Auditions
Directed by Nicholas True
Assistant Directed by Racheal Parker
Music Directed by Lindsey Wortham
Choreographed by Sophie True
Stage Managed by Renee Robinson
Preliminary Auditions:
Sunday, April 6 @ 6:30pm
Monday, April 7 @ 6:30pm
Callbacks:
Tuesday, April 8 @ 6:30pm
Invitation Only
Audition Contact:
Click here to fill out the online audition form.
Please fill this out before the audition.
If submitting a video, please send your audition to
newsiesaccc@gmail.com and fill out the above audition. We kindly ask to have your taped submissions no later than April 6th, 2025. Dance reels are greatly appreciated, as well. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
Audition Details:
Prepare a 1-minute song in the style of the show. Please come prepared with either track for your song or sheet music. Accompanist will be provided. You can use a cell phone, tablet, etc. We will have the appropriate cables to connect your device or via Bluetooth.
Dress to move in case you are asked to stay for a dance audition. Not everyone will be asked to stay and dance.
This show is ages 14 and up (with the exception of the role of “Les” which age limit is 10 and up)
If you are asked to callbacks, you will be notified the morning of Tuesday, April 8th.
Reminder: If you are not asked to callbacks, this does not mean you will not asked to be in the show. Only certain characters need additional reading/singing.
Important Dates:
Rehearsals will be Monday, Tuesday, & Thursdays (6:45pm-9:00pm – Moving to 9:45pm in Late May)
Sundays – 6:00pm-9:00pm (Moving to 9:45pm in Late May)
The first rehearsal will be on Sunday, April 13th at 6:00pm – It will be an ALL CALL Read-Through in the Hall. It is mandatory for everyone to attend.
Tech Week is Saturday, June 7th – Thursday, June 12th. NO CONFLICTS WILL BE ALLOWED DURING TECH – There are no exceptions to this.
Performances:
Friday, June 13 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, June 14 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, June 14 @ 2pm
Friday, June 20 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, June 21 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, June 22 @ 2pm
Friday, June 27 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, June 28 @ 7:30pm
Plot:
Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsie dreaming of a better life out West, shares a quiet moment with his best friend Crutchie before the chaos of the day begins. As dawn breaks, the newsies gather to pick up their papers from the World, where they meet Davey and Les, two brothers trying to make money for their family. When the price of the papers is raised, the newsies, led by Jack, decide to strike for better wages and working conditions. They rally together, gaining attention and support from Katherine, a reporter eager to cover their story. Despite struggles, including a brutal fight with the Delanceys and the capture of Crutchie, Jack remains determined to lead the strike.
Amid the strike’s challenges, a relationship slowly blossoms between Jack and Katherine. Initially, Jack flirts with Katherine, but she resists his advances, keeping her professional distance. Over time, Jack’s admiration for her sharp mind and determination grows, and Katherine begins to see beyond Jack’s tough exterior. They bond over shared ideals, and Katherine helps Jack navigate the political fight against Pulitzer, encouraging him to believe in their cause. However, a twist emerges when Katherine’s father, Joseph Pulitzer, is revealed as the very man Jack is fighting against. Katherine is torn between her loyalty to her father and her growing affection for Jack and the newsies' cause. Feeling betrayed, Jack distances himself from Katherine, but she eventually proves her commitment by helping the newsies expose Pulitzer's exploitation and fighting alongside them to win their battle. By the end, Jack realizes that while his dream of escaping to Santa Fe might still be there, his true family and future lie with the newsies. Inspired by Katherine’s belief in him and their shared fight, he decides to stay in New York and continue the battle for workers' rights, solidifying their relationship both personally and in their cause.
Characters:
Please know that age ranges are just that, a range specifically for the character. If you are interested in auditioning for a role, but do not fall between the age range of the character, please do not let that hinder you from auditioning.
*Note we will be casting both male and female newsies. These groups will be a group that is male presenting and a group that is female presenting*
Jack Kelly
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.
Gender: Male
Age: 16 to 25
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Crutchie
A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. 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.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Davey
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.
Gender: Male
Age: 16 to 20
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: D3
Les
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.
Gender: Male
Age: 10 to 15
Vocal range top: Bb3
Vocal range bottom: Db3
Newsies
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.
Gender: Any
Age: 14 to 20
Spot Conlon
The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
Gender: Any
Age: 17 to 20
Katherine Plumber
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 resourcesful, she boldy 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.
