Production will feature first full tap dance number

By Robert Williams

Editor

The cast and crew of the Frazee-Vergas High School Fall Musical are making a departure from last year’s “Little Mermaid,” delving into a rousing underdog story inspired by the real Newsboys Strike of 1899 in this year’s “Newsies, Jr.”

“Newsies Jr.” is an adaptation of the 1992 film starring Christian Bale and 2012 Broadway production. It follows the story of charismatic newsboy Jack Kelly, who rallies other newsboys to strike against unfair price increases by powerful newspaper publishers in late 19th-century New York City. The show includes classic songs like “Seize the Day” and “Carrying the Banner.” 

Senior Joseph Bachleitner plays Davey, one of three leads. Davey starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right, who is learning to use his voice to uplift others.

“I was going to describe it like society versus government; you’ve got the big people, hashtag the government, and the kids or the citizens of New York trying to push back against leaders,” said Bachleitner. “”The main thing that drove me as Davey was he is the big brother to everybody. He’s making sure everyone is in line and skeptical about things and also is trying to join in and get everybody in order.” 

Senior Emersyn Wake plays Katherine Plummer,  an ambitious young reporter who works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously.

“I feel like it’s very much like kids who have hard moments and will do whatever they can,” said Wake. “It kind of reflects on who I am. She’s very sarcastic and eager to do something she adores, even if her father doesn’t like the idea. She still does it. I think that is what happens in my daily life. My family doesn’t accept something that I do and I do it anyways. If I quit, even if I’m struggling, and it’s super hard, I’m never really going to know how it’s going to help benefit me in the future. I think Katherine really does things head on, which I do a lot too.”

The third lead is junior Simon LaSart, who also found a connection to his own personality in the sense LaSart is playing against type.

“Something that I found fun about my character is I’m generally an introverted kind of guy,” LaSart said. “I don’t usually go out there and talk. It’s kind of fun to play a leader, a guy who is in charge and calling the shots and stuff. It’s an interesting contrast to my personality and it’s fun to play an opposite.”

Wake and LaSart did some research upon hearing about this year’s musical choice. Wake watched the Broadway production twice, falling in love with both the musical and the characters.  LaSart is choosing to become accustomed on the fly during rehearsals that began in mid-September. 

Bachleitner has a distinct familiarity with “Newsies.”

“I love the soundtrack; I listen to it almost every single day and then I found out about it and I was really listening to the soundtrack,” he said. “I’ve watched the Broadway version about 15-17 times and I fell in love with the movie when I first watched it and it’s always been my favorite Broadway musical.”

All three leads appreciate the artistic distance portrayed in the chosen styles of musicals from this year to last.

“It’s definitely a change,” said Bachleitner. “I was Prince Eric last  year and it’s a big change from Prince Eric to Davey!”

“Somebody told me that it’s not romantic, but it’s empowering—this young kid moves on and fights hardship with hardship. It’s not a love story.”

“I think that was the real big refresher because the past three years it’s been a love story,” said Bachleitner.

“There was some romantic aspect,” said LaSart. “It had the magic of Disney and not just a story about people.”

Much of the magic of attending musicals in the Frazee Commons is how the kids manage to portray so many different scapes during different acts utilizing as much of the limited space as they can on stage. The last few years, the art behind the actors has been the work of 2025 graduate Emma Ketter. This year another returning alum, who starred as Ursula in last year’s musical and was a big contributor to set design, ReiLynn Tracy is leading scenic design.

Tracy’s efforts pulled Wake into set design.

“It’s been a really cool journey to see,” said Wake. “Reilynn really takes her time with it and she has done a lot.”

All three leads have praised Tracy for the time she has put into the process and they also revealed something that the casual observer may not have noticed. That being the art department reuses set pieces from year-to-year.

Bachleitner highlighted Olaf from “The Little Mermaid” returns this year in a different scope, along with the rock Arial sat on while singing “Part of Your World.”

“They hid little Easter eggs in there,” said LaSart. “Every time I come in for rehearsal there is something new. It’s cool to see the evolution from the beginning to the end.”

Currently, the entire show is blocked and choreographed, led by choreographer Mary Zink. According to LaSart, this year’s musical started with choreography work coming much earlier in rehearsal than usual.

“We just jumped right into it,” said Wake.

“We’re running through Act 1, cleaning everything up and then Act 2 the next day,” said Bachleitner.

The leads are expecting full run-throughs this week and dress rehearsals before next week.

All three described the early rehearsal and the musical itself as choreography-heavy.

“I think there is a song in almost every other scene,” said Bachleitner.

One area the leads have worked without much choreography is during their respective solos.

“It’s a bunch of improv and I think that is the biggest accomplishment you can have doing a solo song —doing it yourself,” said Wake.

“It makes the solo a little more intimate,” said LaSart.

The biggest surprise for the musical cast this year is the finale of Act 1 “King of New York,” which will be a full tap number.

“It has always been a tap number and we’re finally doing it,” said Bachleitner.

“This is the first-time ever that we’re doing tap,” said Wake. “I’m really excited about it.”

Final touches will continue until the first public dress rehearsal for elementary students during the school day on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Guests will have five opportunities to see the musical prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Show times

Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.