Act-1

Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)

Cast Type: Ensemble Cast

​

Dialect: Students who watch the movie or listen to the Broadway soundtrack will notice that many characters speak with New York accents. 

Actors are encouraged to prepare a NY accent for auditions, but it is not required. Because the characters in the story can be portrayed as coming from a variety of places in America and beyond, we will decide on each character’s “voice” (including accent) once the roles are cast.

That said, please do consider a character's education/upbringing/class when deciding how to voice them, because that will definitely affect the way that they speak (grammar, articulation, etc)!

​

IN REGARDS TO GENDER: You will notice that many roles are listed as “male." The lead roles in this show are overwhelmingly male characters, because this story is based on an actual historical event, and nearly all newsies were male. We will likely be costuming all newsies as “boys,” but most roles in the show are available for performers of any gender.

Generally, we at ACT-1 are open to gender-blind and re-gendered casting. You should audition for the roles you are attracted to, but please choose roles that best reflect your talents and your natural vocal range. Just because you like a role doesn't mean you are suited for it, and you want to have the strongest audition possible! Read the character descriptions and requirements below.

​

CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS

​

NEWSIES:

​

Jack Kelly 

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 16 to 20

The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an orphaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself out West. Fiercely protective of his best friend, Crutchie, and strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to use his voice to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City. Though living on the streets has given him a tough-guy exterior, Jack has a big heart and can demonstrate a sweet vulnerability – especially when it comes to bantering with a certain female reporter. A street-smart kid with a dark, artistic soul right beneath the bluster; not a blowhard.

Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality.

Sings solo, many lines, some dancing, stage combat.

Tenor: 

Vocal range top: A4

Vocal range bottom: Bb2

​

Davey

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 15 to 20

Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living, but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance. A thinker; raised in a home as opposed to the other Newsies, Davey is the book-smart counterpoint to the other boys; the voice of reason; a nice Jewish boy.

Must have a great contemporary tenor voice.

Sings solo, many lines, some dance.

Tenor:

Vocal range top: A4

Vocal range bottom: D3

​

Crutchie

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 13 to 17

A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch due to a bad leg, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him; when in a jam, Jack Kelly’s best friend relies on a goofy- sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Right in the middle of any mischief; a real charmer.

The performer in this role must be able to dance enthusiastically in character while still physically portraying Crutchie’s “bum” leg.

Sings solo, many lines, character dancing feature, stage combat.

Tenor:

Vocal range top: A4

Vocal range bottom: C3

​

Les

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 7-10

Davey’s cheeky younger brother, is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer.

He should read as much younger than the other newsies.

Sings solo, many lines, featured dancer.

Tenor:

Vocal range top: Bb3

Vocal range bottom: Db3

​

OTHER NEWSIES:

Character's Gender: Mostly Male

Character's Ages: 13 to 20

The core group of newsies who work the same neighborhoods as Jack, Crutchie, Davey, and Les, these hard-working kids function as a family that cares for and helps one another. Many of them are orphans, have families outside of NY who they send their money to, or have such poor families that they can’t live at home, so they become “roommates” with the other newsies as well as close friends.

There are 12+ newsies in Jack’s “Gang”:

 Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Jo Jo, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, and Tommy Boy. We may combine certain characters or add more. 

Performers in these roles must create unique and specific characters with physical and vocal details that distinguish them from the other newsies.

Tenors. 

All roles have multiple lines and solos and/or dance features and stage combat.

​

​

FRIENDS/ALLIES OF THE NEWSIES:

​

Katherine Plumber

Character's Gender: Female

Character's Age: 17 to 20

The strong-willed daughter of Pulitzer; this young lady drips smarts, opinions, and confidence; a young Katherine Hepburn or Ellen Page; this damsel needs no prince to save her. An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourcesful, she boldy captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly.

Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt – diction is key.

Sings solo, many lines, some dance, stage combat.

Mezzo-Soprano:

Vocal range top: F5

Vocal range bottom: A3

​

Medda Larkin

Character's Gender: Female

Character's Age: 25 to 45

Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. Risqué and tough, an astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice.

Sings solo, some dance. Comedic actress required.

Mezzo-Soprano:

Vocal range top: E5

Vocal range bottom: F3

​

Stage Manager

Character's Gender: Can be a male or female character. 

Character's Age: 25 to 55

The stage manager of Medda Larkin’s club and also the MC of her show, running the backstage area and introducing performers on stage.

This performer must be able to switch from a practical, efficient stage manager personality to an energetic and entertaining ‘host of the show’ when they are ‘on stage’ at the club.

Does not sing, some lines, no dance.

Spot Conlon

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 17 to 20

The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation.

Brooklyn, Staten Island as we can get. Think Mighty Mouse, should have an incredible presence. 

 Has a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”

Tenor:

One solo, some lines, featured dancer.

​

Bill & Darcy

Character's Gender: Can be a male or female character. 

Character's Age: 15 to 25

The son of William Randolph Hearst (Bill) and the upper-class kid of a publisher (Darcy) join the newsies' cause. They help Katherine break in to use the basement printing press to print the newsies’ paper.

Can double as a Newsie. 

(Darcy often doubles as the Newsie Jojo, Bill as the Newsie Buttons). 

Some lines, some dance.

​

Mayor of New York

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 45 to 60

The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike. This performer will double in other roles.

Some lines, no singing or dance.

​

Governor Teddy Roosevelt

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 50 to 65

A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer. This performer will double in other roles.

Some lines, no singing or dance.

​

Mr. or Mrs. Jacobi

Character's Gender: Can be female or male

Character's Age: 30's to 50's

Allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is. He is generous, and loves to crack jokes. 

Some lines, no singing or dance.

​

PULITZER & HIS STAFF:

​

Joseph Pulitzer

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 35 to 50

A pompous businessman through and through, owns "The World" (a major NY newspaper) and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack.  The boisterous forefather of Wm. F. Buckley Jr., Glen Beck, and Rupert Murdoch; an on-point, know-it-all politician; impolite and impatient with the world. 

Sings solos, many lines, no dance.

Baritone: 

Vocal range top: F4

Vocal range bottom: C3

​

Oscar Delancey and Morris Delancey

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 15 to 20

Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.

These roles require two performers who work together well with good comic timing, but can also be physically intimidating. Although they do not dance, these roles still require a strong physical performance with excellent self-control for stage combat sequences.

Several lines, no dance, stage combat.

​

Seitz
Character's Gender: Can be a male or female character. 

An editor at "The World" who advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the newsies’ paper. 

Small solo, some lines, limited dance.

​

Bunsen

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 35 to 50

Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.

Small solo, some lines, limited dance.

​

Hannah

Character's Gender: Female

Character's Age: 20 to 40

Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary. 

Small solo, some lines, limited dance.

​

Wiesel

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 35 to 50

Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper-pusher.

Requires an exaggerated, cartoonish vocal and physical performance.

Sings ensemble only, several lines, no dance.

​

Snyder

Character's Gender: Can be a male or female character. 

Character's Age: 45 to 65

The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming. Though he doesn’t work for Pulitzer, he’s happy to team up with him to take down the newsies and get his hands on Jack.

This role requires a strong physical and vocal character performance.

Several lines, no dance.

​

Nunzio

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 30 to 50

Pulitzer’s barber, who is trying to cut Pulitzer’s hair during the song "The Bottom Line" and the scene prior.

This role requires a strong physical comedy performance.

Italian accent preferred.

Does not sing, some lines, character movement feature. 

​

Guard

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Age: 20 to 60

The guard who throws Jack, Davey, and Les out of the building when they try to get in to see Pulitzer. This performer will double in other roles.

Does not sing, one line. 

​

Photographer

Character's Gender: Can be a male or female character. 

Character's Age: 15 to 25

Takes the triumphant photo of the newsies at the end of “Seize the Day.” This performer will double in other roles.

Sings ensemble, limited dance. 

​

Woman

Character's Gender: Female

Character's Age: 15 to 45

A newspaper customer. Speaking role.

​

SMALL ENSEMBLES:

These are small groups with 3-10 featured in each ensemble. Additional features in dance, solos, and lines will be cast from among the ensembles.

​

Brooklyn Newsies

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Ages: 13 to 20

Spot Conlon’s gang, the Brooklyn newsies are feared, admired, and respected by the other newsies city-wide. When they add their support to the strike in their feature number Brooklyn’s Here, they cause a waterfall effect that brings every other newsie in the city on board.

Sing ensemble, Dance feature

​

Scabs

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Ages: 10 to 20

Three Newsies from other boroughs brought in to “break” the strike. They are hesitant, and instead they throw down their papers and become new members of Jack Kelly’s gang.

Sing ensemble, some dance, some stage combat.

​

The Bowery Beauties

Character's Gender: Female

Character's Ages: 18 to 30

A small group of female dancers who join Medda Larkin on stage.

Vaudeville-style dancers, these performers must have strong, sharp dance skills, big facial expressions, and be strong singers.

Sing ensemble, dance feature.

​

Nuns (3)

Character's Gender: Female

Character's Ages: 20 to 60

A small group of nuns who offer free breakfast to hungry newsies.

These performers must have strong singing voices and an ability to hold their melody while other performers sing counterpoint.

Small ensemble singing feature

​

LARGE ENSEMBLES:

Larger ensembles—most performers may be a member of at least one of these groups.

​

Goons

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Ages: 15 to 20

Thugs that are hired to join the Delanceys to rough up the newsies.

Students in these roles must demonstrate excellent physical self control and strong physical acting.

Stage Combat. 

Policemen

Character's Gender: Male

Character's Ages: 20 to 60

Cops that show up during the strike riot. At first the newsies think the cops are there to help them, but the police join the fight on the Snyder’s side and begin arresting newsies and taking them away.

Stage Combat. 

​

Manhattan, Flushing, Richmond, Woodside and Bronx Newsies

Character's Gender: Male
Newsies from every other corner of the city that assemble to join the strike.

Sing ensemble, dance.

​

Kids at the Refuge

Character's Gender: Male

Other kids who are incarcerated at the Refuge along with Crutchie.

Physical performance.