By Lynn Venhaus
Brimming with vim and vigor, Stages St. Louis’ “Disney’s Newsies” pops with personality. Stressing unity in troubled times, it’s a modern message about how harnessing hope can change lives.

Believe! Like the very best underdog sports tales, this David vs. Goliath story based on the Newsboys Strike of 1899 taps into belonging, being of service to others, and making a difference in the world.

Despite the musical being set in the late 19th century, the struggles of a ragtag group of misfits, rebels and street urchins who bring out the best in each other as they fight oppression can resonate in any age, even digital, as fights for rights continue around the world.

Based on the beloved 1992 Disney movie musical that became a cult classic, it wasn’t until 20 years later that it made its Broadway debut, adapted by Harvey Fierstein.

In 2012, it earned four Tony nominations, including Best Musical, winning two for Best Score – Alan Menken’s first-ever Tony for writing the music (after eight Oscars), with lyrics by Jack Feldman, and Best Choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

Phillip Hamer photo.

Trying to survive their harsh conditions one turn-of-the-century summer in Manhattan’s lower east side, newsboys discover rising prices and reduced meager wages threaten their livelihood. The newspaper was the only way to get the news once upon a time.

Organized by orphan Jack Kelly, they protest the practices of the publishing tycoons of the day, namely their greedy employer, Joseph Pulitzer, whose “papes” are the New York World, The Herald and The Sun.

The Muny’s 2017 production was the show’s Midwest regional premiere, after the national tour stopped at the Fox Theatre in 2016.

For its ambitious Stages premiere, it has arrived super-sized at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center with a big-picture outlook by director Steve Bebout, a grand-scale set design by Ann Beyersdorfer, and turbo-charged acrobatic choreography by Lindsay Joy Lancaster.

Their meticulous work with a fresh-faced cast of triple-threats is dazzling. This unified ensemble of young adults, teens and youngsters shine with a contagious youthful energy – oh if we could only bottle it! — which elevates the elaborately staged pieces.

The exciting signature numbers “The World Will Know,” “Seize the Day,” “King of New York,” and ‘Once and For All” are Menken’s odes to the common man, first heard in the movie.

Menken and Feldman wrote 12 original songs for the movie, which was directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega of “Dirty Dancing” fame and starred an 18-year-old Christian Bale. While it bombed at the box office, fervent fans grew through watching VHS tapes, DVDs and TV showings. He added seven new tunes for Broadway.

Phillip Hamer photo.

With this expansive bright and buoyant cast, the company’s strength and endurance is noteworthy. They immediately captivate with their winsome characters and cheeky attitudes, singing about “their fine life” in “Carrying the Banner” and have a blast with their new notoriety in “King of New York.”

The dancers’ joy is visible from their first full-throttle appearance to a high-spirited curtain call, where they jump, twirl, kick and twist with abundant glee. In moves that could qualify them for the medal rounds in Olympic gymnastics, they are an earthy full-court press.

PJ Palmer is Race, Noah James Lentini is Albert, Paul Giarratano is Specs, Joah Ditto is Henry, Kyleigh Hegarty is Finch, Philly Kang is Elmer, Giuseppe Little is Romeo, TJ Staten is Mush, Kyle Holmes is Buttons, Carson Hampton Palmer is Tommy Boy and Darcy, Avery Martin is JoJo, Eddie Olmo II is Mike, Ronan Ryan is Ike, Danny Grumich is Wiesel, and James Caposito is Spot Conlon.

Playing Citizens of New York, among other roles, include Lena Matthews, Alyssa Sayuk and Hazel Vogel. Annaliza Canning-Skinner is Pulitzer’s secretary Hannah. (Swings are Brittany Ambler, Jonathan Kwock and Caposito.)

They foster goodwill through relatable heart-tugging personal situations (although the meanie enforcers are brothers Morris (Ryan) and Oscar Delancey (Olmo).

