Jan Davisson
The South Florida regional premiere of the Broadway smash hit Disney Newsies The Musical is onstage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre November 28-December 17 (back row) Anthony Zas, Tovi Wayne, Brandon Whitmore and Betty Weinberger (front row) Tyler Jones, John Arthur Greene, Clara Cox and Blake McCall. Photo by Zak Bennett
Maltz Jupiter Theatre Holiday Gift to Local Audience
EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!!! The headlines from a fictional production now on stage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. The Broadway musical, Disney Newsies, is based upon a true event in 1899 about the newsboys in New York taking a stand against the mogul newspaper giant Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World. Pulitzer, who is trying to best his rival, William Randolph Hearst, increases the cost of the newspapers the young boys sell, which hurts their already substandand payments. According to public relation/marketing director, Dana Munson, “It’s a high energy show with a cast of 26.”
People in this generation don’t remember the corner newsboy, but, a couple of generations ago, if you lived or visited the city, they’d be on every corner. This is also back when the newspapers came out a couple of times a day, based on the latest news headlines.
The musical’s hero, Jack Kelly, is being portrayed by John Arthur Greene, who is currently appearing as Theo in School of Rock on Broadway. Most of the newsboys are either homeless or orphans and count on their earnings to survive. The exception is Davie (Adante Carter) and his young brother, Les (Blake McCall.) Although they have parents, their father had a accident and cannot work, so the boys are trying to bring in extra money. Jack recognizes the intelligence of Davie and takes them under his wing. They also get caught up in the newsboy strike.
Disney’s Newsies will run from November 28-December 17. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein. Newsies received two 2012 Tony Awards. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre production is being directed by Marcos Santana and choreographed Al Blackstone.
It’s a great show for kids of all ages, and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is offerning numerous incentives for students. Student rush tickets are available for young audience members on the night of the performance. All students 18 and under can buy a mezzaine ticket for only $25, subject to availabilty.
Don’t forget that tickets are now on sale for the 1962 pop dance sensation, Hairspray. Get your hair teased and get ready to return to the 60’s when a young girl wins everyone’s heart as she tries to dance her way onto national TV. A joyful script for every age. January 9-28, 2018.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Rd, Jupiter. Tickets: (561) 575-2223; www.jupitertheatre.org
Kravis on Broadway Series
Choreographer Mia Michaels brings her magic to the stage in this spectacular production of Finding Neverland. What a great present to receive for the holiday…tickets to Neverland. Time to shout our…I BELIEVE!
Did you ever wonder who put the “pan” in Peter Pan? The Kravis on Broadway series has the answer when the North American Touring Company of the musical Finding Neverland opens January 2-January 7, 2018.
Finding Neverland is the Broadway musical that tells the fascinating story of how Peter became Pan. Playwright J.M. Barrie meets the Llewelyn Davie’s family of four young brothers and their beautiful widowed mother. Charmed by the boys’ make-believe adventures, he ends his “writer’s block” with a story that made the London audience of 1904 sit up and take notice of J.M. Barrie. Based upon the Academy Award®-winning film of the same name, Neverland captures the magic of the J. M. Barrie classic tale as it brings to life the beloved characters from Peter Pan. Wendy, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and the dastardly pirates. Neverland was originally written by James Graham with award winning music such as Believe and Sylvia’s Lullaby by Gary Barlow and Grammy award winner Eliot Kennedy.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach Tickets (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471; www.kravis.org
Palm Beach Dramaworks
PBD’s World Premier Billy and Me, a new play by Terry Teachout, opens on December 8 at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre in West Palm Beach. Presented by Palm Beach Dramaworks, the Teachout play will receive its world premiere. Teachout, author of the acclaimed Satchmo at the Waldorf, stated that although it’s a work of fiction it’s freely based on fact. The play speculates on what happens when you have two outstanding playwrights who develop a friendship. The authors are Tennessee William, portrayed by Nicholas Richberg and Tom Wahl as William Inge. Talk about the makings of a turbulent relationship. William Hayes, PBD Producing Artistic Director, who suggested the idea to Teachout, is directing the premiere, which runs through December 31, with specially priced previews on December 6 and 7.
Tom Wahl as William Inge, Nicholas Richberg as Tennessee Williams Photo credit: Cliff Burgess
Press release facts: Billy and Me is a memory play narrated by Williams. Act I is set at a bar in Chicago on December 31, 1944, immediately after a pre-Broadway tryout of Williams’ The Glass Menagerie—the play that inspired Inge to become a playwright. Act II takes place almost 15 years later in Inge’s Manhattan apartment, a few hours after the Broadway premiere of his first flop, A Loss of Roses.
“It’s a play about love, jealousy, and not to put it too pompously, destiny,” said Teachout. “An artist is a person who can’t do anything else with his life. Writing is his fate: it’s that or nothing. But he can’t become an artist until he accepts that fate and acknowledges his true nature. That’s a big part of what this play is about: the struggle of two great American playwrights to come to terms with who they really were.”
Palm Beach Dramaworks 201 Clematis Street West Palm Beach FL 33401 Tickets: (561) 514–4042 Ext. 2; www.palmbeachdramaworks.org