Gender: Female
Age: 17 to 20
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Darcy
The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
Gender: Any
Age: 15 to 20
Bill
The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies' cause. Can double as a newsie.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 25
Wiesel
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.
Gender: Male
Age: 27 to 50
Oscar and Morris Delancey
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.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Joseph Pulitzer
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.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 50
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Seitz
Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
Gender: Any
Bunsen
Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
Gender: Any
Age: 35 to 50
Hannah
Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.
Gender: Female
Age: 20 to 40
Nunzio
Pulitzer’s barber.
Gender: Male
Age: 30 to 50
Snyder
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.
Gender: Any
Age: 45 to 65
Medda Larkin
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.
Gender: Female
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: F3
The Bowery Beauties
Female performers at Medda’s Theater. Can also double as newsies
Gender: Female
Age: 18 to 30
Stage Manager
Introduces Medda's act.
Gender: Any
Age: 25 to 55
Nuns
The three nuns offer breakfast to the hungry newsies.
Gender: Female
Age: 20 to 60
Mr. Jacobi
Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.
Gender: Any
Age: 35 to 55
Mayor
The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 to 60
Governor Teddy Roosevelt
A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.
Gender: Male
Age: 50 to 65
Directed by Ryan Vogel
Stage Managed by Stephanie Long
Preliminary Auditions:
Sunday, May 4 @ 6:30pm
Monday, May 5 @ 6:30pm
Callbacks:
Tuesday, May 6 @ 6:30pm
Invitation Only
Audition Contact:
Any questions can be emailed to Ryan Vogel at rduckv@yahoo.com.
Audition Details:
Auditions will consist of cold readings of excerpts from the script.
Important Dates:
Rehearsals will be Monday, Tuesday, & Thursdays (6:30pm-8:30pm – Moving to 9:00pm in Late June)
Adding Sundays – 6:00pm-8pm in late June
The first rehearsal will be on Thursday, May 8th at 6:30pm – For Read thru.
Tech Week is Sun, July 6th – Thursday, July 11th.
No Conflicts will be allowed for tech week.
Performances:
Friday, July 11 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, July 12 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, July 13 @ 2pm
Friday, July 18 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, July 19 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, July 20 @ 2pm
Plot:
Called “A cross between Some Like it Hot & 12 th Night,” this hilarious comedy by the author of Lend Me A Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo, is the story of two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, who find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of 1952 Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren't nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady's vivacious niece, Meg, who's engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there's a wide world out there, but it's not until she meets "Maxine and Stephanie" that she finally gets a taste of it.
CHARACTERS:
(3 F) (5 M) (ALL ROLES ARE OPEN)
Jack & Leo are English, everyone else is from Pennsylvania.
Actors playing Jack and Leo must be comfortable wearing women’s clothes!
Actors playing Jack, Doc, and Butch must be comfortable having a quick comedic kiss with a man.
FEMALE CHARACTERS
Meg Snider: (Early 30’s) She’s vivacious, with enormous warmth and a great sense of humor. She knows there’s a big world outside of York, PA but she hasn’t seen much of it yet.
Audrey: (20’s) She is extremely sweet and good-natured. The typical “girl-next-door;” cute but approachable.
Florence: (Elderly) Very old, extremely crusty, and her eyesight is terrible. Always on the verge of death’s door, but keeping him at bay.
MALE CHARACTERS
Leo Clark: (Early 40’s) (Accent: Possible Standard British) Typical Leading man type; tall, good looking, easy with a smile (and the ladies!) Shakespearian trained, but working the Moose Lodge circuit to make ends meet.
Jack Gable: (late 30’s to early 40’s) (Accent: Possible Standard British) Jack is Leo’s best friend and partner. They’ve been working the Moose Lodge circuit for so long, he’s ready to pack it in and settle down.
Duncan Wooley: (50’s) Local minister and substantially older than Meg (they are engaged). He’s a good man at heart, but rather fussy, set in his ways, a bit scatter-brained and lives in his own world.
Doc Myers: (50 +) Doc is a crusty, likeable curmudgeon; a country doctor who takes no gruff from anybody.
Butch Myers: (20’s) Butch is a little slow on the uptake, but earnest and sincere, with a good heart. He played football in high school – pretty much his claim to fame. (Son of Doc, in love with Audrey).