As for the archetype adults, some familiar faces return to Stages – Steve Isom as Bunsen and John Flack as goon Snyder. They are joined by versatile Patrick Blindauer, who is Jacobi’s Deli owner and Governor Theodore Roosevelt, among other small parts.

Taylor Quick and Daniel Marconi. Phillip Hamer photo.

Embodying the charismatic hustler Jack Kelly is Daniel Marconi, making a memorable debut in this demanding role and nailing his wise-guy accent.

However, he has an interesting connection to Stages’ world premiere of “The Karate Kid – The Musical,” for he took part in the NYC staged reading last year of the revamped musical as Daniel LaRusso. He was also in the pre-Broadway tryout of Tony winner “The Outsiders” at the La Jolla Playhouse.

In a star-making turn, Marconi smoothly anchors this band of brothers, taking command with strong vocals and plenty of swagger as the de facto leader, establishing himself as a fast-talking wheeler-dealer who commits to their right-over-might cause. He’s quick with the quips and sincerely tries to be there for the people he cares about.

Although he dreams of going out west for a better life, he’s loyal to his best friend, “Crutchie” (Matthew Cox), a disabled orphan, and falls for the crusading reporter, Katherine Plummer (Taylor Quick).

She exposes the ruthlessness of newspaper magnate Pulitzer and his minions, who don’t care about the newsies’ plight. Together, they have a sweet moment in “Something to Believe In.”

Marconi excels at standing up to the nefarious Pulitzer, played with unrelenting heartlessness by Christopher Gurr, while firing up everyone who wants to “stick it to the man.”

He meets a kindred spirit in go-getter Davey (Richard Spitaletta) and his nine-year-old brother Les (Davin Wade), whom he takes under his wing. Davey’s intelligence and Jack’s street-smarts are an inspiring combo. Both Spitaletta and Wade are engaging performers, comfortable in their roles.

Matthew Cox as Crutchie. Phillip Hamer photo.

Capturing everyone’s hearts is Matthew Cox, who endears as lovable Crutchie. You’ll want to have tissues ready for his “Letter from the Refuge” song, as he details the horrors of being back at the deplorable juvenile reformatory.

Quick, as resourceful Katherine, is another standout. She made her debut earlier this summer as Shelby in “Steel Magnolias,” but here showcases her considerable singing and dancing skills in “Watch What Happens” and “Once and For All.”

Anita Michelle Jackson is an incandescent light on stage, sashaying as sassy and classy theater owner Medda Larkin, who encourages Jack’s artistic ambitions, and looks fabulous in costume designer Brad Musgrove’s divine finery.

A texture specialist, Musgrove worked with period-appropriate garb for the poor-kid cast in mostly subdued earth tones, mixed up with prints, with the rich folk in Gilded Age attire, so the only chance to break out with sumptuous fabrics was with the showgirls.

David Nehls’ savvy music direction is on point, superbly conducting Alerica Anderson on base, Travis Maddison on guitar, Lea Gerdes and JD Tolman on reeds, Ranya Iqbal on cello, Abbie Steiling on violin, Evan Palmer on trombone, Chris Miller on trumpet, and Peter Gunn on drums and percussion, while he played keyboards.

Struck by the work’s timeless can-do American spirit, Bebout said he wanted to focus on young people’s quests to figure out their place in the world. “’Newsies’ reminds us to never doubt the power of a galvanized group of kids who want to change the world,” the director wrote in his program notes.

Christopher Gurr as Pulitzer. Phillip Hamer photo.

The ragamuffin newsies’ efforts bring the city to a standstill – not just a strike for decent wages, but through an ally reporter’s expose about unfair child labor practices in factories, slaughterhouses, and sweatshops are stand-up-and-cheer moments.

An important history lesson, this marked a significant turning point, when the labor union movement gained ground in a new Progressive Era as the country swelled with American Dream-seeking hopefuls who were the workforce for the Industrial Revolution.

Bebout has returned for another knockout, after he directed the comic juggernaut “Clue” last summer, which garnered five St. Louis Theater Circle Awards for Stages’ first play.

