Children’s Theatre of Elgin to present Disney’s ‘Newsies’
Children’s Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company are proud to present Disney’s “Newsies,” the Tony Award-winning musical inspired by the true story of the 1899 New York City newsboys strike.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14 (ASL interpreted); 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at Blizzard Theatre, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive (Building H), Elgin. A free, sensory-friendly performance will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18; registration is required. Tickets are available at cteelgin.com. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors. All orders will have a $5 transaction fee added.
Featuring two casts of talented performers ages 6 to 23, “Newsies” aims to be an unforgettable theatrical experience filled with high-energy dancing, powerful music, and an inspiring message of courage and unity.
Set in turn-of-the-century New York City, “Newsies” follows charismatic newsboy Jack Kelly and his fellow “newsies” as they rally against powerful newspaper publishers after distribution prices are raised at the expense of the working kids who sell the papers. Together, the newsboys learn that when they stand united, they can fight for what’s right and create meaningful change.
Based on the 1992 Disney film and featuring a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman with a book by Harvey Fierstein, “Newsies” includes songs such as “Seize the Day,” “Carrying the Banner,” and “Santa Fe.”
“Though ‘Newsies’ is filled with joy, movement, and youthful spirit, beneath it lives something enduring: the belief that young people have always understood the world around them more clearly than they are often given credit for,” said director Alyssa Janczak. “There is something incredibly powerful about watching young performers tell a story about refusing to be silenced.
“Throughout this process, I’ve watched these students support one another, challenge themselves, and embody the same courage, resilience, and determination that defined the real newsboys of 1899.”
About Children’s Theatre of Elgin
Children’s Theatre of Elgin/Fox Valley Theatre Company is an Illinois 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing young performers with theatrical opportunities. The organization is supported in part by the Palmer Foundation, the Seigle Foundation, the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.