Don Gingold / Wednesday, October 19, 2022 / Categories: Coming Soon

Newsies

Weekends July 21 - August 6, 2023, Naperville Central HS Auditorium

Event date: 7/21/2023 7:30 PM - 8/6/2023 3:00 PM Export event

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Book by Harvey Fierstein

Based on the Disney Film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White

Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions

It's time to carry the banner on our stage with Disney's Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.

CAST LIST

Jack Kelly: Salem Channell
Understudy: Marcelo Nylund
Katherine Plumber: Courtney San Pedro
Understudy: Amanda Rissman
Davey: Preetish Chakraborty
Les: Luke Hafkey, Charlie Long
Joseph Pulitzer: John B. Boss
Understudy: Reed Pence
Crutchie: Justin Davis
Medda Larkin: Julie Nelson
Race: Michael Vasilevich
Albert: Joey Fatigante
Specs: Jill Danklefsen
Henry: Henry Cartaya
Finch: Jordan McCully
Romeo: Colin Nacion
Elmer: Justin Lessentine
Mush: Miranda Colin
Buttons: Courtney Gaither
Splasher: Lia Mulcahy
Tommy Boy/Spot Conlon: Joe Gomez
Jo Jo: Amanda Rissman
Mike: Nicholas Baumgartner
Ike: Gabriel Bell
Oscar Delancey: Marcelo Nylund
Morris Delancey: Devin Koshay
Snyder: Sean Lynch
Hannah/Ensemble: Claire Correll
Bowery Beauty/Ensemble: Maddie Shelton
Wiesel/Ensemble: Jeff Harding
Seitz/Ensemble: CeCi Wynne
Bunsen/Ensemble: Katie Paulsen
Nunzio/Ensemble: Reed Pence

 

Summer Place Theatre in Naperville, IL is holding open auditions for their production of “Newsies!”

Based on the Disney Film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Jack Feldman

Book by Harvey Fierstein

Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions

It's time to carry the banner on our stage with Disney's Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!

 

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.

 

Director: Mike Frale

Vocal Director: Ali Kordelewski

Music Director: Kitty Karn

Choreographer: Jeanne O'Connell

Stage Manager: Madalyn Quitter

Producers: Taylor Weisz, Matt Whalen

 

Performances will be held over 3 weekends - July 21 through August 6, 2023 - at the Naperville Central HS Auditorium.

Tickets are on sale now!  Buy a season or VIP ticket for both The Pajama Game and Newsies and save some money - you KNOW you're going to want to see both!

Ticket Information

NEWSIES is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre Intermational (MTI).  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

OUR PRODUCTION TEAM

Mike Frale (Director) Mike is thrilled to be making his Summer Place Theatre debut directing "Newsies." He is a graduate of Lewis University with a B.A. in Theatre and is currently working towards his Master's in Organizational Leadership. Select directing credits include the Lou Award Recommended, 12-time BroadwayWorld Award-nominated production of "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" (Theatre 121), "The Guys", "A Night in the Theatre" and "Constellations" (all with Heritage Theatre Company) and "Deathtrap" (Theatre 121). He has also served as the Production Manager for Schaumburg Summer Theatre, where he has assistant directed multiple shows including this summer's "The SpongeBob Musical". Some acting credits include Ted in "Peter and the Starcatcher" and Peter in "Company" (both with Wheaton Drama), Bobby Strong in "Urinetown" (Philip Lynch Theatre), and Paul/General Howell in "Kiss Me, Kate" (ECC). Mike is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and also serves as the Board Secretary for the Lou Awards. He can't wait to get started carrying the banner on this incredible production! www.mikefrale.com

Taylor Wiesz (Producer) aylor has been with Summer Place since 2022 when she took on the role of Stage Manager for The Sound of Music. Taylor moved to Naperville just at the start of the pandemic from her hometown of Peoria. She was last seen in Tarzan the Musical (Terk) and Addams Family (Wednesday). As much as she can't wait to get back on the stage, she is enjoying being behind the scenes again.

Matt Whalen (Producer)  Matt is a native of Naperville and grew up seeing Summer Place shows. You could say was "bitten by the bug" as an audience member seeing musicals both in the Pavillion and at NCHS. His stage debut was in Summer Place's production of Heidi in 1994. After graduating from Neuqua Valley High School, he appeared in Summer Place's productions of Into the Woods and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He received his BA in Musical Theatre from North Central College, and has performed with many professional and community theatres in the area. Other Summer Place credits include Jekyll and Hyde, Kiss Me Kate (Fred/Pertruchio), Mamma Mia (Bill Austin), The Sound of Music (Captain von Trapp). He has directed Summer Place productions of Grease, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown  He's very excited about collaborating with the board on another great season of theatre in Naperville. He lives in Naperville with his fiance, Lauren and dog, Finn.