His ability to keep the fleet-footed cast swiftly moving through various locations is admirable. (Kudos to stage manager Monica Dickhens too).

The cast fluidly moves pieces of Beyersdorfer’s aesthetically impressive and practical grid set that is, by turns, a newspaper printing plant, bustling streets, makeshift living conditions, and The Refuge, with Pulitzer’s office and Medda’s theater in the mix.

The technical work is exemplary, including Bart Williams’ crisp fight choreography, Sean M. Savoie’s precise lighting design, Saki Kawamura’s adept video projection design, Mike Tracey’s sound design, and Daniel Paller’s shrewd wig and hair design.

Stages’ first foray into presenting a Disney musical in its 38 seasons is a triumph, an uplifting and heart-tugging tale of unlikely heroes that any generation can identify with.

Phillip Hamer photo.

Stages St. Louis presents Disney’s “Newsies” from July 26 to Aug. 25 in the Ross Family Theatre at The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. For tickets or more information, visit https://stagesstlouis.org

Anita Michelle Jackson as Medda Larkin. Phillip Hamer Photo.

By Lynn Venhaus

In an extraordinary, reimagined interpretation of Stephen Sondheim’s classic “Into the Woods,” New Jewish Theatre immerses us into a vibrant in-the-round setting, where a vocal-rich ensemble of 11 takes on iconic fairy tale characters.

The harmonies stand out under the seamless music direction of Larry D. Pry, who also serves as the Narrator and expertly plays the piano while Christopher Bachmann is on cello and Helen Bednara is on bassoon. While only three, the virtuosos are a superb combination that elevates this show’s rich melodies.

To say they understand Sondheim is no small feat. The greatest theater artist of the past 75 years is demanding, but everyone connected with this production is up for that daunting challenge. To be able to master his complex harmonies is like winning a gold medal in the Olympic Decathlon.

This 1986 masterpiece was Sondheim’s second collaboration with book writer James Lapine after “Sunday in the Park with George” two years earlier. They both won 1988 Tony Awards for score and book, even though “The Phantom of the Opera” took home the Best Musical prize. (But it later won 2002 Tony for Best Revival, 2011 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival and last year’s cast won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.)

Photo by Jon Gitchoff

When done right, “Into the Woods” can be magical, transformative in many ways (as I experienced in the 2022 Broadway revival and a whimsical, inventive interpretation at Stray Dog Theatre last spring).

The fact that this musical continues to speak to new generations and evolves with new insights nearly three decades later is a testament to its relatable themes reflecting on humanity.

The concept is deceptively simple – a storybook world but with real-people problems, and how these characters’ lives are uprooted, teaching them valuable lessons about life, love, and listening. How they need to really be present when together – meaning it, not just saying so.

This poignant New Jewish Theatre effort focused on the emotional layers of each character, who are desperate for happily ever after but not making the effort to change their ways until confronted with reality.

Every time I see this show, I am struck by new observations and how the tale has deepened over time, but it is reinforced that I am not alone when people leave me halfway through the wood.

And this much is true — I always will be misty-eyed during a few numbers, “No One Is Alone” and “Children Will Listen” specifically, and in this show, “No More” especially resonated.

Here, the biggest takeaway is what comes after the “happily ever after” when you want so badly to have your wishes come true but realize you can’t do it alone.

Photo by Jon Gitchoff

The characters are based on Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault’s literary works, but they are molded by the performers to convey consequences from their less-than-ideal actions and impulsive decisions. No Disney aberrations here. Director Robert Quinlan focused on the storytelling, and he doesn’t waste a moment – no dilly-dallying whatsoever.

The format: the narrator exclaims “Once upon a time,” and we’re off on an adventure with four groups of characters – Cinderella wishes to go to the king’s festival, Jack wishes his cow Milky White would give milk, a baker and his wife wish to have a child, and Little Red Ridinghood wishes for bread to bring to her grandmother.

