Newsies - Troubadour Wembley Park

[BurlyBeaR]

Aug 10, 2022 18:15:38 GMT inthenose said:

I’m expecting lots of eye rolling when this is announced. Having seen the casting spec, they are going left-field. Again.

[HereForTheatre]

Oh dear.

[alece10]

Oh God!
I'm going to get all the pronouns wrong and offend someone.

[inthenose]

Usual disclaimer: I have no idea who they’ve gone with, simply the wording of the cast spec sheet was ominous.

[danb]

Can you define ‘left field’ a bit more?

[inthenose]

Aug 10, 2022 18:50:54 GMT danb said:

Can you define ‘left field’ a bit more?

When looking at a casting specification, every word is crucial and a clue as to what they actually want. Obviously in 2022, rightly you generally can’t specify certain things, which would be discriminatory (race et al). What you can do is use language which agents understand, a sort of theatre polari.

“Actor: Playing age 20-25, a few bits about the character (eg handsome, positive energy), singing range, style of voice, how much dance needed. XYZ productions welcome applications from all backgrounds”

Or

“Actor playing male role (all genders welcome), playing age 20-25, a few bits about the character, singing range, style of voice, how much dance needed. We are looking for a performer (non traditional backgrounds welcomed) who embodies the spirit of this character and strongly encourage interest from performers from all backgrounds, races, genders and identities.”

[BurlyBeaR]

I’m not seeing a problem with that to be honest.

[christya]

I very much prefer the first one, providing they genuinely do welcome applications from all backgrounds. I'd hate to see someone excluded from trying for a role in this because of their race, literally nothing changes if Jack Kelly is black, for example. But I have zero interest in seeing anyone other than a male actor in the role, and I don't just want the 'spirit', I want the look too.

[oxfordsimon]

If there is a pop tenor role, it needs to be sung by a performer with a pop tenor voice. The overwhelming majority of those with such a voice will be biologically male. That is simply the way nature works when it comes to vocal range.

If you can't sing a role as written, you shouldn't get cast in that role.

And yes, I know there are transpositions made for big name stars who can sell lots of tickets. But for the overwhelming majority of roles, if you can't sing it, you shouldn't be put up for the part.

[christya]

I'd like to take a second just to point out that, casting fears aside, the promo images for the show's website very much show the standard 'Newsies' look, so they may not be messing with that after all.

[HereForTheatre]

I'd like them not to mess too much with the very first UK production of Newsies. It's one thing to go down different routes with revivals of shows we've had multiple times already and try something new and fresh with casting then, great, do it, but I'd really rather something like this was done completely traditionally to begin with.

[danb]

Am I wrong in thinking that the whole venture is based on a film originally called ‘The Newsboys’, then changed to ‘Newsies’. It has a male energy and for a significantly dance focussed piece, is not particularly camp. Yes to a few female ensemble members with caps pulled over their faces to bulk up the big dance numbers, but this needs for want of a better phrase or saying ‘big d!ck energy’. Jack Kelly should be swaggering and alpha…along with many other things. I’m sure other elements could change to incomprehensibly facilitate era inappropriate identities for some of the others, but please lets not turn Crutchy into Tink from ‘Bat Out of Hell’.

[fiyerorocher]

Aug 11, 2022 13:21:18 GMT danb said:

Am I wrong in thinking that the whole venture is based on a film originally called ‘The Newsboys’, then changed to ‘Newsies’. It has a male energy and for a significantly dance focussed piece, is not particularly camp. Yes to a few female ensemble members with caps pulled over their faces to bulk up the big dance numbers, but this needs for want of a better phrase or saying ‘big d!ck energy’. Jack Kelly should be swaggering and alpha…along with many other things. I’m sure other elements could change to incomprehensibly facilitate era inappropriate identities for some of the others but please lets not turn Crutchy into Tink from ‘Bat Out of Hell’.

The 1992 films was always 'Newsies' in the US. It was The News Boys in the UK. Tanked at the box office.

I think I recall a recent (post-Broadway run, possibly post-US tour?) production that actually had female newsies (not just female ensemble pretending to be boys). It would be nice to see them bring that to London. God knows the women in this show don't have anything to do, otherwise. Jack Kelly is 17 so he definitely doesn't need to be 'alpha' (whatever that's supposed to mean?). He's cocky, but he's a teenager. Natural charm and bravado are more the right speed. This isn't supposed to be a beacon of toxic masculinity.

[Deleted]

Alpha male doesn't mean toxic masculinity, thats a very odd and twisted take.

Jack Kelly is a young alpha male, he was on broadway and is in the original movie (on Disney plus if anyone wants to see the original). So a certain energy needs to come with that.



