One of the premiere highlights at The Lakeside Theater is the annual production of the summer musical. They have run the gamut for nearly 50 years, from the traditional standards to the quirky off-broadway brand. This year the Rangeley Friends of the Arts brought the historical musical drama Newsies to the stage for four sold-out shows on July 25, 26, 28, and 29.

Newsies is loosely based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899. This original Disney musical was first made into a film, in 1992, before moving to Broadway, in 2011. The story revolves around Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, played by Eric White, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from New York City in Santa Fe. After publishing giant, Joseph Pulitzer, played by Timmy Straub, raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, Kelly and his fellow newsies take action into their own hands, create a union and go on strike for fairer conditions.

Carrying the Banner Dan Hathaway

Erin Smith directed the musical for the third summer in a row. This means donating a large portion of free time between the months of February and the end of July. Erin also played the role of Medda Larkin, the owner of a vaudeville house in the Bowery. She clearly loves what she does, and Erin consistently does it well. Newsies was a tour de force that garnered four sold-out shows and standing ovations for each.

Medda Larkin (Erin Smith) singing That’s Rich with her Bowery beauties Dan Hathaway

Music Director, and keyboardist, Sue Downes-Borko, led an orchestra: Victor Borko, guitar; Daniel Labonte, trombone; Julie Schubert-Cowan, trumpet; Gia Walton, woodwinds; Ethan Wright, drumset/percussion; and pit singers: Jeanie Brown, Dan Johnson, Dale Nagle, Flora Pirquet, Laura Sadler-Haperink, and Sidney Wade. This wall of sound adds such a fuller and richer musical experience for the audience’s listening pleasure, with a special thanks to Franklin Savings Bank for underwriting the orchestra’s expenses.

High flying newsies Dan Hathaway

Whenever there have been “dancing” interludes in past RFA productions “movement” became the default phrase for referencing what the cast was doing. This “movement” could just as easily have been cardiac arrests and stepping barefoot on tacks. In this production, however, choreographed by Pam Ellis, ambitious does not come close to describing what has been achieved. The younger cast members were flying through the air, twirling and tapping and shimmying. The months of practice they put in was certainly worth every gasp and round of applause from the audience. Pam was able to get the very best out of all the dancers. “Seize the Day” and “KIng of New York” were virtual showstoppers.

Les (Skyler Thompson) proves a point to big brother Davey (Daxxtyn Williams) and Jack Kelly (Eric White) Dan Hathaway

The majority of the 30-plus cast members were between the ages of 10 and 18 years-old. The adults in the cast were mere trinkets to the star-turning kids. We can see why W.C. Fields said “Never work with children or animals,” because they’ll steal the scene every time. Ten-year-old Skyler Thompson offered all the evidence necessary to support this assertion. She was cuteness incarnate.

It was wonderful to have Eric White and Daxxtyn Williams reunited on the stage for another dynamic collaboration. Their chemistry is on par with Lewis and Martin, Crosby and Kaye, and Kelly and O’Connor. They bring out the best in each other whether it’s acting, dancing or singing. Daxxtyn will be returning to UMO for his second year and Eric is heading to Berklee College of Music, in Boston, for his first year. The RFA appreciates their years of dedication in “bringing the arts to life.”

Katherine (Gracie Libby) types and taps her way into our hearts in “Watch What Happens” Dan Hathaway

New to the RFA stage were the expansive talents of Gracie Libby as Pulitzer’s daughter, Katherine, and Bella Sexton-Burchfield as Jack’s “brother,” Crutchie. Gracie is a Mt. Blue music teacher and Bella will be a senior in the upcoming school year. The RFA always benefits when new blood is injected into the talent pool. This was especially true of this production. Mya Gellman and Hanna Pitkin made their RFA debuts as newsies and Bowery Beauties (though Hannah was Taylor Swift in last year’s Diva show). Other first-timers include Jess White, Ian West, Mo Webber, Kayla Brewer, Olivia Heatley, Lance Cunningham, Harper Wright, and Hannah Snow.

Sisters of Mercy feed the newsies before newspaper deliveries

Returning veterans, most in multiple roles, were Ben Wetherill, Anne Crump, Debby Higgins, Kaitlyn Hammon, Ana Orazi, and Troy Hathaway. Averie Flewelling and Stella MacFawn brought their many years of dance experience with them as they tore up the stage as newsies and Bowery Beauties. The multi-talented Micha Beckman not only morphed from her four assigned roles but she also stood in for an ailing Erin Smith at the Sunday matinee, singing Medda’s “That’s Rich” and memorizing all of her dialogue in mere hours. That’s tough.

Teddy Roosevelt (Les Hoekstra) walks out onto the stage to laughter and applause Dan Hathaway

Les Hoekstra, a true friend of the Rangeley arts, has the distinct honor of having played Teddy Roosevelt in two different shows, Newsies and to Stella MacFawn’s Annie. As Les and I walked off the stage after the final performance he told me it was to be his final turn on the stage. It was fitting and proper, then, that he received the longest, prolonged applause and laughter as he stepped into the lights as Teddy Roosevelt that last night. The audience has always loved Les and Les has always loved them back. What an honor it has been to sing and cavort with such a loving and charismatic human. Les has done so much for our theater community and, I’m sure, will continue to do so in many other capacities as an abiding friend of the Rangeley arts. The love of his life, stage manager and producer, Millie, will see to that.

Jack Kelly (Eric White) gets the upper hand back before the negotiated finale Dan Hathaway

The unsung heroes of a production this large are many. The sound engineer, Curt Weese, was able to wrestle the finicky sound system into doing his bidding. Justin Orazi commanded the lights of heaven to shine brilliantly as the light designer. Rowenna Hathaway returned as prop master and was in charge of sound effects and spot light. Mary Boothby Brown led the charge in costuming this large cast with nearly 60 total costumes. Think about that next time you’re complaining when dressing your children for school.

Katherine, (Gracie Libby- center) Pulitzer’s daughter joins the newsies for a soft shoe and a tap in King of New York Dan Hathaway

The audience sits watching the show as the world before them plays out seemingly seamlessly, and all the while a bee-hive of activity is buzzing backstage, overseen by the Queen Bee, the stage manager, Millie Hoekstra, and her drones, the stage crew, Alex Hathaway, Shirley Truland, Liz Thompson, and Ian West. Valerie Zapolsky joined Millie as the second of the two producers. The less you know about all they are responsible for making happen the better you will sleep.

The cast of Newsies striking for better conditions Dan Hathaway

The book is by Harvey Fierstein, and Alan Menken and Jack Feldman wrote the music and lyrics. When Alan, who also composed Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Little Shop of Horrors, to name a few, heard we were producing Newsies, he sent us a personal note of encouragement. This says a lot about the theater community and what it means to bring the arts to life all across the world, but, specifically, in our humble town. Thank you to all who recognize the importance the arts play in our lives, and do as the newsies advise and “seize the day!”

Riled and ready to take on the oppression of the establishment Dan Hathaway

The newsies sales are determined by headlines Dan Hathaway

Joseph Pulitzer (Timmy Straub- R) temporarily gets the upper hand on the blind sided Jack Kelly (Eric White) Dan Hathaway

Tougher with a crutch Dan Hathaway

Months of practice really pays off. L to R Daxxtyn Williams, Troy Hathaway, Averie Flewelling, Mya Gellman, Eric White, Mo Webber and Ana Orazi Dan Hathaway

Jack explains to Davey’s baby brother how their cuteness can help sell more papes

Brothers Troy and Alex Hathaway do battle on stage. Dan Hathaway