Be careful what you wish for – and soon we’ll know about curses. A witch convinces the childless couple that if they bring her four ingredients: “the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold” – in three days’ time, she will reverse the infertility curse.

Thus commences a long and winding path through the woods.

It’s the largest musical ever staged in the intimate Wool Studio Theatre, but only 11 actors are playing the 20-plus characters, with a few puppets too. And with scenes taking place in and around the audience, characters are right in the mix.

Photo by Jon Gitchoff

The cast truly gets a workout, setting the scenes and popping in and out, often relying on quick costume changes. They are marvels in motion.

Phil Leveling is outstanding, and one of the MVPs – he smoothly switches into the Wolf, Mysterious Man and Cinderella’s Stepmother without missing a beat. Cinderella’s Prince Matt Billings is also puppeteer for Milky White, another fluid transition. He works well with Kevin Corpuz as Rapunzel’s Prince, and their full-bodied “Agony” duet is a highlight. The nimble Corpuz doubles as Lucinda, one of the stepsisters too.

Molly Wennstrom soars as the Baker’s Wife, a role she’s well-suited for, and “Moments in the Woods” is terrific. She and her scene partner, Kevin O’Brien as the Baker, are splendid together, especially in “It Takes Two.” O’Brien is a versatile musical theater performer, and not only are they both strong in song, but also have the emotional heft to depict their rocky relationship.

O’Brien and Leveling are also dynamic in “No More,” bringing considerable depth to their version.

Kristen Joy Lintvedt makes an impressive debut as Cinderella, delivering lush vocals and putting some oomph and a little edge into the role.

Aliyah Jacobs opts for a trusting Little Red and sweet-voiced Sarah Wilkinson exemplifies a girl trapped in a gilded cage as Rapunzel, and also has fun as Florinda. Matthew Cox is both an innocent, naïve Jack, and the more obnoxious Steward.

Matthew Cox as Jack. Photo by Jon Gitchoff

Sarah Gene Dowling plays the Witch robustly as cruel and condescending, unforgiving of anyone’s flaws – except her own. As bitter as she is, when she is rejected, and crestfallen, her “I was just trying to be a good mother” is said with transparent desperation.

Victoria Pines is cranky and intolerant as Jack’s Mother, not giving any hints of humor, which always helps the passive-aggressive dialogue be more palatable.

Nisi Sturgis lends her considerable talents as the booming voice of the Giant (well, Giantess).

The group vocals stand out. The grown-up tale needs performers to bring out the complexities confronting each character, for everyone changes. No one is left unscathed.

Quinlan has done a masterful job of keeping things briskly paced. He aims for the sweet spot in tone – hopeful in the first act and rueful in the second. Perhaps a bit more whimsy with the necessary dark undercurrent, but I think they were so focused on crisp movements and infusing sincere emotion into each song, that no one let up for a second. Choreographer Ellen Isom kept the moves playful.

NJT’s in-house costume designer, Michele Friedman Siler, adroitly outfitted every character to support both the storytelling and the fast changes that the in-the-round setting demanded.

C. Otis Sweeney’s scenic design is exceptional – and enhanced by Jayson Lawshee’s lighting design, and not just the trees were awe-inspiring, but that full moon too. Amanda Werre’s skilled sound design was effective in the atmospheric woodland sounds and also by indicating danger in giant footsteps — and punctuating dashed hopes and dreams, and broken hearts.

Since its Broadway opening in 1987, there have been productions in London’s West End, national tours, Hollywood Bowl, The Muny, three revivals and a 2014 film adaptation. This fresh New Jewish staging can stand as one of the most heartfelt in the region. The melodies linger, the performers enchant, and the themes are re-awakened, stored for safe-keeping in my memories.

New Jewish Theatre presents “Into the Woods” from Nov. 30 to Dec. 17 at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. (Closing show on Dec. 17 has sold out).

Individual tickets are $27- $58 with special rates available for groups. Tickets are available by phone at 314.442.3283 or online at newjewishtheatre.org

Sarah Gene Dowling as The Witch. Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Photo by Jon Gitchoff