Director Notes
Dear Audience,
The idea from Newsies actually started with the kids.
Last year, as Beauty and the Beast closed, it felt like a whisper -- "Newsies", "Newsies." And once the idea was planted, it grew on me. I had not watched the Christian Bale 1994 version since I used it in a Communications class 15 years ago. This time, I watched the filmed Broadway version (on Disney Plus) and found so much about it that spoke to me. I loved the design elements, including the scaffolding, the hats, the world on the cusp of great engineering and transition. But I also loved the gumption and pizzazz of all these "kids", uniting and conquering the world of profits and suits. I could see its place on Harmony's stage.
I hope that is what we brought you this weekend, with our own unique twist. As always, I am so impressed by the growth I see in my students, from our first auditions to this final step in bringing a show to life. I hope they remember this time as fondly as I know I will, and I hope none of them forget how it feels to "Seize the Day" -- especially the 8th graders!
-Mrs. Donohue, Director
Autographs
