Category Archives: Family-Friendly

INNOVAtheatre is excited to announce that the auditions for NEWSIES are now open and are being done virtually. We know most (not all) summer theatre groups have cancelled their productions and we wanted to still give the kids who have lost their spring musicals or summer arts programming a chance to still shine.

Auditions are available for children ages 5 – 19. Rehearsals will begin June 1st and performances will be August 20-29.

Deadline to submit is May 3.

If you would like more information please visit our website at www.INNOVAtheatre.com/auditions you will find the song tracks, sheet music and rehearsal tracks for each character in the show. You will also find the dance audition video. At the top of the page you will also find the audition form and rehearsal conflict calendar. Everything you need in one easy location.

If you have any questions please feel free to email the director at RichardLeeWaldeck@INNOVAtheatre.com or if you want to ask a specific question to one of the staff, you can email them at Auditions@INNOVAtheatre.com.

To submit your audition materials just click the submit button next to the character materials on the webpage. Show us what you’ve got and Seize the Day!!!!!!

Below are the character descriptions.

Character Breakdown

• 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 strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City. Though living on the streets has given him a tough-guy exterior, Jack has a big heart and can demonstrate a sweet vulnerability – especially when it comes to bantering with a certain female reporter. Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality.
  Gender: Male
  Vocal range top: A4
  Vocal range bottom: Bb2
• Crutchie
  A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy- sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie should still be included in the dance numbers.
  Gender: Any
  Vocal range top: A4
  Vocal range bottom: C3
• Davey
  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.
  Gender: Male
  Vocal range top: A4
  Vocal range bottom: D3
• Les
  Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies.
  Gender: Male
  Vocal range top: Bb3
  Vocal range bottom: Db3
• Newsies
  Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage.
  Gender: Male
  Scabs
  Three newsies who are hesitant to join the strike.
  Gender: Any
• Spot Conlon
  The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
  Gender: Any
• 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, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. 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.
  Gender: Female
  Vocal range top: F5
  Vocal range bottom: A3
• Darcy
  The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
  Gender: Any
• Bill
  The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies’ cause. Can double as a newsie.
  Gender: Male
• Wiesel
  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.
  Gender: Male
• Oscar and Morris Delancey
  Tough brothers who work at the distribution window 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
• Goons
  Assist the Delanceys in roughing up the newsies at the end of Act One.
  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
  Vocal range top: F4
  Vocal range bottom: C3
• Seitz
  Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
  Gender: Any
• Bunsen
  Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
  Gender: Any
• Hannah
  Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.
  Gender: Female
• Nunzio
  Pulitzer’s barber.
  Gender: Male
• Guard
  The Guard removes the newsies from Pulitzer’s building.
  Gender: Any
• Snyder
  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.
  Gender: Any
• Medda Larkin
  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. 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.
  Gender: Female
  Vocal range top: E5
  Vocal range bottom: F3
• The Bowery Beauties
  Female performers at Medda’s Theater.
  Gender: Female
• Stage Manager
  Introduces Medda’s act.
  Gender: Any
• Nuns
  The three nuns offer breakfast to the hungry newsies. Feel free to cast additional nuns.
  Gender: Female
• Photographer
  Takes the triumphant photo of the newsies at the end of “Seize the Day.”
  Gender: Any
• Woman
  A newspaper customer.
  Gender: Any
• Mr. Jacobi
  Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.
  Gender: Any
• Policemen
  Assist Snyder and turn against the newsies in the fight that concludes Act One.
  Gender: Male
• Mayor
  The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike.
  Gender: Male
• Governor Teddy Roosevelt
  A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.
  Gender: Male
• Ensemble
  In the original Broadway production, the adult (non-newsie) ensemble comprised eight actors who doubled and understudied as indicated below. All other featured roles and understudies were cast from the ensemble of newsies. We may follow these tracks depending on audition turnout.
  • FEMALE ENSEMBLE 1 – Nun / Hannah / Bowery Beauty / Katherine understudy
  • FEMALE ENSEMBLE 2 – Nun / Woman / Bowery Beauty / Medda understudy
  • FEMALE ENSEMBLE 3 – Nun / Medda Larkin
  • MALE ENSEMBLE 1 – Wiesel / Stage Manager / Mr. Jacobi / Mayor / Pulitzer understudy
  • MALE ENSEMBLE 2 – Seitz / Roosevelt understudy
  • MALE ENSEMBLE 3 – Bunsen / Male Ensemble 1 understudy
  • MALE ENSEMBLE 4 – Nunzio / Guard / Policeman / Roosevelt
  • MALE ENSEMBLE 5 – Snyder / Pulitzer understudy
    Gender: Any

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