Kitty Karn (Music Director) is a singer/actor and voice teacher who has musically and/or vocally directed over 30 shows at the community, college and professional level since 2002. She moved to the area in 2019 after 15 years as Professor of Musical Theatre/Voice at Western Illinois University. Currently, Kitty is an Adjunct Professor of Voice the University of Illinois at Chicago as well as the Music Director for Unity of Fox Valley in Batavia. Kitty maintains a private voice studio with students of all ages and skill levels. As a performer, some of her favorite roles include Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Chaperone in ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’, Marmee in ‘Little Women’, Florence Foster Jenkins in ‘Souvenir’ and Phoebe in ‘The Yeomen of the Guard’. www.kittykarn.com

Jeanne O'Connell (Choreographer)

Ali Kordelewski (Vocal Director) Ali is excited to be joining the Summer Place team for their production of Newsies! This is her Summer Place debut, though she is not new to Naperville community theatre. She music directed at North Central College for many summer productions including Disney's The Little Mermaid, The Music Man, and Peter Pan. Ali is a graduate from North Central College with a BA in Music Education and a Theatre Endorsement. She also earned her Masters in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. Ali teaches choir at Plainfield East High School and directs the madrigals and the spring musicals, most recently Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. She also teaches classes for the Children's Theatre of Western Springs. Ali loves spending time with her family and friends, and she cannot wait to "seize the day" this summer.

Nick Torres (Technical Director/Scenic Designer) Nick is thrilled to be making his Scenic Design debut with Summer Place Theatre His has designed for Blue Ink Production of Really by Jackie Sibblies. His theatre credentials also extend to Production Stage Management at RIT/NTID’s for their Hispanic, Deaf, and Hearing inclusive production of In The Heights Spring of 2022. Nick is excited to start working Summer Place Theatre!

Deb Holmen-Madden (Lighting Designer). Deb spends most of her time behind a few glowing screens, teaching students computers. She is thrilled when the time comes to enter a dark theater and paint the stage with light. Deb has been saturating stages with light for almost two decades, and is thrilled to be part of this adventurous team.
https://tinyurl.com/DebsLighting

Bill Ryden (Sound Designer) This is Bill's second season with Summer Place and is excited to be back behind the soundboard for this summer’s productions of The Pajama Game and Newsies. His involvement in theater began when his children got involved with CYT Chicago almost 15 years ago. He started doing sound for them 10 years ago and have worked on about 20 shows. He loves working with actors and directors to make their vision come to life and making the shows sound awesome. He is thankful to his wife, Kim, and four children for their love and support.

Tamara Djukic (Costume Designer) Tamara Djukic is beyond excited to be joining the Summer Place Theatre community as a Costume Designer for the upcoming productions of "Pajama Game" and "Newsies". She earned a B.A. in Theatre Production Design and Technology from Illinois State University, where she focused on Costume Design and Costume Crafts. During her studies, she served as an Assistant Hair and Makeup Designer for "Twelfth Night" and as an Assistant Costume Designer for "Guys and Dolls". Additionally, she contributed to the creation of costumes for numerous other productions, including "The House of Bernarda Alba", "Yellow Inn", "Sweat", and "Hit the Wall". Tamara is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a vibrant and supportive artistic community, and is looking forward to contributing to the success of these productions

Patty Meier (Properties Designer)  Patty is excited to be making her debut with Summer Palace though is no stranger to the theatre world. Her most recent credits are stage managing Boeing Boeing and The Creators (3 Brothers Theatre). Shout out to her family, friends and boyfriend Chris for their constant support with her theatre life. She would also like to say break a leg/ thank you the cast and crew of The Pajama Game for this opportunity. Enjoy the show! 

Bre Sakalis (Assistant Stage Manager) Bre is excited to return to Summer Place Theatre for her second year. She helped out last year as construction crew for Sound of Music. Bre is a graduate of Western Illinois University where she got her BA in Technical Theatre, focusing on Stage Management and Audio. She has been working in theatre for 10 years now, in various positions, including run crew, lighting crew, costume construction, set construction, Audio Engineer, Audio Designer, Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Sound Mentor, Stage Management Mentor, Assistant Technical Director, and Video Designer. When she's not working in theatre, Bre works as a prep cook, and in her free time, can be found working on some sort of craft project.