Newsies Hits the Frierson Stage in GPS-McCallie Musical Collaboration

Girls Preparatory School senior Tori Ball was in the seventh grade the first time she saw the stage play "Newsies."

"I was so drawn to it," she recalled Monday evening. "I thought Katherine Plumber was a dream role. I think I watched the movie every night for a year after that."

This Friday night and Saturday night at 7 o'clock and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 inside GPS's Frierson Theater, Ball and more than 40 other McCallie and GPS drama students, plus a tech crew of 21, will stage the musical "Newsies" for the public.

"This has been one of my favorite shows since I was a child," said Chelsea Padro, McCallie and GPS's director of theater and musicals. "I saw the movie when it came out in 1992, and I have been crazy about it ever since. And it has a strong message about doing what is right. It is a historical fiction piece centered on the newsboy strike of 1899 in New York City. It is about kids the age of our students standing up for themselves. It is a powerful message."

The actual newsboys' strike of 1899 came about when young newspaper sellers protested a rise in prices to buy the papers that they were selling at a slightly higher price on the street to make a small profit. The strike targeted noted New York City newspaper publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. The newsboys' actions highlighted unfair child labor practices and later led to notable reforms.

"I never spent a lot of time learning about this stuff," said McCallie senior Jack Schurr, who plays newsboy Jack Kelly in the play. "But I am going to Long Island University next year to study musical theater, and this play has taught me a little about living in New York City, which I may be doing for the next four years."

Because the play is filled with songs and five lengthy dance numbers, Schurr also took dance lessons on his own to prepare for the show. "I am not the greatest dancer," he said. "But I am a lot better than I used to be."

To show the importance of the dance numbers, Padro enlisted Chattanooga Center for the Creative Arts teacher Crystal Newson to work with whichever students wanted to on dance technique each Saturday in McCallie's Black Box Theater.

"So some of these kids have been working for over six months on this production," said Padro. "And I think it shows. The dance and song numbers are terrific, and so is the set. I am so proud of everybody involved in this."

McCallie senior Jack Rogers has been a staple in theater productions at both McCallie and GPS for years, including the male lead last spring in GPS's production of "Mean Girls."

As another McCallie student intending to major in the performing arts in college and beyond, Rogers says what he most likes about "Newsies" is "It is a real ensemble-centered production. It highlights every person in the cast. We have been working on this since T-Term ended in January, and I think it looks and sounds great. The set is amazing."

And if the dancing has been a challenge for several of the students, the singing has been music to the ears of Ball, McCallie junior Ellison Lord—who won Got Talent a year ago—and others.

"I consider myself more of a singer," said Ball, the female lead in "Mean Girls." "This is the most I have ever danced in a production. But Crystal has been so great working with us on the dancing. Also, GPS senior Emma Cox. She has helped us so much."

Lord, who plays "Davey," said of his vocal work, "I just like singing with people I love and care about. Dancing was something I always had trouble with. But because of Crystal and Emma, I have learned a lot about movement. We have put in a lot of work on the side, and I cannot wait for everyone to see the show."

For Ball, there is another reason she is passionate about the play. "My character is a huge advocate for female power. We can do anything men can do. Women's rights was not a big thing in 1899."

As Padro worked through Monday rehearsals, she said, "I have wanted to do this play for a long time. It is a true underdog story, and I think people always love a good underdog story."

Buy tickets at GPS.edu/Musical.

Learn more about the Arts at Girls Preparatory School.

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