DISNEY’S NEWSIES 2019/20 SEASON BE A PART OF THE 2019/20 SEASON! SAVE UP TO 60% WHEN YOU PURCHASE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL COURAGEOUS VOICES DISNEY’S A THOUSAND NEWSIES SPLENDID SUNS MUSIC BY ALAN MENKEN | LYRICS BY JACK FELDMAN ADAPTED BY URSULA RANI SARMA BOOK BY HARVEY FIERSTEIN | A MUSICAL BASED ON THE DISNEY FILM BASED ON THE NOVEL BY KHALED HOSSEINI WRITTEN BY BOB TZUDIKER AND NONI WHITE DIRECTED BY CAREY PERLOFF ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY BY DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS KREEGER THEATER | JANUARY 17 – MARCH 1, 2020 DIRECTED BY MOLLY SMITH | CHOREOGRAPHED BY PARKER ESSE Adapted from the New York Times bestselling MUSIC DIRECTION BY LAURA BERGQUIST novel by Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner), the lives FICHANDLER STAGE | NOVEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 22, 2019 of two Afghan women are inextricably bound together. In the war-ravaged Kabul, Miriam and In the summer of 1899, the newsboys of New York Laila become unlikely allies in the face of the City took on two of the most powerful men in the insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive country — Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph way of life. Called “emotionally stirring” (Los Hearst — and won. Inspired by true events, the Angeles Times), this gripping and heart-rending Broadway smash hit is a testament to the power fight for survival will keep you on the edge of your of standing up and speaking out. Newsies is “a seat from start to finish. winning, high-energy musical” (Entertainment Weekly) just in time for the holidays and perfect for THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL the whole family. PRODUCTION OF WORLD-PREMIERE LOVE STORY MOTHER ROAD KEN LUDWIG’S BY OCTAVIO SOLIS | DIRECTED BY BILL RAUCH FICHANDLER STAGE | FEBRUARY 7 – MARCH 8, 2020 DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE As William Joad sets out on an epic journey to pass down his family farm, he is humiliated to find BY KEN LUDWIG that the only surviving descendant of his family DIRECTED BY JACKIE MAXWELL is a Mexican-American named Martín Jodes, an KREEGER THEATER | NOVEMBER 21 – DECEMBER 29, 2019 ex-migrant worker. Inspired by John Steinbeck’s When two strangers meet by letter during World classic, The Grapes of Wrath, the two men forge War II, a love story begins. But as the war continues, an unlikely bond and come to terms with their it threatens to end their relationship before it even brutal past. This powerful new play examines starts. Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig the crossroads of family, immigration and the (Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Lend Me a American dream. Tenor) tells the joyous, heart-warming story of his parents’ courtship during World War II and the results are anything but expected. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 202-488-3300 BE A PART OF THE 2019/20 SEASON! SAVE UP TO 60% WHEN YOU PURCHASE A 6- OR 4-PLAY PACKAGE | NOW ON SALE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL COURAGEOUS VOICES WORLD-PREMIERE POWER PLAY A TRAILBLAZING SPIRIT DISNEY’S A THOUSAND CELIA AND FIDEL TONI STONE BY EDUARDO MACHADO | DIRECTED BY MOLLY SMITH BY LYDIA R. DIAMOND | DIRECTED BY PAM MACKINNON NEWSIES SPLENDID SUNS ARLENE AND ROBERT KOGOD CRADLE | FEBRUARY 28 – APRIL 12, 2020 IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER MUSIC BY ALAN MENKEN | LYRICS BY JACK FELDMAN ADAPTED BY URSULA RANI SARMA Can one woman change the mind of a man and KREEGER THEATER | APRIL 23 – MAY 31, 2020 BOOK BY HARVEY FIERSTEIN | A MUSICAL BASED ON THE DISNEY FILM BASED ON THE NOVEL BY KHALED HOSSEINI the fate of a nation? Fidel Castro’s most trusted Considered a pioneer, Toni Stone is the first WRITTEN BY BOB TZUDIKER AND NONI WHITE DIRECTED BY CAREY PERLOFF confidant and political partner, Celia Sánchez, woman to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, also ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON BROADWAY BY DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS KREEGER THEATER | JANUARY 17 – MARCH 1, 2020 is never far from his side as he grapples with making her the first woman to play professionally how to move his country forward. Imbued with in a men’s league in the 1950s. Based on Martha DIRECTED BY MOLLY SMITH | CHOREOGRAPHED BY PARKER ESSE Adapted from the New York Times bestselling magical realism, Arena Stage’s seventh Power Ackmann’s book, Curveball, The Remarkable Story MUSIC DIRECTION BY LAURA BERGQUIST novel by Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner), the lives Play imagines a conversation between Cuba’s of Toni Stone, this uplifting story follows Stone as FICHANDLER STAGE | NOVEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 22, 2019 of two Afghan women are inextricably bound most influential female revolutionary and its most she blazes a path in the male-dominated sports together. In the war-ravaged Kabul, Miriam and In the summer of 1899, the newsboys of New York notorious political leader in a contest between world against all