Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Jack Feldman. Book by Harvey Fierstein. Rosny College, Hobart. Directed by Clare Latham. Musical direction by Matthew Ives and Suze Quinn. Choreography by Hannah Marmion and Madison Heidenreich. Rosny College Dwight Brown Auditorium, Hobart. 21–31 May 2025

Once again Rosny College proves that age is not a prerequisite for quality and professionalism in performance, with Clare Latham directing an energetic powerhouse of a student cast in 2025’s tight musical theatre production of Disney’s Newsies – a great choice of show to make the most of the talents and resources available in this cohort.

We are in New York at the end of the nineteenth century, when several of the major newspapers raise their wholesale prices and the ‘newsies’ – the young boys and girls who sell the ‘papes’ on the streets – band together and strike, fighting for their livelihoods, and for respect. In this David-and-Goliath struggle, Jack Kelly (Isaac Nicholas), bolstered by good friend Crutchie (Finn Johnston) and recent additions to the newsie ranks Davey (Oscar Wright) and little sister Lesley (Jorja Continenza), steps up as the leader of the newly formed union, joining forces (and affections) along the way with enthusiastic young reporter Katherine Plumber (Sophie Cashion) who wants to expose injustice, and helps promote the ‘Children’s Crusade’ to bring the city to a halt. Publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Finn Hatton) is the figurehead for the money-hungry newspapers on the side of wealth and power, and he must face the strike action of the ‘rag-tag gang of ragamuffins [who want] to take on the kingmakers of New York’.

Cashion stands out in a charismatic and mature musical performance as Plumber, Nicholas is earnest as the broody Jack, caught between youthful idealism and the cynicism of poverty, and Olivia Goerss (relishing the supporting role of vaudeville performer Medda Larkin, who loans her theatre to the newsies for a rally) is also assured and compelling. Continenza, Johnson and Wright all bring enjoyable texture to the fabric of the cast. Smaller characters too get their moment to shine, whether with vocal solos, featured dance breaks, or simply moments of character development – as with Lachlan Gammon as mayor Theodore Roosevelt or Sophie Bentley as Hannah (Pulitzer’s bookkeeper) – and rarely are these moments wasted. However, it perhaps does an injustice to the production to single out individual performers, as the central strength is in the ensemble energy and cohesion.

The cast of almost 40 students, alongside an augmented student musical ensemble, a technical and backstage production crew of another 20, plus innumerable off-stage contributors (such as the college’s Costume class) unite to bring this large show to the stage. The technical elements – including props, costumes, sets and lighting design – integrate smoothly with the choreography and musical direction to generate a sense of place, era and mood, and Latham’s confident staging results in a smooth show that is balanced, dynamic and spirited. The momentum doesn’t lag; rarely is there confusion in focus even when the stage is at its fullest; the band are tight musically (overcoming lapses in intonation); transitions (between scenes, as well as between modalities) are efficient and fluid; and several of the large ensemble numbers are genuinely exhilarating. ‘The World Will Know’, ‘Seize the Day’ and ‘King of New York’ are highlights, featuring athletic aerials, tap solos and explosive energy.

Faced with juggling the perpetual musical theatre challenges of accent (a particular struggle for a few cast members), radio mics, diction and vocal balance (particularly in a small theatre with a live band), the cast work hard but the main criticism of the evening is a practical one: unfortunately many lines were lost to these challenges, and harmonies were often buried in the energetic belting of full-cast numbers. However, in the scope of an impressive college production, this was a minor frustration. Newsies radiates real engagement and enthusiasm, and Rosny College should be proud of this enjoyable production.

Review by Anica Boulanger-Mashberg

Anica Boulanger-Mashberg is a Hobart-based writer, editor and reviewer.