Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical

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Bev D This musical is the Broadway adaptation of the 1992 movie musical of the same name, and to summarize plainly: you're much better served watching the original film than this. While the cast is certainly full of talented singers and dancers, the acting performances range from being fair to downright annoying. Visually, the set is lackluster at best and consists exclusively of metal scaffolding that takes you out of the story. In fact, the set was very familiar. I'd seen it before walking past construction sites in modern New York City. Meanwhile costumes are cartoonish and of questionable historical accuracy. The biggest problem I have with this musical is *spoiler alert* the so-called love story between Jeremy Jordan's "Jack Kelly" and Kara Lindsay's "Katherine Plumber." In this production, Jack makes several unwanted advances on Katherine, meanwhile she threatens to punch him and then kisses him in the same scene only to mock and tell him to "shut up" five minutes later. Hardly a classic compared to other stories that Disney has created. Katherine is, unfortunately, a product of her time. A 'strong' female character who 'isn't like other girls' and uses her male counterparts with no regard to their own circumstances to further her career as a reporter. She needs no man - that is, until she finds "something to believe in" in Jack. She's a character who could have been interesting if she had had a better writer but her inconsistent characterization fails to impart lasting meaning and fails to stand the test of time as a good example for girls and young women. There is only one child actor in the cast who plays the little brother "Les." I'm not sure whether to take issue with the fact that a story centered on child labor only cast one child to tackle the story, or to be relieved that I was spared two full hours of grating performances. Either way, the charm of the original 1992 film is lost by having grown men masquerade as 12- to 17-year-olds and gives the same impression of the disaster that was the Hunger Games. (Which also curiously placed its focus on love rather than tackle serious themes and issues.) And as a final note, there are several odd plot points that go nowhere and make no sense without having first watched the 1992 film. So, you may as well go watch the original anyways. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Audience Member The musical was really good only down side was that Les was a little annoying When it comes to him I prefer the movie version of Les But other than that it was good Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/25 Full Review SkyRo P In this review, I’m going to share my thoughts on both the film version of "Newsies" and its Broadway adaptation, as I believe they both resonate with me in similar ways. To start, I want to emphasize that both iterations are truly remarkable. While they share a common storyline, the film and the musical each embark on their own unique journeys. One is a cinematic experience, while the other brings the vibrancy of live theater to life. Despite their differences, both versions are captivating and fulfill all the expectations you might have. Christian Bale delivers an outstanding performance in the original film, while Jeremy Jordan shines as a star in the Broadway rendition. Together, they lead us through the story of young newspaper boys challenging authority, creating an exhilarating experience filled with fantastic songs, impressive choreography, and a compelling depiction of a challenging historical period. Key characters like Crutchy, Davie, Katherine, and Jack are essential to the narrative of this entire production. I highly recommend watching them on Disney+. The Broadway version edges out slightly, as it offers an exhilarating theatrical experience, enhanced by stunning cinematography that captures the essence of live performance. I’m confident that both adaptations will leave you entertained and inspired. Be sure to check them out! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/03/24 Full Review Lilman L It's relatively good but just doesn't hit the jackpot like it used to. I remember there being tons of original and fun songs but in reality it's only like 3 songs and the ones from the theatre scene. Characters are kinda bland but the choreography makes up for some of the many flaws this has. Obviously managing and performing a full musical is hard and takes talent but I just feel like this could have been so much better. Overall this is really good to watch while doing laundry or making your bed. 6.2/10 Worth trying, barely. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/24 Full Review Teddy B This story works MUCH better on Broadway than the silver screen, even if it doesn't completely separate itself from the syrupy faults of the film. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/24 Full Review Alexis A JEREMY JORDAN, BEN FANKHAUSER, ANDREW KEENAN-BOLGER, KARA LINDSAY, AND BEN COOK ARE ALL AMAZING IN THIS I LOVE NEWSIES THE SONGS ARE GREAT* I HAVE THIS ENTIRE THING MEMORIZED i highly recommend watching this musical! *except for the bottom line and bottom line reprise, those ones are trash Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical

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