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Jaden Hunter

Newsies Forever! The Hit Musical Took the Stage at the ACHS Theatre This Weekend


The Newsies wait in anticipation for the newest headline (Photo by Summer Heartt)

Santa Fe. Slug Fights. A blistering romance. There is little left to be desired after watching the American Canyon Theatre’s production of Disney’s hit musical, Newsies. As a member of the cast myself, this crew and production will always have a soft spot in my heart. The blood, sweat, and tears (the long hours of tap dancing numbers are no joke) culminated in a lively collection of performances this past weekend. The audiences are raving – American Canyon’s drama program has stolen the community’s hearts and newspapers. From top to bottom, ACHS’s production of Newsies is incredible. The set is breathtaking, painting the perfect contrast to the many Newsies who march about on stage throughout the musical. From start to finish, there is endless entertainment for audience members. I highly recommend that anyone in the community check out the production this weekend before it is too late!


The Newsies have a standoff with the Delancey brothers (Photo by Summer Heartt)

As with any play, creating a great show takes a collective effort. Summer Heartt, the director of the show and the program of nine years, knows this first-hand. An English and Drama teacher here at ACHS, Ms. Heartt has been instrumental in developing the

production. With a total of about sixty-five kids in the cast and the daunting task ahead of her, Ms. Heartt fulfilled her vision and brought it to life on stage. “This is our most ambitious show in terms of dance, vocals, and production value.”


Pulitzer and his team plan their next moves in his office (Photo by Summer Heartt)

From top to bottom, the cast has united to bring Alan Menken’s story to our local theatre. Though the process wasn’t always smooth sailing, the final product has created Something To Believe In. Gabriel Reyes, the heart and soul of the cast as well as our very own Jack Kelly, understands the mark he and the rest of the Newsies are leaving on the school and the program. “There have been many ups and downs. But overall it has been a dream come true to work with everyone in the cast,” Reyes noted. Along with Reyes, many other members of the cast have shared similar sentiments regarding the Newsies process. Lillie Geneva Pace, who plays the vivacious Medda Larkin, understands how far the group has come. “It feels like a family,” Pace explained. “It’s one of the best productions American Canyon has ever put on and it’s truly amazing.”



The Newsies pose for a picture (Photo by Summer Heartt)

Not only are the members of the cast glowing about the show, the reviews from audience members have been fantastic! Adults and children alike have been raving about the performances, generating a buzz that is uncommon for a highschool thetare production. Isabella Brill, a senior at American Canyon High School, isn’t the biggest fan of live theatre, but the Newsies swept her off her feet. “I sat and watched the whole thing, and I never got bored. Even for people who don’t usually enjoy musicals, I would highly recommend it.”

The cast high-five Canyon Oak Elementary School students after a midday performance

While the production already took the stage this past weekend, there are still three more dates to get tickets! There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, all of which are guaranteed to have audience members sitting on the edge of their seats throughout the 2 ½ hour musical. Don’t miss out, as ACHS’s drama production of Newsies is sure to be remembered for years to come.



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