The Muny’s ‘Newsies’ Triumphs With High-Spirited Bravado and Charm

The Muny’s ‘Newsies’ Triumphs With High-Spirited Bravado and Charm

By Lynn Venhaus

Let’s hear it for the boys! Those scrappy underdogs who win over many hearts nightly in the high voltage “Newsies” have taken over the Muny stage with their own versions of the American Dream, spreading hopeful cheer.

This crowd-pleasing production triumphs as a fresh, fantastic, fun take on the David vs. Goliath true story of the two-week Newsboys Strike of 1899, with catchy pop hooks and powerful anthems by legendary composer Alan Menken.

From the introductory group number’s camaraderie in “Carrying the Banner” to the unifying, pivotal “The World Will Know,” the optimistic call for solidarity in “Seize the Day,” and the rousing “Once and For All,” the cast of triple-threat talents boast contagious enthusiasm and can-do spirit.

Menken, winner of eight Academy Awards, wrote seven new songs for the stage show, and won his first-ever Tony Award. Jack Feldman wrote the lyrics. Their exhilarating blend of power pop, vaudeville and swinging melodies resonates.

From left: Bryce Williams, Jack Roden, Jaron Bentley and Kayla Pecchioni in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

An ebullient ensemble of the finest caliber fortifies the right-over-might aspects by wearing their hearts on their sleeves — and not just showing tremendous athletic skills in synchronized dance numbers choreographed by Richard J. Hinds. (Perhaps you recall his unforgettable can-can number from last summer’s “La Cage Aux Folles”?).

Their physical stamina – especially in the July heat – is incredible, showing how adept at tap, ballet and acrobatic moves they are. Through his fluid direction, Denis Jones integrates the energetic dance numbers with heart-tugging emotional storytelling.

Two-time Tony nominee and recipient of three St. Louis Theater Circle Awards, Jones has put his signature stamp on 12 shows on the Muny stage, and this is another meticulous effort. He reiterates the newsboys’ tight-knit bonds and their “us against the world” mentality.

This 19th century hustle-bustle world of New York City is framed through a gritty lens, with sepia-toned video design by Caite Hevner and rough-and-tumble scenic design by Tijana Bjelajac, which is evocative of that period. Paige Seber’s lighting design and Josh Hummel’s sound design also establish atmosphere.

Nolan Almeida in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Emily Santel, The Muny

Exceptional Music Director Annbritt duChateau conducts a 22-piece orchestra, elevating the emotional underpinnings and keeping a peppy pace for the spry, up-tempo numbers.  

Also popping with personality is the “King of New York” when the Newsies discover how much fun fame and notoriety can be and let loose with a spectacular song and dance number, tapping, leaping and twirling with joy.

The musical continues to strike many chords with modern audiences, ever since the 1992 movie, a box-office dud, drew so much adoration in its VHS and DVD afterlife that Disney adapted the cult phenomenon into a smash 2011 Broadway musical. Christopher Gattelli’s electrifying, airborne choreography also won a Tony.

The nostalgia factor comes into play too. It’s not hard to see why people are drawn to this story – how a ragtag bunch of orphans took on the mighty Joseph Pulitzer, who represented everything villainous about corporate America and the patriarchy – especially unfair labor tactics and unethical business practices.

Kayla Pecchioni in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by MaryKatherine Patteson, The Muny

More than a century ago, New York City was home to several publications, including Pulitzer’s New York World, the Herald and The Sun. Newsboys, those resourceful street urchins whose livelihood depended on selling that day’s paper, went on strike when Pulitzer raised the price, reducing their meager wages. Pure greed.

First produced in 2017 at the Muny, it was the Midwest regional premiere after the national tour stopped here in 2016. This musical is a fine example of what our oldest and largest outdoor theater does best — it brings multiple generations together to be uplifted by an inspirational story of courage, friendship and the power of taking a stand. And those high-spirited kids can sure entertain!

Tensions escalate in a book by Harvey Feirstein, adapted from the screenplay by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White. It’s an important history lesson because the labor union movement gained ground as workers were needed for the Industrial Revolution.

Once upon a time, the only way to find out what was going on in the world was to read a newspaper. With the 24/7 relentless news cycle today, it’s a different digital landscape – but the ethical dilemmas remain the same.

Members of the company of the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

Rising star Jack Roden possesses a major wow factor as tough survivor Jack Kelly, the charismatic leader of the strike. He embodies this unlikely heroic figure with ease – and his powerhouse vocals are convincing and clear.

His robust opener “Santa Fe” immediately endeared him, and his duet with fellow newcomer Kayla Pecchioni as spunky reporter Katherine, “Something to Believe In,” is lovely. She makes a good impression in “Watch What Happens.” As their ally, Katherine crusades to show the inequities in factories, slaughterhouses and sweatshops too as the ragamuffins bring the city to a standstill.

Seen last year as encouraging Randall in “Bring It On,” Bryce Williams is formidable sidekick Davey, who pours his heart into the rallying cry. With his keen intelligence and Jack’s street-smarts, they are a good combo.

