Newsies Jr

Please bring a current headshot and resume.

Bring all possible conflicts between June 1 and August 9th.

Auditions will include cold readings from the script.

Vocal:

Prepare a 30 to 60-second selection that showcases voice, acting, and range.

Song selection should be a musical theatre selection from stage or screen, but not from Newsies.

For the vocal audition, please bring your own piano-track recording or karaoke version to sing along with. (Bluetooth speaker provided. No accompanist.)

Please download or screen record your track to your device prior to auditions. You may not play your track directly from the web.

Track should be cued to your starting point.

If you are auditioning for one of the leads, please also be prepared to sing the character's main song, if asked (i.e., Jack -- Santa Fe, Katherine -- Watch What Happens, or Davey -- Seize the Day). Kindly note that we may or may not request you sing this additional song when considering your audition.

:

Please be prepared to perform a dance sequence for the audition panel.

Please bring tennis shoes (to wear while learning a dance routine), jazz shoes, and tap shoes (if you have them).

Kindly note that we may be utilizing part of the parking lot for our auditions (if the weather permits). Therefore, if a section of the parking lot is partitioned off, please do not park there.

CRUTCHIE: A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy- sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie should still be included in the dance numbers. Vocal range top: A4, Vocal range bottom: C3

DAVEY: Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother 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, Davey is the brains of the resistance. Vocal range top: A4, Vocal range bottom: D3

LES: Davey’s cheeky younger brother is inspired by the newsies' freedom and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies. Vocal range top: Bb3, Vocal range bottom: Db3

NEWSIES: Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City who go on strike for a livable wage.

SCABS: Three newsies who are hesitant to join the strike.

SPOT CONLON: The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”

KATHERINE PLUMBER: An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key. Vocal range top: F5, Vocal range bottom: A3

DARCY: The upper-class kid of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.

BILL: The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies' cause. Can double as a newsie.

WIESEL: Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper-pusher.

OSCAR AND MORRIS DELANCEY: Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike, and are known to use their fists to make a point.

GOONS: Assist the Delanceys in roughing up the newsies at the end of Act One.

JOSEPH PULITZER: A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer, doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack. Vocal range top: F4, Vocal range bottom: C3

SEITZ: Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.

BUNSEN: Pulitzer’s bookkeeper comes up with the idea to raise the newsies’ price per paper.

HANNAH: Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.

NUNZIO: Pulitzer’s barber.

GUARD: The Guard removes the newsies from Pulitzer’s building.

SNYDER: The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.

MEDDA LARKIN: Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice. Vocal range top: E5, Vocal range bottom: F3

THE BOWERY BEAUTIES: Female performers at Medda’s Theater.

STAGE MANAGER: Introduces Medda's act.

NUNS: The three nuns offer breakfast to the hungry newsies. Feel free to cast additional nuns.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Takes the triumphant photo of the newsies at the end of “Seize the Day.”

WOMAN: A newspaper customer.

MR. JACOBI: Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.

POLICEMEN: Assist Snyder and turn against the newsies in the fight that concludes Act One.

MAYOR: The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike.

GOVERNOR TEDDY ROOSEVELT: A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.