Memo from the RTC: Newsies
Opens July 19 and The Picasso of RTC
By Norm Scott
Another spectacular Rockaway Theatre Company summer musical
is upon us with next week’s opening of Newsies, with a cast of thousands, directed
and choreographed by Gabrielle Mangano who has been an RTC mainstay since her
teens. This is a first for her as a director and as a member of the cast I have
been very impressed with her command, her vision, her dedication, her sure
touch and as important as anything, her relationship to the cast, many of whom
are quite young and almost all of young men. This is unusual for community
theater to do a successful male dominated dance-loaded musical since it is not always
easy finding enough young men who can dance well. But Gabby has managed to hit
the jackpot. Her being a teacher herself has certainly helped. In fact, I
believe a lot of the success of the RTC for over two decades has been due to
the involvement of so many educators.
Newsies is about very poor kids and young adults who sell
newspapers on the street. Publishers led by Joseph Pulitzer raise prices. They
go on strike, form a union, are beaten by the goons and police but ultimately
win the strike after their leader, Jack Kelly, impresses NY State Governor
Teddy Roosevelt, and a beautiful reporter. There’s a lot more politics embedded
in the show than I thought there would be. And there’s romance too. And some
great music - it is a musical after all.
Newsboys need
printing press to support their strike
 |
| Evolution of the printing press |
The other day, Tony Homsey, master builder at the RTC,
informed the set construction crew that we had to build an 1899 vintage printing
press of considerable size. Renting one would cost over a grand. I have so
little imagination I couldn’t see how Tony was going to manage to build such a
replica. Simple – he started with an idea of a stripped down beach chair and
built out from there. Amazing how Tony could envision a printer out of an
aluminum beach chair. With the assistance of Cliff Hesse, they built a work of
art that I hope outlasts the show. I was reminded of the famous Picasso
sculpture where he took the handlebars and seat of a bicycle and created the
head of a bull. That’s genius and we have our own Picasso at the RTC in Tony.
Performances of Newsies:
July 19, 20, 26, 27/Aug 2, 3 at 8PM. Matinees July 21, 28, Aug. 4 t 2 PM.
Tickets – Adults $25, Seniors/children $20. www.rockawaytheatre.org.
Franky and Johnny at
the Clair de Bensonhurst
Speaking of key RTC people, John Panepinto, who has had
leading and support roles in many productions over the past 8 years and will be
joining the uber talented Frank Caiati as the assistant director of Gatsby.
They also teamed up to produce a podcast. They are funny and astute. I will be
attending one of their podcasts soon and will be back with some photos. Here
are some fundamentals from John.
John sent this blurb: We are a group of Brooklyn natives
(and one Queens) who decided they wanted to learn more about the people around
them. The show is recorded and produced in the heart of Bensonhurst, a staple
of "Old Brooklyn." The guests range from local everyday workers like
a doctor, a soldier or a lawyer to Brooklyn celebrities. They are always
looking for more guests and also hope to be learn even more about average every
day people doing average (important) things.
The Nothing Podcast
Hosts: John Panepinto and Frank Caiati
With: Danielle Rose Fisher, Matt Hunt, Joseph Hagopian and
Tom Zaccheo
www.Nothing-Podcast.com
Facebook: The Nothing Podcast With Nobody Important
Norm blogs daily at ednotesonline.com
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