Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Academy Players of RI’s 63rd season starts off with a bang with the Rhode Island premiere of “Newsies” by Walt Disney. Disney’s “Newsies” is based on the 1992 Disney film and is inspired by the real-life “Newsboy Strike of 1899,” when Newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and run away newsies on a two- week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. The show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and made its Broadway debut on March 29, 2012 where it ran for over 1005 performances closing August 24, 2014 before touring the country from then until October 2, 2016. The choreography in the musical by Julia Gillis is phenomenal, astounding, entertaining and energetic from start to finish. Director Rita Maron with music director Matthew Cunningham leading a splendid 7 piece orchestra wins these 54 performers a standing ovation.