Kayla Pecchioni and Jack Roden in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

Stealing every scene he’s in is Jaron Bentley as Davey’s little brother, adorable pint-sized Les, immediately winning over the audience through his heart and humor. Seen in The Black Rep’s “Raisin,” Union Avenue Opera’s “Ragtime” and The Rep’s “A Christmas Carol” in recent years, he’s a memorable stage presence.

Another audience favorite is Nolan Almeida as never-say-die Crutchie, a mistreated disabled orphan with a heart of gold. His “Letter from The Refuge” will likely produce a few tears as he details the deplorable conditions at the juvenile reformatory.

It’s always a welcome sight to see Anastacia McCleskey on the Muny stage, after her virtuoso performance in 2022 as Ceely in “The Color Purple” and as Joanne Jefferson in “Rent” the following year. She sashays as sassy vaudeville performer Medda Larkin, who is a champion of Jack’s artwork, and sings “That’s Rich.”

Broadway and TV veteran Michael Park is imposing as arrogant news titan Pulitzer. The other unsympathetic adults include Drew Battles as Seitz and Jonah D. Winston as Bunsen. Of course they sing “The Bottom Line.” However, Kylie Edwards is a charmer as Pulitzer’s secretary Hannah. She is part of the Bowery Beauties in “I Never Planned on You/Don’t Come A-Knocking.”

From left: Jack Roden, Matt Dean and Bryce Williams in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Emily Santel, The Muny

Muny regular Rich Pisarkiewicz is Wiesel, who dispenses ‘papes’ to the newsies, and Jim Butz is the weaselly enforcer Snyder while Michael Halling has a humorous turn as Governor Theodore Roosevelt.

With names like Specs, Romeo, Race, Mush and Buttons, gotta love those Newsboys: Matt Dean, Michael Di Leo, Omarion Burke, Johnny Fenton, Zach Doran, Miles Marmolejo, Arick Brooks, Kevin Antonio Rodriguez, Jacob Kim, Evan Owen, Joshua Messmore, Christian J. Collins. Brianna Kim is the fleet-footed Brooklyn leader Spot Conlon, noteworthy in “Brooklyn’s Here,” and Becca Perron doubles as a nun and Bowery Beauty.

Costume designer Emily Rebholz has selected period-appropriate attire in subdued earth tones for the scruffy youngsters, with the rich folk in Gilded Age finery. Tommy Kurzman designed wigs.

With its immersive period look and seamless staging, “Newsies” is a poignant ode to the common man and to dreamers everywhere. It taps into those universal feelings of belonging, of being of service to others, and the power to change the world. Believe!

From left: Kayla Pecchioni, Drew Battles, Jonah D. Winston, Michael Halling and Michael Park in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents “Newsies” nightly on the outdoor stage in Forest Park at 8:15 p.m. July 16 – 23. The show’s runtime is 2 hours, 23 minutes with intermission. For more information, visit www.muny.org.

Jack Roden (left) and Michael Park in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Emily Santel, The Muny
Anastacia McCleskey in the 2026 Muny production of Disney’s “Newsies.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

The Muny’s Lush, Lithe ‘South Pacific’ Is An Unforgettable Experience

The Muny’s Lush, Lithe ‘South Pacific’ Is An Unforgettable Experience

By Lynn Venhaus

Big personalities and bigger voices fill the Muny’s expansive stage for an enthralling excursion into an exotic place that remains a timeless touchstone of American musical theatre.

In their 11th staging of “South Pacific” – a stunning tour de force in every element, the Muny meets a significant cultural moment through the vision of director William Carlos Angulo. Using the gutsier 2008 revival script, the show expands on the heightened love, intolerance and war themes.

Angulo emphasizes the two intercultural romances where couples grappled with acceptance and overcoming prejudice some eight decades ago, which resonates today. Suave Emile de Becque is a French plantation owner with a mysterious past who falls for spunky nurse Nellie Forbush, from Little Rock, Ark.

The time is 1943 when the Allies fought the Axis – the coalition of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and Imperial Japan in World War II. The unworldly Nellie is stationed on an unnamed island where the U.S. Navy and Marines are keeping tabs on the enemy.

Taylor Louderman (center) with members of the company of the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

These characters populated James Michener’s short stories in “Tales from the South Pacific,” which was adapted by Joshua Logan and Oscar Hammerstein for the wartime musical, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Hammerstein. It opened on April 7, 1949, when war memories were fresh in people’s minds.

The work won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950, the first (and only musical until “Hamilton” in 2016) and 10 Tony Awards. It ran for nearly five years on Broadway until 1954, a record album was a huge hit, and a popular movie adaptation was released in 1958. The show had never been revived on Broadway until Bartlett Sher’s acclaimed 2008 Lincoln Center run, which tackled the darker themes realistically.

After Marine officer Lt. Joseph Cable arrives for a dangerous espionage mission, he is smitten by Liat, a Tonkinese woman who lives on the mystical island Bali Ha’i. As the young lovers, Michael Canu and Michaela Marfori are mesmerizing in dance sequences that Angulo has incorporated for richer storytelling. Choreographer Karla Puno Garcia has added a tender tableau that sets this production apart, a ravishing debut.

