When “Newsies” exploded onto Broadway in 2012, it racked up eight Tony Award nominations and ran for more than 1,000 performances. Now that musical, known for its rousing anthems and its spectacular dance numbers, is playing for two weekends at the Croswell Opera House with a cast drawn from all over southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio.
“Newsies” is inspired by the real-life New York City newsboys’ strike of 1899, in which newspaper vendors, most of them boys and young men, went on strike to demand improvements in their pay.
Kevin Ludwig of Monclova, Ohio, plays Jack Kelly, the leader of the Newsies. Ludwig will be familiar to anyone who saw last summer’s production of “Jersey Boys,” in which he played Tommy DeVito. Jack’s best friend, Crutchie, is played by Ben Bascuk of Waterville, Ohio. Sibling newsboys Davey and Les are played by Will DuPuis of Toledo and Olivia Grzebik of Clinton.
Elise Brown of Sylvania, Ohio, plays Katherine Plumber, a young female reporter who helps the Newsies publicize their strike. Brown previously played the lead role in the Croswell’s 2023 production of “The Prom.” Phil Skeldon of Sylvania plays newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer.
The cast of more than 40 also includes Tyler Condon, Christopher Harlan, Abigail Knight, Dennis Marsh, Libby Pifer, Alex Pizaña, Alex Sheremeta, Eli Stachowske, Ella Trevino, Briella York and Hallie Yuen, all of Adrian; John Lamb of Ann Arbor; Matthew Herr of Britton; Robert Eccles of Carleton; Mason Olvera of Lambertville; Ethan Anderson of Manchester; John Bacarella of Monroe; Jonah Hiatt of Palmyra; Abigail Johnson and Timothy Johnson of Petersburg; Abigail Lipsitz and Sophia Zebrowski of Saline; Riley Bollock and Alex Hackbardt of South Lyon; Dylan Cunningham of Tecumseh; Miriam Roth and Quintin Steers of Ypsilanti; Anjalie-Nicole Coates of Bowling Green, Ohio; Brooke Ward of Fayette, Ohio; Reed Schwieterman and Ebone Waweru of Maumee, Ohio; Anna Giller and Katherine Giller of Oregon, Ohio; Alan Jimenez of Perrysburg, Ohio; Ciara Lieberman of Sylvania; and Lydia Carroll, Nathan Glover and Scott Heuerman of Toledo.
The director is Debra Ross Calabrese, a frequent Croswell director whose recent credits include “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “A Christmas Story.” The choreographer is Jodi Hissong, who also choreographed last summer’s production of “Mary Poppins.” The vocal director is Wynne Marsh, the orchestra is under the baton of Ray Novak, and the stage manager is Evan Schultz.
This production also boasts a connection to the original Broadway staging: Tobin Ost, an Adrian native who was nominated for a Tony Award for his scenic design for “Newsies,” consulted with designer Marty Flake, who is also the Croswell’s resident scenic artist, on developing the show’s look.
Tickets range from $22 for $44 for adults and $15 to $25 for students. Tickets can be ordered at croswell.org or by calling 517-264-7469.
Show dates and times:
- Friday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, August 10 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, August 11 at 2:30 p.m.
- Thursday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, August 17 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, August 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Scroll down for more photos from the production.
