Men And Women Needed For Musical "Newsies"

Tenor: Vocal range top: A4, Vocal range bottom: Bb2 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 strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions. Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality. Sings solo, many lines, some dancing, stage combat.

Tenor: Vocal range top: A4, Vocal range bottom: D3 Les’s straight-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, Davey is the brains of the resistance. A thinker; the voice of reason; a nice Jewish boy. Must have a great contemporary tenor voice. Sings solo, many lines, some dance.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

OTHER NEWSIES: Tenors. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies. All roles have multiple lines & solos and/or dance features and stage combat. Directors may combine certain characters or add more. Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

Mezzo-Soprano: Vocal range top: F5, Vocal range bottom: A3 The strong-willed daughter of Pulitzer; this young lady drips smarts, opinions, and confidence; a young Katherine Hepburn or Ellen Page; this damsel needs no prince to save her. An ambitious young reporter. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key. Sings solo, many lines, some dance, stage combat.

Mezzo-Soprano: Vocal range top: E5, Vocal range bottom: F3 Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. Risqué and tough, an astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice. Sings solo, some dance. Comedic actress.

The stage manager of Medda Larkin’s club and also the MC of her show, running the backstage area and introducing performers on stage. This performer must be able to switch from a practical, efficient stage manager personality to an energetic and entertaining ‘host of the show’ when they are ‘on stage’ at the club. Does not sing, some lines, no dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Tenor. The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation. Brooklyn, Staten Island as we can get. Think Mighty Mouse, should have an incredible presence. Has a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.” One solo, some lines, featured dancer.

Bill & Darcy: the son of William Randolph Hearst (Bill) and the upper-class kid of a publisher (Darcy) join the newsies' cause. They help Katherine break in to use the basement printing press to print the newsies’ paper. Can double as a Newsie. Some lines, some dance.

Bill & Darcy: the son of William Randolph Hearst (Bill) and the upper-class kid of a publisher (Darcy) join the newsies' cause. They help Katherine break in to use the basement printing press to print the newsies’ paper. Can double as a Newsie. Some lines, some dance.

The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike. This performer will double in other roles. Some lines, no singing or dance. Will likely double with other roles.

A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer. This performer will double in other roles. Some lines, no singing or dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is. He is generous, and loves to crack jokes. Some lines, no singing or dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Baritone: Vocal range top: F4, Vocal range bottom: C3 A pompous businessman through & through, owns "The World" (a major NY newspaper) & is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – & grudgingly – respect Jack. The boisterous forefather of Wm. F. Buckley Jr., Glen Beck, and Rupert Murdoch; an on-point, know-it-all politician; impatient with the world. Sings solos, many lines, no dance.

Oscar Delancey and Morris Delancey: tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike & are known to use their fists to make a point. These roles require two performers who work together well with good comic timing, but can also be physically intimidating. Although they do not dance, these roles still require a strong physical performance with excellent self-control for stage combat sequences. Several lines, no dance, stage combat.

Oscar Delancey and Morris Delancey: tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike & are known to use their fists to make a point. These roles require two performers who work together well with good comic timing, but can also be physically intimidating. Although they do not dance, these roles still require a strong physical performance with excellent self-control for stage combat sequences. Several lines, no dance, stage combat.

An editor at "The World" who advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the newsies’ paper. Small solo, some lines, limited dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper. Small solo, some lines, limited dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary. Small solo, some lines, limited dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper-pusher. Requires an exaggerated, cartoonish vocal and physical performance. Sings ensemble only, several lines, no dance. Will likely double with other roles.

The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming. Though he doesn’t work for Pulitzer, he’s happy to team up with him to take down the newsies and get his hands on Jack. This role requires a strong physical and vocal character performance. Several lines, no dance. Will likely double with other roles.

Pulitzer’s barber, who is trying to cut Pulitzer’s hair during the song "The Bottom Line" and the scene prior. This role requires a strong physical comedy performance. Italian accent preferred. Does not sing, some lines, character movement feature. Will likely double with other roles.

The guard who throws Jack, Davey, and Les out of the building when they try to get in to see Pulitzer. This performer will double in other roles. Does not sing, one line. Will likely double with other roles.

Takes the triumphant photo of the newsies at the end of “Seize the Day.” This performer will double in other roles. Sings ensemble, limited dance.

A newspaper customer. Speaking role. Will double with other roles.

Spot Conlon’s gang, the Brooklyn newsies are feared, admired, and respected by the other newsies city-wide. When they add their support to the strike in their feature number Brooklyn’s Here, they cause a waterfall effect that brings every other newsie in the city on board. Sing ensemble, dance feature. Will likely double with other roles.

Three Newsies from other boroughs brought in to “break” the strike. They are hesitant, and instead they throw down their papers and become new members of Jack Kelly’s gang. Sing ensemble, some dance, some stage combat. Will likely double with other roles.

A small group of female dancers who join Medda Larkin on stage. Vaudeville-style dancers, these performers must have strong, sharp dance skills, big facial expressions, and be strong singers. Sing ensemble, dance feature. Will likely double with other roles.

A small group of nuns who offer free breakfast to hungry newsies. These performers must have strong singing voices and an ability to hold their melody while other performers sing counterpoint. Small ensemble singing feature. Will likely double with other roles.

Thugs that are hired to join the Delanceys to rough up the newsies. Actors in these roles must demonstrate excellent physical self control and strong physical acting. Stage Combat. Will likely double with other roles.

Cops that show up during the strike riot. At first the newsies think the cops are there to help them, but the police join the fight on the Snyder’s side and begin arresting newsies and taking them away. Stage Combat. Will likely double with other roles.

Newsies from every other corner of the city that assemble to join the strike. Sing ensemble, dance. Will likely double as other roles.

Newsies from every other corner of the city that assemble to join the strike. Sing ensemble, dance. Will likely double as other roles.

Newsies from every other corner of the city that assemble to join the strike. Sing ensemble, dance. Will likely double as other roles.

Newsies from every other corner of the city that assemble to join the strike. Sing ensemble, dance. Will likely double as other roles.

Newsies from every other corner of the city that assemble to join the strike. Sing ensemble, dance. Will likely double as other roles.