odds, shattering expectations Laila become unlikely allies in the face of the City took on two of the most powerful men in the morality and power. and creating her own set of rules. insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive country — Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph way of life. Called “emotionally stirring” (Los Hearst — and won. Inspired by true events, the PART OF THE AUGUST WILSON FESTIVAL Angeles Times), this gripping and heart-rending Broadway smash hit is a testament to the power fight for survival will keep you on the edge of your SPECIAL ADD-ON PRODUCTION of standing up and speaking out. Newsies is “a seat from start to finish. AUGUST WILSON’S winning, high-energy musical” (Entertainment WORLD-PREMIERE DRAMA Weekly) just in time for the holidays and perfect for THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL the whole family. SEVEN GUITARS PRODUCTION OF BY AUGUST WILSON RIGHT TO WORLD-PREMIERE LOVE STORY DIRECTED BY TAZEWELL THOMPSON MOTHER ROAD FICHANDLER STAGE | APRIL 3 – MAY 3, 2020 BE FORGOTTEN KEN LUDWIG’S BY OCTAVIO SOLIS | DIRECTED BY BILL RAUCH Seven lives are interconnected in 1940s Pittsburgh BY SHARYN ROTHSTEIN | DIRECTED BY SEEMA SUEKO FICHANDLER STAGE | FEBRUARY 7 – MARCH 8, 2020 when old friend and blues singer Floyd Barton ARLENE AND ROBERT KOGOD CRADLE | OCTOBER 11 – NOVEMBER 10, 2019 DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE As William Joad sets out on an epic journey to vows to turn his life around after a surprise The Internet never forgets. A young man’s mistake pass down his family farm, he is humiliated to find windfall leaves him hopeful for a second chance. at 17 haunts him online a decade later. Desperate BY KEN LUDWIG that the only surviving descendant of his family Infused with deep and soaring blues rhythms, this for a normal life, he goes to extraordinary DIRECTED BY JACKIE MAXWELL is a Mexican-American named Martín Jodes, an “rich and exceptionally vivid” (Variety) play pits lengths to erase his indiscretion. But freedom KREEGER THEATER | NOVEMBER 21 – DECEMBER 29, 2019 ex-migrant worker. Inspired by John Steinbeck’s the desire for a better future against the harsh of information is big business, and the tech When two strangers meet by letter during World classic, The Grapes of Wrath, the two men forge realities ultimately leading to heartbreaking and companies aren’t going down without a fight. War II, a love story begins. But as the war continues, an unlikely bond and come to terms with their inescapable circumstances. Secrets, lies and political backstabbing abound it threatens to end their relationship before it even brutal past. This powerful new play examines in this riveting new drama about one man’s fierce starts. Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig the crossroads of family, immigration and the battle to reclaim his right to privacy. (Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Lend Me a American dream. Tenor) tells the joyous, heart-warming story of his parents’ courtship during World War II and the results are anything but expected. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 202-488-3300 | ARENASTAGE.ORG DISNEY’S NEWSIES TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 Artistically Speaking 9 From the Executive Producer 11 Dramaturgy Note 13 Title Page 15 Setting / Cast 17 Musical Numbers / Musicians 19 For this Production 21 Bios — Cast and Creative Team ARENA STAGE 1101 Sixth Street SW Washington, DC 20024-2461 33 Arena Stage Leadership ADMINISTRATION 202-554-9066 SALES OFFICE 202-488-3300 TTY 202-484-0247 34 Board of Trustees / Theatre Forward arenastage.org © 2019 Arena Stage. 35 Thank You — Full Circle Society All editorial and advertising material is fully protected and must not be 37 Thank You — Annual Fund reproduced in any manner without written permission. Newsies Program Book 40 Thank You — Special Event Donors Published November 1, 2019 Cover Illustration 41 Thank You — Institutional Donors by Paul Rogers program book staff 42 Theater Staff Renée M. Littleton, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Kate Thompson, Assistant Manager of Publications Shawn Helm, Senior Graphic Designer 2019/20 SEASON 5 70TH ANNIVERSARY GALA THE ANTHEM | 901 WHARF ST SW, WASHINGTON, DC Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Featured performance from singer, songwriter and actress HEATHER HEADLEY GALA CHAIR Daniel Korengold HONORARY CHAIR Ann Stock The 70th Anniversary Gala is presented by All proceeds support Arena Stage’s award-winning Artistic Productions and Community Engagement Programs. RESERVE TODAY! 202-600-4025 | ARENASTAGE.ORG/GALA ARTISTICALLY SPEAKING A CHILDREN’S CRUSADE: THEN AND NOW I’ve been thinking a lot about young people recently. I wanted to direct Newsies for a number of reasons. This musical truly has it all — an infectious score by Alan Menken, strong lyrics by Jack Feldman and an excellent book by Harvey Fierstein. It’s a gold standard musical for our time. Central to me is that Newsies has a powerful message for today’s young crusaders. Newsies were anywhere from nine to 17 years old.