Nov 12, 2022
ABOVE: Students dressed as newspaper hawkers in a rehearsal for “Newsies” during a rehearsal on Friday night in the performing arts center at Fairmont High School. Newsies will open next week.
FAIRMONT– This coming week Fairmont High School students will perform “Newsies,” its fall musical. The show is believed to be the largest and most complex show ever undertaken by the high school’s theater program.
“This is probably the most challenging musical we’ve ever tackled. It’s the biggest, it’s the longest, it has the most dancing, it has the most musical numbers, the songs are complex, the physicality of what we’re asking them to do is enormous. We bit off a big chunk this year,” said Sara Guhdahl, the play’s stage director.
The show has a record number of students involved and uses the largest set ever constructed for the program. Overall 136 students are involved in the production with 106 cast members and the remaining 30 split between the pit and production crew.
“Newsies” is a 2011 Broadway musical based on the 1992 musical film of the same name which in turn is loosely based on the 1899 newsboys’ strike in New York City. The play centers around a group of young newspaper hawkers whose demonstrations challenged media moguls William Randolf Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer’s harsh labor practices.
Kira Murphy is a senior at Fairmont High School and plays Racetrack, one of the strikers.
“Mostly being a newsie involves a lot of athleticism to be honest, it’s a lot of singing and dancing. … You have to fully commit to being a newsboy and it’s a lot of fun,” said Murphy.
With over 100 cast members, students are in a wide range of roles.
“It’s really fun to get to put yourself in the mind of the character … it’s really fun to get the mannerisms of the character down and get to be somebody else for a hot minute. It’s really really fun to have that escapism of embodying another person,” said Murphy.
Christian Thom is a senior who acts as the play’s antagonist Joseph Pulitzer
“It’s fun because for most of your life you’re told to be good and then suddenly you get rewarded for being a bad person. I get to be arrogant and narcissistic while also having a bit of a fun twist on it,” said Thom.
The play has been in production since September and rehearsals have been held four nights a week, making rehearsals challenging for students who need to balance schoolwork or jobs with their role in the show.
Kyler Wolters is a senior who plays the leader of the strike Jack Kelly.
“It’s been pretty stressful trying to get everything together but at the same time it’s also a lot of fun. I love working with the people around me, they all do a good job at trying to make sure everything goes smoothly,” said Wolters.
Lauren Wheeler is a senior who plays Snyder, a corrupt warden of a juvenile facility.
“This musical has been particularly stressful in part because I’m a senior and it’s one of the things where I really want it to go well, it’s one of the highlights of my year,” said Wheeler.
Members of the musical’s pit began rehearsals in late October. Musicians say playing in a pit orchestra is dramatically different than what they would play in a typical concert.
“You kind of get a feel for everyone in the pit so we can all work together,” said Lily Laven, who plays cello in the pit.
“It’s not just playing your music. It’s not just playing the music that’s written; there’s a lot of jumping at cutting … it’s totally different,” said Paige Linse who plays flute in the pit.
“I always say to the students, theater is for every person of every possible interest level in any possible area. Over the years we’ve just seen our numbers grow and grow and it’s been really rewarding and exciting,” said Gudahl.
Performances of “Newsies” will begin on Wednesday with a free matinee just for senior citizens at 12:30 p.m.
The show will open to the general public on Thursday at 7 p.m. and will be followed by another performance at the same time on Friday. If the Cardinals football team have a playoff game on Nov. 19, the musical will be performed on Sunday at 2 p.m. If the Cardinals lose, they will have a Saturday show at 7 p.m.
All performances will be held in the performing arts center at Fairmont High School.
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
CEYLON — There will be a Holiday Boutique from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Nov. 12, at the Dunnell Community Center. …
FAIRMONT— It’s cold and flu season but another well-known virus is circulating as well. Medical professionals …
TRUMAN — Wednesday is recycling day. Containers should be curbside by 7 a.m. with all recycling materials …
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
Copyright © Fairmont Sentinel | https://www.fairmontsentinel.com | 64 Downtown Plaza, Fairmont, MN 56031 | 507-235-3303