Brundage Park Playhouse is proud to announce its upcoming auditions for Newsies, Jr. at the playhouse on Carrell Road in Randolph.
Newsies, Jr.
Book by Harvey Firestein
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Directed by Sammi Fishkin
Choreographed by Dawn Warga
Musical Director – Nathan Mahon
All performers must be under age 18
The Jr. version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the century, New York City. When powerful American newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys’ expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across NYC to strike against unfair conditions and create a movement to fight for what’s right.
Please email newsiesatbrundage@gmail.com if you have any questions!
In-Person Audition Dates: all in-person auditions will be held at the Brundage Park Playhouse theater
- Saturday September 26th – 2pm – 6pm
- Sunday September 27th – 4pm – 7pm
- Callbacks by invitation: Tuesday September 29th – 5:30pm-8:00pm
Virtual Auditions:
Virtual Auditioners must submit form and upload video links on the provided form: https://forms.gle/aNX64CM49mos6B4Z8
Virtual Auditions are due by Friday, September 25th. If invited to callbacks, you will be required to attend in-person.
Performance Dates:
- December 17 through December 20 Times TBD
- There is a strong possibility of multiple performances on December 19th and 20th.
Audition Details
All Auditioners (virtual or in-person) are asked to complete this registration form and choose an audition time prior to auditions.
Audition Form: https://forms.gle/aNX64CM49mos6B4Z8
- Open call auditions for performers aged 17 & younger.
- Music – Please be prepared to sing 32 bars/1 minute of a song from Newsies, jr. or the Broadway version if you can’t find a Jr. track. Please bring a karaoke track with you (speaker provided).
- Dance audition – Please come prepared to dance with jazz shoes/character shoes/ comfortable shoes, and tap shoes if you have them.
- Sides will be provided at the audition/callback at the director’s discretion.
- Please provide a headshot and resume, if possible.
Please Note: Rehearsals will take place 3 times a week, usually consisting of two weekday evenings and one weekend day. All performers must be available for scheduled rehearsals, tech week and for all performance dates.
CHARACTER DETAILS:
All performers are 17 and under
Jack Kelly –The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an orphaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself out West. Fiercely protective of his best friend, Crutchie, and very loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City.
Gender: male Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: B3
Les – Davey’s cheeky younger sibling is excited by the newsies’ freedom and loves their independent lifestyle.
Vocal range top: F4 Vocal range bottom: B3
Crutchie – Jack’s best friend and a dedicated newsie with a “bum leg” from polio that causes pain but helps sell more papers. Walking with the assistance of a crutch doesn’t define the ever-positive newsie.
Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Davey – Les’s strait-laced, bright big brother, starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right, who is learning to use his voice to uplift others.
Gender: male Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: B3
Katherine Plumber – An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful.
Gender: female Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3
Medda Larkin – A big-voiced singer and star of the Bowery. A proud supporter of the newsies, she offers her theater as a safe haven for their revolution.
Gender: female Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: G3
Wiesel – Aka “Weasel”. A disgruntled paper-pusher who uses the Delancey brothers as his muscle, runs distribution for the World and has little patience or sympathy for the newsies. Gender: male
Joseph Pulitzer – A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack. Gender: male
Bunsen – Pulitzer’s bookkeeper who helps Pulitzer come up with the idea to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
Hannah – Pulitzer’s secretary who is a clever advocate for the newsies. Gender: female
Pat –An efficient stage manager who introduces Medda’s act.
Governor Teddy Roosevelt – A well-respected lifelong public servant who inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer. Gender: male
Snyder – The crooked warden of The Refuge. A filthy and horrible juvenile reformatory is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep their government checks coming.
Seitz – The editor of the World who advises Pulitzer but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
Bill – Katherine’s upper-class friend whose parents own the New York Journal and help the newsies print the Newsies Banner. Gender: male
Dorothy – Katherine’s upper-class friend whose parents own the New York Tribune and help the newsies print the Newsies Banner.
Gender: female
Darcy – A photographer who works with Katherine.
Oscar & Morris Delancey – Toughs who work distribution for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point. Gender: male
Ensemble
Includes NEWSIES of New York, RACE, ALBERT, MURIEL, NANCY, SPECS, PIGTAILS, HAZEL, BUTTONS, TOMMY BOY, ROMEO, JO JO, SCABS (1-3) and others; the newsies’ CUSTOMERS; citizens of New York of all stripes, including a WOMAN; the BOWERY BRIGADE, vaudeville performers, including ADA, OLIVE, and ETHEL; and corrupt POLICE OFFICERS, including the POLICE CHIEF; WORKING CHILDREN of New York City