Young actors and actresses shine in ink-redible performance of ‘Newsies Jr.’
The members of the Hill Country Community Theatre’s Youth Summer Theatre Camp strike a powerful pose near the end of the musical, after New York’s newsies come together to protest an unjust newspaper price increase. Staff photos by Caden Senn
The young performers of the Hill Country Community Theatre put on a show last weekend, wrapping up a two-week summer camp and bringing “Newsies Jr.” to life through song, dance, and technical prowess.
Nearly 40 actors took to the stage from July 16-19 to present the HCCT’s annual Youth Summer Theatre Camp production, giving kids ages 8-17 the opportunity to fully stage, choreograph, and perform a musical on their own.
Opening night on Thursday, July 16, drew a full house of supporters to watch the true story of the Newsboys’ Strike of 1899 to the tune of “Newsies Jr.”, a kid-friendly, hour-long version of the Broadway musical, “Newsies”.
A nearly 3-minute standing ovation from the audience followed the performance.
For many campers, the annual production has become a vital part of their summer, and has given them the chance to inspire more young actors and actresses to join the program.
“Every time I go on stage, I see myself in the audience,” actress Nina Garcia, 17, told DailyTrib. “When I’m up there, I always hope that younger kids would see me on stage and think, ‘wow, I want to be that character one day’, or ‘I want to be doing that.’”
Garcia, who played the role of ambitious reporter Katherine Plumber, has been a member of the youth theatre since its first performance in 2017. She joined the program after seeing one of HCCT’s mainstage productions the year before.
“I started doing this when I was in first or second grade,” she said. “I think what really made me want to do theater was seeing a production here. They did ‘Seussical’, and I sat front row in the middle, and I remember telling my mom that I wanted to do theater here.”
Other campers like James Lawrence, 17, who played the iron-fisted Joseph Pulitzer, joined the program on a whim, eventually developing a passion for the stage.
“I’ve been here for the past four years,” Lawrence said. “Jordan Jones, one of the directors, was my teacher in seventh grade and he told me, ‘hey you should do this,’ even though I had zero stage experience, zero singing experience, or any of that.”
Both Lawrence and Garcia will have aged out of the youth program by the time next year’s production ramps up, making “Newsies Jr.” their last. Despite that chapter coming to a close, the experience has left a lasting impression on the two.
“I want to keep doing theater here,” Garcia said. “They do mainstage productions (with adults), so I would definitely love to keep auditioning for shows. But I do think my heart will always be in the kids’ camp because this is where I first started doing theater and had my first show.”
Lawrence added that he, too, wanted to continue theater in some capacity.
“It’s bittersweet, definitely,” Lawrence said. “I’ll at least have some influence in a theater program in the future, whether it’s a local one or not. But I’m glad I experienced all I did. It’s changed me as a person and I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for all of this.”
About “Newsies Jr.”
Inspired by the true story of the Newsboys’ Strike of 1899, “Newsies Jr.” follows charismatic newsboy Jack Kelly and a band of young “newsies” who dream of a better life beyond the streets of New York City.
When powerful newspaper publishers raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack and his fellow newsies unite to stand up for what is right. Filled with friendship, courage, determination, and memorable songs, “Newsies Jr.” is an uplifting story about finding your voice and discovering the power of standing together.