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Extra, extra! The Newsies are in town

September 17, 2022 BY

Bold types: The young cast in rehearsals at BLOC’s hall on Peel Street. Photo: SUPPLIED

READ all about it, BLOC Music Theatre’s latest junior production is coming to Mount Rowan Secondary College’s theatre space.

A small cast of young performers are set to stage Disney’s Newsies Jr. during the September school holidays over four shows, from Friday, 30 September to Sunday, 2 October.

The story is set in New York City in the late-1890s, and follows Jack Kelly, a paperboy leading a group of young Manhattan newsies.

BLOC president and the show’s production manager Jason Muller started his performing arts career aged nine with the company, more than 40 years ago.

He said the musical is serious in its content, but the storyline is relatable and the dance numbers exciting.

“There’s a rise in the price of the newspaper, and that makes it unaffordable for the newsies to continue to sell them, and therefore, they go on strike,” he said.

“It’s a really well-written and happening musical for its time.

“There’s so much going on all the time on stage, the cast are very busy, and we’ve got a set that moves around, so there’s plenty to watch.

“We have a very talented young cast who are aged 10-to-15. They have lots of experience behind them and are very clever.”

Oscar Mulcahy, known for roles within the Australian casts of musicals including Kinky Boots and Billy Elliott, stars as Jack Kelly.

Muller said the production team behind the scenes are also an “amazing” young group, with Nicole Burness a first-time BLOC director, Cooper Guinea as choreographer, and Liam Kelly as musical director.

Visit newsiesballarat.com for tickets.