Stagecrafters Brings the Rallying Cry of Disney’s Newsies the Musical to Royal Oak
Stagecrafters is bringing a burst of energy, heart, and old-fashioned theatrical excitement to Royal Oak with Disney’s Newsies the Musical, running on the Main Stage from May 29 through June 14, 2026. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein, the musical is based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White. It is the kind of show that practically demands a large cast, bold movement, and a story that makes audiences want to lean forward in their seats.
At its core, Newsies is a show about young people realizing they have power when they stand together. That message has always been the musical’s greatest strength. Beneath the athletic choreography and soaring score is a story about labor, loyalty, and the courage it takes to challenge systems designed to keep people quiet. It is a crowd-pleaser, but it is not an empty spectacle. The show’s best moments come from the collision of youthful optimism and very real injustice.
[Warning: Spoilers from Stagecrafters’ production of Newsies are below!]
Newsies: a story built on heart and momentum
The musical centers on Jack Kelly, played by Seth Grube. Jack is a dreamer and a survivor, someone who imagines a life beyond the streets while still feeling responsible for the boys around him. His story gives the musical its emotional throughline, especially as he wrestles with whether to keep fighting or protect himself from more disappointment. Alongside him is Crutchie, played by Tarrell Pearson, whose friendship with Jack brings tenderness to the story. Crutchie often serves as the emotional anchor of Newsies, reminding audiences that the strike is not an abstract idea. These are kids trying to protect one another in a world that rarely protects them back.
The production also features Elijah Lang as Davey, a young man who joins the newsies after his family falls on hard times. Davey’s outsider perspective helps organize the boys’ anger into something more focused and strategic. The role of Les is shared by Noah Gillespie and Yousef Zmily, bringing youthful spark to a character who often provides both comic energy and emotional stakes. A key figure in the story is Katherine Plumber, played by Nicole Armstrong. Katherine is the ambitious reporter who sees the newsies’ strike as more than a street fight. She recognizes it as a story worth telling. In many ways, Katherine represents the power of journalism itself. She understands that visibility can change the outcome of a movement, especially when the people in power would rather no one pay attention.
On the opposing side is Joseph Pulitzer, played by Patrick Kilbourne, the publishing titan whose decision to raise distribution prices sets the entire conflict in motion. Pulitzer is not simply a villain in a top hat. He represents a world where profit comes before people, and where young workers are expected to bear the cost of adult greed. That tension gives the show its bite.
A large ensemble with big storytelling potential at Stagecrafters
One of the joys of Newsies is that it depends on the ensemble. The title itself makes that clear. This is not just Jack’s story. It is the story of a group of young workers who become a movement.
Stagecrafters’ cast includes Shondra Tipler as Medda Larkin, Donevin Johnson as Morris Delancey, Nolan Irish-Minewiser as Oscar Delancey, Jayshona Boxx as Spot Conlon, Curtis Martin as Albert, LeRoy Marvin Russ as Race, Jason Graf as Specs, Megan Bell as Henry, Julia Morgan as Finch, Desmond LaCourse as Romeo, Daniel Frost as Elmer, Teresa Ahola as Mush, Emily Lourim as Buttons, Sade Kuforiji as Splasher, Plum Slee as Tommy Boy, Lydia Cardasis as Jojo, and Emily Henry as Mike.
The broader ensemble also includes Dean Joynce, Mary Kate Pardington, Quinn Fritz, Megan Smith, Shannafay Guyton, Mackenzie Ryder, Julie Spicer, Christopher Hughes, Keith Klochack, Veronica Pardington, and Nasir Khawaja.
That full company is essential for a show like this. Newsies needs bodies in motion, voices joining together, and the sense that the stage is filling with a community. The strongest productions of this musical make the audience feel the momentum of a movement building in real time. Every newsboy, every newspaper, every rallying cry adds to the force of the story.
The creative team behind this Disney musical
The Stagecrafters production is directed by Maria Fernandez-Ahola, with Lisa Hanes serving as assistant director. Curtis Rowe is the music director alongside Jonathan Napper– conductor, with John Hall, Laura Melton, and Anne Slee serving as producers. Choreographers include Shalayla (Shay) Williams, Hunter Milan, Emily Lourim, Aaliyah Flint, and Alexis Dawson, with movement coordinator Julie Spicer.
For a musical like Newsies, the creative team has a major task. The show must balance spectacle with clarity. The audience needs to feel the rush of the dance numbers, the humor of the younger characters, the tension of the strike, and the emotional weight of Jack’s journey. It is a production that asks for precision, especially because the musical’s energy can easily overpower its storytelling if not carefully shaped.
The music is one of the show’s biggest selling points. Alan Menken’s score has the kind of sweeping, instantly theatrical sound that invites big voices and bigger emotions. Songs like “Carrying the Banner,” “Santa Fe,” “The World Will Know,” “Seize the Day,” and “Once and for All” have become favorites because they turn determination into melody. They are not just songs in the plot. They are declarations of identity.
Why Newsies still connects
Part of what makes Newsies endure is that it feels both historical and current. The story takes place in the past, but its themes remain immediately recognizable. Young people fighting to be valued. Workers are organizing against unfair conditions. A powerful media figure controlling the narrative. A reporter using her platform to expose injustice. These ideas do not feel trapped in another century. The show also works because it understands the emotional appeal of chosen family. The newsies may not have much, but they have each other. Their loyalty becomes the heart of the musical. When they sing together, it is not just about winning better wages. It is about refusing to be invisible. That is especially powerful in a community theatre setting. Stagecrafters has long been a place where local performers, volunteers, and audiences come together around shared storytelling. Newsies is a fitting choice because the show itself is about what can happen when people gather, organize, and raise their voices in the same direction.
Know before you go
Disney’s Newsies the Musical runs May 29 through June 14, 2026, at Stagecrafters, located at 415 South Lafayette in Royal Oak. The production has an approximate running time of two hours.
Performances include evening shows and Sunday matinees, with two added Saturday 2:00 p.m. matinees on June 6 and June 13. Thursday tickets are listed at $25 plus a $ 3-per-ticket fee, while Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances are listed at $35 plus a $ 3-per-ticket fee. All seats are reserved.
For families, musical theatre fans, and anyone who loves a high-energy underdog story, Newsies is an easy recommendation. It has the Disney familiarity, the Broadway-style score, and the ensemble-driven excitement that make it a strong fit for audiences looking for something uplifting without losing the bite of its message. At a time when stories about standing together still feel deeply relevant, Stagecrafters’ Newsies arrives with a clear rallying cry: sometimes the most powerful voices are the ones people in charge underestimate.
For more information about Stagecrafters’ production of Newsies, including dates and times, and to purchase tickets, check out their website! Did you attend the opening weekend of Newsies? Planning on seeing it before it closes on June 14th? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
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