Good ‘Newsies’: Disney musical opens in Manila next month

2017 is turning out to be a great year for local fans of theater, particularly stage musicals. Sister Act is coming to Manila this month, and later in the year, we’re getting Kinky Boots, The Sound of Music and West Side Story. With the exception of Kinky Boots, all are international touring productions making a stop in Manila.

Earlier this week, one more was added to that list, this time, from a local theater company featuring a local cast. Newsies is a Disney musical adapted from a film released in 1992. The movie starred a teenage Christian Bale as a singing and dancing newspaper boy during late-1800s New York.

Above and below: The cast of 'Newsies' performs snippets from the musical at a media preview on Tuesday. Photos: Paul John Caña

While the film failed to take off at the box office, Newsies was given new life in 2012 as a stage musical. It was a critical hit, scoring eight Tony nominations and winning two. It has also picked up countless “fansies” who swear by how good the show is.

I don’t know much about it, but lucky for me, a “fansie” gave me a crash course on the musical. Pao’s a friend of mine who saw it on Broadway in 2013. Needless to say, he got excited at the news that Newsies is being staged right here in Manila.

“I LOVE NEWSIES,” he messaged me over Viber. Yup, in all caps.

“The themes that I like are: the little guy fighting to be heard, to have a seat at the grown up's table. This is Jack [Kelly, the lead role, played in this production by Gian Magdangal] na pinapaglaban yung kapwa nya newsie.

“Tapos kahit dominated by boys, there's a strong female lead na pinapaglaban naman nya yung boses din nya,” Pao adds. “Kasi relegated sya to fluff pieces, and her writing about the newsboy strike is her major story.”

Pao also gave me a backgrounder about what it took to get Newsies produced as a musical.

“It was the little show that could,” he says. “Yes it was a Disney musical but it started out as a regional production then it was supposed to have a limited Broadway run, but it eventually got a full run. It has dedicated fans called ‘fansies’ who watch the show multiple times, give gifts to the actors, and even write fanfiction.”

“Each newsie has his own personality and each fansie has a favorite newsie.”

Local fans might start picking their favorites. Joining Magdangal as newsies are Jef Flores, Daniel Drilon, Tory Cortez, Luis Marcelo and Alex Diaz. Others in the cast include Danielle Chopin, Greg Dulcie, Pinky Marquez and Raymund Concepcion.

“There's so much strong male dancing!” Pao says. “Acrobatics and such! King of New York is one exciting tap number! And Seize the Day naman has that paper dance which is amazing!”

Some of the cast members showed off snippets of what they’ve been working on during a short number at the preview last Tuesday. Choreographer PJ Rebullida has his work cut out for him, but he seems to be up to the task. The musical is directed by Robbie Guevarra, assisted by Franz Imperial. Newsies is a production of Globe Live and 9 Works Theatrical, the same team that brought us American Idiot and A Christmas Carol last year.

I think Pao’s enthusiasm has rubbed off on me and now I can’t wait to see how everything’s gonna come together when Newsies opens here next month.

Newsies will be staged at the Globe Iconic Store in Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater on all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of July 2017, starting at 8 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit go.globe.com.ph/newsies or ticketworld.com.ph.

Paul John Caña is a writer and live music geek. Check out his blog manontheotherside.blogspot.com. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana.