Disney’s Newsies is Showing @RoseTheaterCo - Review

We loved Disney’s Newsies at The Rose Theater last night! 

It was such a great show for all of us! So far we've liked Disney's Newsies, The Christmas Story, Disney's Tarzan and Seedfolks the best! It could be because I have older kids, and boys.

The Rose is a Children's Theater, so they have things for all kid ranges, which is great. This show was best for ages 6 and up. It's 2 hours with one intermission. They serve cookies during intermission.

About Disney's Newsies:

The story is based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic and rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city. Andrew Wright, a student at Weslyan University, will make his Rose debut in the role. Jack shares his dream of leaving New York one day with his best friend and fellow newsie, Crutchie, played by Jake Parker. They are joined by newsie newcomer Davey and his little brother, Les. Marcel Daly, who was last seen on The Rose stage as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, will play Davey with Winston Schneider (formerly seen in Prancer and Peter Pan) playing Les.

The story had passion, a moral message, and charm. It was about the underdog getting the credit they deserved.

Show Times:

June 1-17

Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm, Sundays at 2 pm

Where: The Rose Theater 2001 Farnam Street Omaha, Nebraska on the Main Stage

Price: $27 for the Main Stage, $22 for the Balcony | Discounted Tickets are Sold at HyVee

Call for Reservations: 402 345 4849 for Tickets

I don't know part of me thinks it should run longer. Again we liked the show! They put in a lot of work!

Cast:

Part of what I loved is that the cast is mostly boys. That is not something you see often. It was great seeing that some girls played guys too. That gave more vocal range.

Cast Jack Kelly - Andrew Wright
Katherine Plumber - Torisa Walker
Crutchie - Jake Parker
Davey - Marcel Daly
Romeo/Dance Captain - Fran Adrianto
Joseph Pulitzer - Patrick Wolfe
Medda Larkin/Nun - Zhomontee Watson
Bowery Beauty/Nun/Newsie - Samantha Zarders
Hannah/Bowery Beauty/Nun - Rachel Busse
Teddy Roosevelt/Newsie - Jonathan Algeroy
Seitz/Bunsen/Snyder/Wiesel/Jacobi - Manny Oñate
Nunzio/Stage Manager/Mayor/Darcy - Jordan Smith
Henry/Finch/Spot Conlon - Garrett Griffin
Oscar Delancey/Newsie - Ben Adams*
Morris Delancey/Newsie - Wayne Hudson*
Race - Cody Drap*
Les - Winston Schneider*
Albert - Liam Brenzel
Specs/Bill - Payton Johnson*
Elmer - Dina Saltzman*
Mush - Camryn Jordan*
Tommy Boy - Natalie Hanson*
Jo Jo - Nora Coffey*

Brooklyn Newsies Olivia Bryant*, Drew Cota*, Cooper Nielson*, Austin Lempke*, Danny Denenberg, Jayven Brandt, Sophie Williams*

Disney's Songs:

ACT ONE

Santa Fe (Prologue) - Jack, Crutchie

Carrying the Banner - Jack, Newsies, Nuns

The Bottom Line - Pulitzer, Seitz, Bunsen, Hannah

Carrying the Banner (Reprise) - Newsies

That’s Rich - Medda

I Never Planned on You/Don’t Come a-Knocking - Jack, Bowery Beauties

The World Will Know - Jack, Davey, Les, Crutchie, Newsies

The World Will Know (Reprise) - Jack, Davey, Les, Newsies

Watch What Happens - Katherine

Seize the Day - Davey, Jack, Les, Newsies

Santa Fe - Jack

ACT TWO

King of New York - Davey, Katherine, Les, Newsies

Letter from The Refuge - Crutchie

Watch What Happens (Reprise) - Davey, Jack, Katherine, Les

The Bottom Line (Reprise) - Pulitzer, Seitz, Bunsen

Brooklyn’s Here - Spot, Newsies

Something to Believe In - Katherine, Jack

Seize the Day (Reprise) - Newsies

Once and for All - Jack, Davey, Katherine, Newsies

Seize the Day (Reprise 2) - Newsies

Finale Ultimo - Company

Top Voice: Torisa Walker! The main girl in the photo above.

Most Fun to Watch: Fran Adrianto! He was the one in the front of the photo below. He really got into his moves and singing.

Artistic & Production Credits:

Director - Jerry Jay Cranford
Assistant Director - Geran Ramet
Music Director - Jerry Brabec
Choreographer - Sue Gillespie Booton
Costume Designer - Sherri Geerdes
Scenic Designer - Tim McMath
Projection Designer - Brittany Merenda
Lighting & Sound Designer - Craig S. Moxon
Hair & Makeup Designer - Erin Bragg
Production Stage Manager - Lisa Krabbenhoft
Production Director - Erin M. Solemsaas
Technical Director - Greg Rishoi
Props Mistress - Devon Denn-Young
Scenic Charge - Lauren Crabtree
Master Carpenter - Jackson Curtright
Lighting Apprentice - Matthew Benes
Scenic Apprentice - Saylor Novonglosky
Production Apprentice - Christy Hernandez
Assistant Stage Managers - Meghan Boucher, Molly Fryda
Run Crew - Zach Acherman, Jesse Groff, Donavon Perrone
Spot Op - Avi Littky, Amanda Harris
Stitchers - Sherri Geerdes, Erin Bragg, Audio Helkiuk, Jill Maenner

Orchestra:

Keyboards - Jerry Brabec, Mitch Fuller
Trumpet - Marcus Nunez
Trombone - Paul Niedbalski
Reed - Michael Prucha
Drums - Jeff Kolega
Percussion - Michael Pollock
Guitar - Jason Koch
Violin - Mary Amador
Cello - Christina Allred
Bass - Tom Miller

Certainly a great musical! 

The Rose Theater is a nonprofit organization. Their sponsors include: Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Mutual of Omaha, Whitmore Charitable Trust, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and many private donors.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from The Rose Theater. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Random Tid Bits

1. Have you ever taken one of those colored personality tests? I'm always pretty even across the board. One color isn't a lot stronger than another. Either I'm confused, or I'm a well rounded person. 


2. I have a first year student that wanted to know how I grade. I'm assuming she wondered why she got a B, and not her usual A that she got in her high school art class. I said, "I grade on the points that I have on the handout, which are also listed on the grade slip. I think about the good and bad examples I showed in class, and think about if you followed some of what I discussed in those pieces. What I've covered in class is pretty important; have you been listening? Finally I grade on what the body of student's work looks like. Then I ask another teacher to see if they agree on what order I have in the line up of grading. There's a lot more to it, than it may seem. Partly it's subjective, but mostly it's about having trained eyes."
   
   She looked at me blankly. I think she wanted her work graded much like a math worksheet would be graded. #3 is wrong, and #4 is right.
   
   Artwork isn't really graded like that. I do write on their grade slip things they can approve upon, and they have a week to get it back to me.


3. I've felt a bit like I've been dragging all week. Isaak got the stomach flu late Saturday night. He was sick all Sunday. I got it Monday at the tail end of work. I felt awful! Travis got it a little after me. I had to tease him because he kept telling Isaak he needed to eat bread when he wasn't feeling well. My mom and I said, "Clear liquids first". When Travis was sick I kept saying, "Eat some bread! How about some pizza?" Mica got it on Tuesday night, but it never amounted to anything. He just slept and slept.


4. I finally went in to get my eyes tested. If you remember I didn't do the best on my driver's test for the vision part. I didn't want to get my eyes tested because I didn't know if it was polyps pushing on my eyes, allergies, or actually my eyes. I finally made it into an eye doctor. My one astigmatism, and other eye that doesn't have one are basically playing tug of war. I actually see pretty well. So I'm getting glasses as soon as they come in.


5. Do you remember the kid that got attacked by a gator on Disney's turf? It happened awhile back. The little boy that died is from here. The parents haven't talked in public until now. What they have done to honor his name is truly wonderful! 

The Little Mermaid @RoseTheaterCo Review

I was super excited to find out that The Rose is showing Disney's The Little Mermaid.

It was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was younger. I liked all the characters. I could sing the songs over and over again. I think anyone can relate to Ariel's aspirations to be something she's not.  

The boys didn't know we were going. We left it a surprise. They figured it out as soon as we got there.

The Rose Performing Arts is located on 2001 Farnam Street Omaha, Nebraska 68102. Call 402-345-4849 for tickets. You can also visit their website: rosetheater.org

This was taken with my fisheye lens:

They have really cool environmental graphics on the side of their building. Their posters are under glass as well.

