Review: 'Newsies' is a high-energy hit at Tampa's Straz Center
There's not a lot that's new about "Newsies." It's old-fashioned in story and structure and very recognizably Disney-esque. Its songs are exactly what you've come to expect from Alan Menken.
None of that is bad, of course. In fact, the "Newsies" is as thoroughly entertaining as any musical you're likely to see, ever.
Local audiences are getting their first chance to see "Newsies" this week. The first-ever North Americnan tour opened Tuesday at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. It continues there through Sunday.
The bones of the story come from a real-life incident from 1899, when boys who sold newspapers on New York City streets went on strike for more money. They won concessions from some of the most powerful men in the country, including Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.
The historical David-and-Goliath story is pretty compelling, but the Disney version makes some changes. The Disney strike's leader is the handsome and artistic Jack Kelly, not the real-life tough-talking blind-in-one-eye Kid Blink. There's a laughably implausible love story and the requisite, not-quite-true Disney happily-ever-after ending.
But all that is keeping with the nostalgic tone of "Newsies," which is wonderfully reminiscent of Broadway musical of the '50s and '60s.
It's made current with astounding stage craft, including sets by Tobin Ost -- labyrinths of stairs and scaffolding that move and interlock to create most of the musical's settings -- and lights by Jeff Croiter, with projections by Sven Ortel adapted for the road show by Daniel Brodie.
But what makes "Newsies" special is the acrobatic Tony Award-winning choreography Christopher Gattelli, the songs by Menken (the composer of many of Disney's hit stage and screen musicals) and the performances by a large, young and exuberant cast.
Miami's Joey Barreiro has the charisma and the voice to carry the bulk of the show as Jack Kelly, and he's surrounded on stage by performers who act, sing and dance at the highest level. Seldom do more than a few minutes pass without the cast members performing physical feats that seem impossible but look easy. They've got the looks, the voices and the athleticism the show demands, and they seem to be having a ton of fun pulling it off.
Besides Barreiro, some of the other performances worth noting come from Morgan Keene as Katherine, who has a lovely solo with the show's prettiest song, "Watch What Happens," and John Michael Pitera as Les, the youngest newsboy. (He and Ethan Steiner alternate in the role.)
Menken's score, with lyrics by Jack Feldman, won a Tony Award. The songs aren't Menken's absolute best, but they're on par with his other great work. The full-throttle energy level of "Newsies" lends itself more toward rousing and inspirational numbers, and Menken provides those expertly as always, but you kind of miss his ballads.
But even though this is a show with music by the great Menken, and even though it's very melodic and relatively song-heavy, the songs are secondary. They're largely there to support the dancing. In the end, you remember the visuals more than the melodies.
"Newsies" is a three-ring circus of a show, astounding to look at, catchy and tuneful to listen to.
Details: Through Nov. 15, Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $35-$115 plus service charge. Information: 813-229-7827, strazcenter.org.
Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.
This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Review: 'Newsies' is a high-energy hit at Tampa's Straz Center ."