BY SUSAN BRYANT

sbryant@tnonline.com

Disney’s “Newsies JR.” will be presented March 2-5 at Springhouse Middle School.

The musical is based on the 1992 Disney film, “Newsies” and the 2012 Broadway production of the same name.

The story was inspired by the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City in which Jack Kelly, an orphan and homeless newsboy, declares the newsies a union and organizes a protest after he discovers the cost of newspapers has been raised to 60 cents per hundred.

Liam Oravetz, who portrays Jack Kelly, and Tristan Walsh, who plays Crutchie, commented on their roles.

Oravetz likes playing Jack Kelly because it allows him to be more expressive and lets him become a different person.

“I like Newsies Jr. because it has a different tone to it than any other show that I’ve been in,” Oravetz stated.

Walsh, one of Jack Kelly’s best friends, said Crutchie is a 16-year-old newsie who has a weak leg from having polio.

“I love to play Crutchie because he is a comedic character,” Walsh stated. “Also, I like embracing the situation that he and all the newsies faced.”

Molly Phares, who plays Katherine Plumber, and Isabella Force, who portrays Ms. Medda, also discussed their roles.

“Katherine is a young reporter trying to find a noteworthy story,” Phares said. “She has a lot of energy and is a super fun character to take on.

“She wants to help the newsies take on their strike.

“She gets them in the paper and helps them to get the prices right on the papers.”

Phares loves playing the role of a reporter, saying it’s “super fun” to take on someone who has a fun upbeat personality.

“In this role I can also add some of myself, too, so that makes it even more fun,” she said.

“I am just so happy that I got to be a part of this production.”

Force said her character Ms. Medda is a strong, independent woman who owns a theater and is a performer.

“Whenever she walks into the room, she takes up space and has a big personality,” Force said.

“I really like playing Medda because she is not very similar to my personality. So, it is fun to explore another personality.”

Force enjoys being part of a cast and building relationships with people she already knows, and people she didn’t know before.

“It was just all around a really great experience,” she added.

Elena Vargas, who plays Spot Conlon, commented on her role.

“I like how tough he is, it’s really fun to stomp around and act big,” Vargas said. “It’s really fun to work on a show with a bunch of people for two months and then get to put it together on stage.”

Jacob Aristakesian, who plays Les, spoke of his role, the cast and stage crew.

“I am a cheeky little kid who is always near my brother Davey,” he said. “Les is a 9-year-old boy who wants to team with Jack on selling newspapers. Doing this helps his family earn money and the newsies do better in the strike.”

This character is one of his favorites because he is a real-life Les, he said.

“I like playing Les because he is usually passionate,” Aristakesian stated. “I like that we have such a good working cast and the choreographers, stage crew, and the dads all make this work out so well and I am so happy that I get to work with them.”

Chrissy Dauster is the stage manager for the production.

“My job is to help make sure everything runs smoothly before, during and after the show and to call the actors out onto the stage,” Dauster stated. “I am at practice with the cast often, so I get to see the whole play slowly come together bit by bit.

“Everyone is putting in their own time to be in the cast or crew, so we’re all determined to make the show a great one.”

Scarlett Svetcov and Gwen Stamps, both assistant stage managers, commented on their roles in the musical.

“I am an assistant stage manager of the graphics crew for the ‘Newsies’ production,” Svetcov stated. “That means I help design and create set pieces.

“I am also a member of the run crew whose job requires you to move props on stage.”

Svetcov said being on the crew allows her to express herself through her art and imagination and she gets to see her hard work come together in the final production.

In addition to being an assistant stage manager, Stamps is part of the build crew, where she works on building and painting set pieces.

“I am also on the run crew, where I help the production of the show from behind the scenes,” she said. “I have been on stage crew for multiple shows now, and I love getting to see how all of the things I work hard on come together to create one amazing show.

“I have always enjoyed painting, and I like to see how one of my hobbies can contribute to something larger.

Her favorite thing about being on the crew is how “awesome” some of the set pieces are.

“This is definitely the biggest performance I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of, and I’m so glad to be doing ‘Newsies’ as my last show in middle school.”

The cast and crew include 57 students led by vocal and staging director Erica Silver, stage crew advisor Jessica Reitnauer, and choreographer Madeline de la Parra, with student choreographer Erica Lenner.

“It’s time to carry the banner with Disney’s ‘Newsies JR.,’” Silver stated. “You’ll be doing flips for the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of young newsies in Manhattan.

Silver said adapted especially for young performers, this musical features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and includes rousing songs such as “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day” and “King of New York.”

“Newsies JR.” will be performed at 7 p.m. March 2-4; and 2 p.m. March 5 at the middle school, 1200 Springhouse Road, South Whitehall.

Reserved seating tickets may be purchased one hour before each show.

Tickets are $7 per person.

Concessions will be sold at all performances and all proceeds go directly to supporting the theater program at SMS.

Furthermore, a benefit basket raffle will be held at this year’s production to support the library program at Springhouse.

Disney’s “Newsies JR.” is presented through special arrangement with, and all materials are provided by Music Theatre International.