"Official" Newsies

I never got to see the Broadway production of Newsies in person -- it never came close enough to where I lived, but I wouldn't have had the money to buy a ticket even if it had.  I wasn't worried, though; I couldn't begin to imagine how a simple little play could ever be better than the film I fell in love with in 1992.  

Then, one lazy afternoon sometime in 2018-ish, I stumbled across Newsies: The Broadway Musical on Netflix.  I was doing my best to avoid doing housework, so I decided to give it a try.  It couldn't hurt to watch it for a few minutes, then, when it proved to be disappointing, I'd get back to the glamour of vacuuming and laundry. 

Two hours and fifteen minutes later, the vacuum cleaner was still waiting to be used, the laundry was wrinkling in the dryer, and I was staring in awe at my laptop screen, completely and thoroughly entranced. I hadn't moved a muscle since the first note of the first trumpet sounded at the beginning of the show. Had I remembered to breathe? I must have, but I didn't remember doing so. How on earth I had missed seeing that for so long? Whatever it was that I had just experienced was unlike anything I had ever encountered before. I had no recollection of anything but Newsies during the two hours that had just passed; it had completely consumed me.

To say I was entranced, enthralled, and totally and completely infatuated does not come close to describing the impact that production had on me!  As much as I loved and adored the film, I was suddenly a hundred times more in love with the stage production.  To this day, it remains at the top of my list as my favorite production of all time.  I cannot begin to imagine how many times I've watched it, but the magic never wears off.

I've seen four different regional productions. I've loved each and every one of them, and have always thirsted for just one more show each time the final one ends.  I have a special collection of Newsie-only autographed programs. I scour each bio online before a Broadway tour comes to town, looking to see if there are any Newsies in the cast.  I don't care if they're regional or Broadway -- #newsiesforever doesn't discriminate: a Newsie is a Newsie forever and for always! 

While I love meeting any and all Newsies, the ones in the filmed version (now on Disney+, not Netflix) are, for me, "Official" Newsies, for lack of a better term. I love each and every Newsie I meet, no matter where they played, but when an Official Newsie comes to town, my inner fangirl shrieks with anticipation and trembles with excitement! If Aladdin's genie gave me three wishes, my first one would be to get to meet all the Official Newsies. I'm on my way meeting that goal, but with a listed cast of 40 people, it'll take some time since I have to wait for them to come to Greenville, South Carolina. One day, I'll get to travel to meet them, but for now, I'll settle for those who travel my way. Until then, I'll just keep Seizing the Day!

Have you met any Newsies? Maybe you are or have been a Newsie? Share your experiences in the comments section below! We'd love to hear from you!