Blue Star Teen Ensemble Announced for Starlight’s Production of Disney’s Newsies
Starlight is thrilled to announce the local teen ensemble cast for its upcoming production of Disney’s Newsies. Out of hundreds who auditioned, the musical’s creative team chose 33 Kansas City-area high school students to represent the ‘Newsies’ in the production. Disney’s Newsies is produced by Starlight and directed and choreographed by David Grindrod, who has worked on titles including A Chorus Line, CATS, South Pacific, and Beauty and the Beast.
“Kansas City continues to prove it is home to exceptional young musical theatre talent,” Caroline Gibel, Executive Producer and Starlight’s Director of Theatre, said. “The students cast in Newsies bring remarkable energy, athleticism, and heart to this production. We’re thrilled for them to perform alongside professional artists on our stage and to inspire and develop the next generation of performers in our community.”
Combined with the adult cast, Disney’s Newsies will include more than 50 ‘Newsies’ dancing on stage. The teen ensemble also represents the roles of Brooklyn, Woodside, and Richmond, as well as the Scabs. They also support ensemble vocals when not dancing on stage.
Newsies Blue Star Teen Ensemble Cast
Louisa Bartlett, Shawnee Mission School District
David Bunnell, Liberty Public Schools
Deuce Chanos, The Barstow School
Bennett DaMetz, Shawnee Mission School District
Charlea Emison, Blue Springs R-IV School District
Corbin Gardner, Liberty Public Schools
Joaquin González Layton, Blue Valley Unified School District
Lyla Horwitz, Liberty Public Schools
Savion Jackson, Shawnee Mission School District
Dylan Johnson, Blue Valley Unified School District
Tatum McGinness-Wood, North Kansas City School District
Lainey McManamy, St. Teresa’s Academy
Mae Murray, Independence School District
George Nessinger, Rockhurst High School
Sophia Payton, Park Hill School District
Ryan Peterson, Blue Valley Unified School District
Gage Pfannenstiel, Olathe Public Schools
Jack Polak, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Luke Pyron, Unified School District #232 (De Soto)
Jonathan Raymond, Lawrence Public Schools
Rayna Reed, Park Hill School District
Wyatt Ricker, Blue Valley Unified School District
Santana Romero, Olathe Public Schools
Jared Romney, Blue Springs R-IV School District
Dane Schwartz, Shawnee Mission School District
Liam Smith, Olathe Public Schools
Quincy Stribling, The Barstow School
Ethan Suen, Blue Valley Unified School District
Izzy Taghizadeh, Blue Valley Unified School District
Charlie Tietjen, Pembroke Hill
Paolo Vitug, Liberty Public Schools
Harper Ward, Shawnee Mission School District
Keston Wimberly, Platte County School Distric
About Disney’s Newsies
Carry the banner with Disney’s Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!
Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message.
