran about two years and was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 2012, winning Best Choreography and Best Original Score.
The actors and seven apprentice technicians are part of RCP's new apprentice program from New York, which "includes pre-professional performance and technical opportunities for students ages 13 to 18, providing them with exposure to the process of building a theatrical production from the ground up," according to a RCP press release.
Kate Keifer, RCP’s president and Newsies' hair and makeup designer, expounds:
"The ability for our young performers to work with professional teaching artists from New York City and to perform at a brand new venue like Capital One Hall is a one of a kind experience. We aim to give each participant in our program a 360 degree view of everything that goes into mounting a theatrical production as they gain in depth knowledge in the areas of stage craft, theatrical design and production elements.”
With an upbeat message, Newsies will put some pep in your step to enjoy another day. After all, carpe diem!
The cast includes James Abidin, Bryson Begg, Henry Carter, Kidlat Keen Gant, Mayumi Raine Gant, Jahlil Greene, Ela Howard, Danielle Kessler, Mikayla Kirr, Josh Lewis, Myriah Miller, Sydney Schneider, Wyatt Unrue, Lana Vittor, Alexis West, and Elizabeth Wolfert.
Apprentice production members are William Daly, Caroline Firestone, Jaeden Kunkel, Rae Palma-Rivas, Kyle Ratner, Anna Schoenborn, and Morgan Weis.
RCP’s production of Newsies is directed and choreographed by Alisa Claire and Brian Collier, visiting teaching artists from NYC’s The LMproject.
Other members of the production team: Merissa Driscoll, musical director; Dan Widerski, technical director and set designer, assisted by Anna Mintz; Mary Jo Ford, properties and company manager; Franklin Coleman, lighting; Jack Rollins, stage manager and Dom Monette, assistant.
Newsies' music by Alan Menken; lyrics, Jack Feldman; book by Harvey Fierstein.
What: Newsies
When: 2 p.m, Sundays, July 10 and 17; 7 p.m. July 15 and 16, Friday and Saturday
Where: Black Box Theatre ("The Vault"), Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102
Tickets: $20 each
Masks: Required
Parking: Pay to park at Capital One. Get two hours free with validation at Wegman's (no purchase necessary) inside the center, and $2/hour thereafter.
Reston Community Players receives funding from ArtsFairfax, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.
Tickets: $20 each
Masks: Required
Parking: Pay to park at Capital One. Get two hours free with validation at Wegman's (no purchase necessary) inside the center, and $2/hour thereafter.
Reston Community Players receives funding from ArtsFairfax, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.
patricialesli@gmail.com
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