Michaela Marfori and Michael Canu in the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by MaryKatherine Patteson, The Muny

That glorious music! Music Director Roberto Sinha conducts 29 musicians for those iconic sweeping ballads and fun ensemble numbers, so very sumptuous, starting with that fabulous overture.. Sinha returns after marvelous maestro turns in Angulo’s “In the Heights” and “Dear Evan Hansen” and is currently the music director of Broadway’s “Hamilton.”

To experience Brazilian bass-baritone Paulo Szot recreate his Tony-winning role as Emile is wondrous and breathtaking live. This is the kind of powerful operatic performance that people will still be talking about for years.

They’ll single out his magnetic renditions of “Some Enchanting Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine” with the kind of reverence that is spoken about Yul Brynner in “The King and I,” Robert Preston in “The Music Man,” and Zero Mostel in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Sarah Fenske, St. Louis Magazine executive editor, declared it “The Summer of Szot” after seeing him at both Opera Theatre of St. Louis as charming Signor Naccarelli in “The Light in the Piazza” and now the Muny. I’m jumping on this bandwagon too. (He’s returning to Broadway to play Lance in “& Juliet” later this month, a role he originated.)

Paulo Szot in the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

While a charismatic presence, he’s not the only reason to see this cherished classic. Taylor Louderman is enthusiastically welcomed back to where it all started for the Tony nominee as a teenager, combining a sunny disposition with her physicality and lovely lilting vocals as the spirited, unsophisticated Nellie. Showing genuine emotional depth, she brings out the turmoil that Nellie faces because of ingrained attitudes that affect her relationship with Emile.

Now playing a very grown-up role, she’s the epitome of exuberance in “A Cockeyed Optimist,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “I’m In Love with a Wonderful Guy,” and “Honey Bun.” Together, Louderman and Szot have a sweet chemistry., and their “Twin Soliloquys” is silky smooth.

Not only can Canu dance ballet, but his strong tenor soars in “Younger Than Springtime” and “My Girl Back Home.” Being brought up in Philadelphia society, when he’s disgusted by his own ingrained bigotry, he erupts into the pivotal “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.”

Paulo Szot and Michael Canu in the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

This decades-old social commentary remains impactful today, which sets “South Pacific” apart from other golden-age chestnuts. When she meets Emile’s Polynesian children, Louderman must say “colored,” which has been restored in the script. The understanding comes later. It’s a scrupulously constructed show that wants to say something.

The rest of the ensemble is flawless, with Joan Almedilla a knockout as Bloody Mary, avoiding making her a caricature, and transporting us in “Bali Ha’i.” After playing a conniving prince in “Frozen” last year, Bobby Conte returns as an animated Luther Billis, the lovable schemer who provides much needed comic relief.

It’s a pleasure to see three St. Louisans make their mark on the Muny stage, with veteran Michael James Reed as Captain George Brackett, Jeff Cummings in his debut as Commander William Harbison, and former Muny Kid Robert Crenshaw in his debut as Stewpot. Crenshaw, who lit up stages on national tours of “Ain’t Too Proud” and “The Wiz,” is fun to watch as the goofy Seabee.

Jeff Cummings (left) and Michael James Reed in the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by MaryKatherine Patteson, The Muny

The lavish atmosphere, in contrast to the gritty war mission, is beautifully rendered in Arnel Sancianco’s lush scenic design, with the tropical touches carried through in John Lasiter’s sun-drenched lighting design and Yee Eun Nam’s video designs of breezy foliage and ocean waves. Josh Hummel crafted the sound design.

Costume designer Raquel Adorno’s lovely flowing evening gowns set an enchanting mood, with a gorgeous palette of seafoam greens and blues as well as flowery prints. The elegant party clothes contrast with the military attire of the sailors and nurses. Ashley Rae Callahan was the wig designer.

The robust singers and dancers have fun with “Bloody Mary,” “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame,” and the Thanksgiving Follies. As Emil’s children Ngana and Jerome, Grace Moore and Josiah Paik are delightful in “Dites-Moi.”

Bobby Conte (center) and members of the company of the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by Phillip Hamer

The cast includes Julia Aguinaldo, Tre’ Booker, Jessica Carmona, Chloe Chamberlin, Aaron Patrick Craven, Arielle Ploy Dettmer, Alex Benetiz Evans, Rachel Fairbanks, Hannah Florence, Garrick Goce Macatangay, Jake Mendes, Caylie Rose Newcom, Julian Ramos, John Ray Jr., Hayden Rivas, David Rowen, Connor Schwantes, Gordon Semeatu, Francisco Thurston, and Nicholas A. Wilkinson.

The Muny’s “South Pacific” is a snapshot of how we once were, with hope for the future.  It’s a grand glimpse of the best of times, the worst of times, and how people connect dramatically on the world arena. This exceptional cast and crew of artisans have created an unforgettable night of theater that deeply resonates and carries us away in song.

“The Muny” presents “South Pacific” on the outdoor stage from July 6 – 12. Visit muny.org for more information on The Muny’s 108th season. 

From left: Grace Moore, Taylor Louderman and Josiah Paik in the 2026 Muny production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” Photo by Phillip Hamer