About the Play: 

Dive “Under the Sea” for a swimmingly good time as one of Disney’s all-time favorites splashes to life in this Broadway musical adaptation. 

Ariel is a bold young mermaid princess fascinated with the human world, in spite of the warnings of her father, King Triton, and her finny friends. When she makes a dangerous deal with Ursula, the Sea Witch, she begins a race against the setting sun to find true love. With all your favorite songs and an ocean’s worth of colorful characters, you will definitely want The Little Mermaid to be Part of Your World!

The Start:

There wasn't a set to look at when we first got there. They had the curtains closed. We went to the last rehearsal, so chances are that the actual shows have skits from one of the summer classes at The Rose Theater. 

There was live music below the stage. They were practicing when we came in to the theater area. My boys are always looking to see if the orchestra teacher is down there - from their school. She's been in a show at The Rose before.

Once the curtains opened up there was a lot to see. They showed what it was like under the sea, on the ship, and in the castle. 

Music by Alan Menken.

Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glen Slater.

Book by Doug Wright.

Dates: 

June 3 - June 26

• Friday, June 3 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 4 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 5 @ 2 PM.
• Friday, June 10 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 11 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 12 @ 2 PM
• Friday, June 17 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 18 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 19 @ 2 PM
• Friday, June 24 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 25 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 26 @ 2 PM

Ages: 

Best suited for ages 5 and up. 

Mica (age almost 11) liked it. He smiled throughout the show. Isaak's (age 8) is in a stage where he doesn't care for anything girly. Somehow mermaids are for girls. I kept telling Isaak that there were mermen in it. I loved it, and I'm almost 40.

*Warning there is a section of the show where a storm occurs. They use strobe lights during this part. 

Duration: 

2 hours + intermission with refreshments 

Cost: 

Members: $23 main floor • $18 balcony 

Non Members: $30 main floor • $25 balcony 

Parking: 

There are several metered parking spots, active from 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday. The cost is $.25 per hour, or $10 per day. Metered parking is free on Sundays and holidays. 

Free parking is available in the Wells Fargo parking lot on the northwest corner of 20th and Farnam Streets on weekends and after 5:30 PM on weeknights. 

Staring: 

Arial - Torisa Walker

Prince Eric - Marcel A. Daly 

Grimsby - Kevin Olsen

Scuttle - Bill Grennan

Flounder - Grace Titus

King Triton - Joe Dignoti

Sebastian - Camellia Yvonne Watkins

Flotsam - Joseph T. O'Connor

Jetsam - Jonathan Smith

Ursula - Heather Wilhelm

and more...

Artistic and Production Credits: 

Director - Matthew Gutschick

Musical Director - Kevin Smith

Scenic Designer - Tim McMath

Choreographer - Sue Gillespie Booton

Lighting Designer - Craig Moxon

Production Stage Manager - Ashleigh-Dawn Kriegh-Fleming

Costume Designer - Sherri Geerdes

and more... 

After the shows they have a question answer time with the cast. They even mention to email them. The Rose has really cool kid's programs. I like them more than the adult ones. There are facts and games in it. There's a spot for Autographs for the end of the show.

I think any show that The Rose Theater has is great for kids. My boys just love going there!

Disclaimer: I received tickets for free of charge from The Rose Theater.

The Book Mica Checked Out

Mica's checked out this book twice:

We own it. Daddy said, "You don't need to check this book out, we can read it to you anytime."

This time he checked out this book:

Just in case you can't read the title it is: Disney Princess The Essential Guide. We don't have a problem with them picking out girly things. Gee wiz Isaak still carries around a cup of little plastic babies. Daddy asked him, "Mica why did you get this book?" Mica said, "Because I love all the princesses, I especially love Ariel!"

UPDATE: So someone at Daddy's work keeps coming up to our door in the morning to get Daddy's key to the work place. He lost his and his wife keeps forgetting hers. Mica held up his checked out princess book and said, "Hey look at the book I checked out. All these girls in here are my girlfriends." Oh Boy! 

If we ever do go to Disney World, I'm going to be watching Mica's every move. He might just go up and try to kiss on the the princesses. YIKES!