Also there is nothing wrong with a show with a more masculine energy. Men so often get young love interest, then valjean and phantom, then 'character' parts. It could be a great show to showcase leading men of the future

[danb]

Aug 11, 2022 14:42:56 GMT fiyerorocher said:

Aug 11, 2022 13:21:18 GMT danb said:

Am I wrong in thinking that the whole venture is based on a film originally called ‘The Newsboys’, then changed to ‘Newsies’. It has a male energy and for a significantly dance focussed piece, is not particularly camp. Yes to a few female ensemble members with caps pulled over their faces to bulk up the big dance numbers, but this needs for want of a better phrase or saying ‘big d!ck energy’. Jack Kelly should be swaggering and alpha…along with many other things. I’m sure other elements could change to incomprehensibly facilitate era inappropriate identities for some of the others but please lets not turn Crutchy into Tink from ‘Bat Out of Hell’.

The 1992 films was always 'Newsies' in the US. It was The News Boys in the UK. Tanked at the box office.

I think I recall a recent (post-Broadway run, possibly post-US tour?) production that actually had female newsies (not just female ensemble pretending to be boys). It would be nice to see them bring that to London. God knows the women in this show don't have anything to do, otherwise. Jack Kelly is 17 so he definitely doesn't need to be 'alpha' (whatever that's supposed to mean?). He's cocky, but he's a teenager. Natural charm and bravado are more the right speed. This isn't supposed to be a beacon of toxic masculinity.

I stand corrected on the title issue, but toxic masculinity it is not. It isn’t a crime to act in any way be it butch, cocky etc, just an unfashionable archetype that folks can choose to offend them in this enlightened world.

[fiyerorocher]

I know 'alpha male' to have decidedly negative connotations. Just seemed an incredibly odd thing to wish for in a portrayal and not something I'd ever associate with Newsies. Jack Kelly has always been cast pretty well, though (in the musical, at least), so I have hopes that they'll do a decent job again. Jeremy Jordan definitely had the right demeanour, although looked too old from the start. Corey Cott was probably the best Jack, in my opinion. If we land anywhere in that ballpark, I'll be relieved. I've been waiting for this show to come to London for a decade and will never forgive them if they screw it up!

[danb]

Jeremy Jordan was fine. Far too old but the characterisation was spot on and not at all musical theatre really. These are borderline homeless manual workers who probably don’t shower much let alone moisturise, and that’s the element I’d like to see played up. The grit and grime.

[og]

Aug 11, 2022 21:58:01 GMT danb said:

Jeremy Jordan was fine. Far too old but the characterisation was spot on and not at all musical theatre really. These are borderline homeless manual workers who probably don’t shower much let alone moisturise, and that’s the element I’d like to see played up. The grit and grime.

Shame the Chimney Sweeps of Mary Poppins are in a job til January, otherwise they'd be ideal.

[danb]

Aug 12, 2022 7:41:04 GMT og said:

Aug 11, 2022 21:58:01 GMT danb said:

Jeremy Jordan was fine. Far too old but the characterisation was spot on and not at all musical theatre really. These are borderline homeless manual workers who probably don’t shower much let alone moisturise, and that’s the element I’d like to see played up. The grit and grime.

Shame the Chimney Sweeps of Mary Poppins are in a job til January, otherwise they'd be ideal.

This’d look great on your spotlight page. “Has own urchin costume” “experience in applying dirty make up” “can speak cheeky urchin fluently”. 😬

[idinafanzel]

The name I am hearing is Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, not Ivano Turco or Billy Nevers.

[danb]

I may also have heard a whisper of this…and it sounds fine. I’d struggle to believe that Ivan EVER had a paper round.

[christya]

Looks a bit old, but might be okay, I haven't heard him sing. That moustache he has in some pics would absolutely have to go.

[BurlyBeaR]

Aug 12, 2022 8:10:19 GMT danb said:

Aug 12, 2022 7:41:04 GMT og said:

Shame the Chimney Sweeps of Mary Poppins are in a job til January, otherwise they'd be ideal.

This’d look great on your spotlight page. “Has own urchin costume” “experience in applying dirty make up” “can speak cheeky urchin fluently”. 😬

“Qualified in cap doffing and waistcoat tugging from the Nolan school of method acting”

[robertb213]

Michael has a great voice, at least his casting will mean something good came out of Legally Blonde 🤣

[danb]

Aug 13, 2022 18:46:45 GMT christya said:

Looks a bit old, but might be okay, I haven't heard him sing. That moustache he has in some pics would absolutely have to go.

C’mon, every fifth form class has at least one weedy non-tache like his.