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Passion for the Arts Presents
Spring Showcase 2024:
Newsies
~Digital Program~
First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove
March 8, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Passionforthearts.org
From our Director:
We have based our show on Proverbs 31 verse 8:
Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Tonight, you will see results of the work our students have accomplished through the four weekly classes.
This is not a polished production with elaborate costumes, lighting and sets; instead, we have club shirts with art designed by one of our students, and simple props such as hats, to differentiate characters.
We set ourselves a unique challenge: every student 12yo and up was given at least 2 different characters
to portray, while the under-12yo’s were all in our Newsies Ensemble. Everyone was required to be off-
book by week three, and to rehearse at home. Excitement and anticipation have run high, with strong dedication exhibited by each actor.
We chose the story of Newsies because it offered a lot of scope for a large cast and is a true “David and
Goliath” story that occurred in 1899. We cut it down to the essential plot, incorporated just 2 of the 14
songs and simplified choreography.
Each rehearsal began with prayer, a devotional on an aspect of the show, and a lesson in stagecraft. Our
cast rehearsed songs and choreography weekly, and each of the 17 scenes was blocked just once. In
telling this story, students had to project their voices, time entrances and exits, move about the stage
accurately, and be expressive in voice, face and body for each character they portrayed.
Our students have grown so much! They are required to complete a Character Development sheet which
highlights a Biblical basis, and embody each component for each different character. I am proud to say that they have accomplished much and give God the glory for the incredible talents each actor and actress has developed!
Thank you for coming and supporting your favorite actors and supporting Passion For the Arts - we
appreciate you so much!
With all glory to God,
Caryl Lipnick
March 8, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Passionforthearts.org
From our Director:
We have based our show on Proverbs 31 verse 8:
Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Tonight, you will see results of the work our students have accomplished through the four weekly classes.
This is not a polished production with elaborate costumes, lighting and sets; instead, we have club shirts with art designed by one of our students, and simple props such as hats, to differentiate characters.
We set ourselves a unique challenge: every student 12yo and up was given at least 2 different characters
to portray, while the under-12yo’s were all in our Newsies Ensemble. Everyone was required to be off-
book by week three, and to rehearse at home. Excitement and anticipation have run high, with strong dedication exhibited by each actor.
We chose the story of Newsies because it offered a lot of scope for a large cast and is a true “David and
Goliath” story that occurred in 1899. We cut it down to the essential plot, incorporated just 2 of the 14
songs and simplified choreography.
Each rehearsal began with prayer, a devotional on an aspect of the show, and a lesson in stagecraft. Our
cast rehearsed songs and choreography weekly, and each of the 17 scenes was blocked just once. In
telling this story, students had to project their voices, time entrances and exits, move about the stage
accurately, and be expressive in voice, face and body for each character they portrayed.
Our students have grown so much! They are required to complete a Character Development sheet which
highlights a Biblical basis, and embody each component for each different character. I am proud to say that they have accomplished much and give God the glory for the incredible talents each actor and actress has developed!
Thank you for coming and supporting your favorite actors and supporting Passion For the Arts - we
appreciate you so much!
With all glory to God,
Caryl Lipnick
Cast of PFA Spring Showcase: Newsies
Below is our cast and the characters they are portraying at different parts of the story:
Addie: Elmer, Newsies Ensemble
Aubrey: Darcy, Newsies Ensemble
Audrey: Wiesel, Medda, Newsies Ensemble
Aurora: Stagecrew
Autumn: Brooklyn Newsie 3, Stagecrew
Ben: Crutchie, Oscar, Newsies Ensemble
Brinley: Ike, Newsies Ensemble
Cal: Jack, Race, Newsies Ensemble
Caroline: Specs, Newsies Ensemble
Charlie: Oscar, Hazel, Spot Conlon, Newsies Ensemble
Claire: Muriel, Morris, Newsies Ensemble
Clara: Newsies Ensemble
Clare: Newsies Ensemble
Cora: Newsies Ensemble
Driver: Muriel, Katherine, Newsies Ensemble
Elliott: Newsies Ensemble
Emery: Medda, Pulitzer, Newsies Ensemble
Emmarie: Newsies Ensemble
Esther Te.: Dorothy, Newsies Ensemble
Esther Tu.: Newsies Ensemble
Evelyn: Les, Newsies Ensemble
Fiona: Pat, Newsies Ensemble
Grace: Finch, Romeo, Harlem Newsie, Newsies Ensemble
Grayson: Bill, Newsies Ensemble
Hadley: Newsies Ensemble
Hailey: Katherine, Davey, Newsies Ensemble
Hannah B: Newsies Ensemble
Hannah D: Narrator, Jack, Katherine, Newsies Ensemble
Hannah J: Albert, Race, Manhattan Newsie, Newsies Ensemble
Hannah K: Les, Newsies Ensemble
Hunter: Newsies Ensemble
Isaac: Les, Newsies Ensemble
Isabelle: Morris, Katherine, Bronx Newsie, Newsies Ensemble
Ivan: Newsies Ensemble
Jonah: Newsies Ensemble
Josh: Jack, Davey, Stunts, Newsies Ensemble
Julian: Wiesel, Police Officer 1, Stunts, Newsies Ensemble
Katie: Jack, Davey, Newsies Ensemble
Kora: Finch, Newsies Ensemble
Laeken: Jack, Pulitzer, Newsies Ensemble
Leanna: Katherine, Hannah, Newsies Ensemble, Graphic Artwork
Lucy: Crutchie, Davey, Jack, Newsies Ensemble
Lydia: Newsies Ensemble
Mackenzie: Customer 2, Brooklyn Newsie 2, Newsies Ensemble
Madelynn: Crutchie, Police Officer 2, Newsies Ensemble
Niccolo: Davey, Morris, Newsies Ensemble
Olivia: Ike, Bunsen, Newsies Ensemble
Payton: Customer 1, Brooklyn Newsie 1, Newsies Ensemble
Rees: Romeo, Seitz, Newsies Ensemble
Rosalyn: Les, Newsies Ensemble
Ruth: Passerby, Oscar, Newsies Ensemble
Sarah: Davey, Katherine, Newsies Ensemble
Seth: Snyder, Crutchie, Newsies Ensemble
Trinity: Newsies Ensemble
Tristan: Newsies Ensemble
Yoel: Bunsen, Albert, Newsies Ensemble
Zach: Newsies Ensemble
Principal Characters & students who play them, in no particular order:
Students who are multi-cast will switch out between scenes.
Jack: Lucy Friesen, Katie Libby, Hannah Davies, Josh Woods, Laeken Halfpap, Cal Halfpap
Davey: Sarah Woods, Hailey DeFreitas, Lucy Friesen, Katie Libby, Josh Woods, Niccolo Hawks
Les: Rosalyn Langley, Isaac Langley, Hannah Ketcham, Evelyn Hughes
Katherine: Leanna Kulp, Isabelle Habib, Driver Storck, Hannah Davies, Hailey DeFreitas, Sarah Woods
Crutchie: Madelynn Kulp, Ben Ketcham
Weisel: Audrey Henry, Julian Hawks
Medda: Emery Halfpap, Audrey Henry
Pulitzer: Emery Halfpap, Laeken Halfpap
Oscar: Ben Ketcham, Ruth Qiu, Charlie Storck
Morris: Claire Dilley, Ruth Qiu, Isabelle Habib
Many, many thanks to our parents who poured in to each of our students!
And especially to Christy Henry, without whom this production would not have been possible.
Accompanist: Sallie Brown
Choreographer: Jen Van Fleet
Thanks to First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove!