WEST BOCA HIGH GRAD, LOCAL SIXTH GRADER HELP “SEIZE THE DAY” IN BRILLIANTLY PRODUCED MUSICAL.
BY: NORM DEPLUME | BocaNewsNow.com
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — If Slow Burn Theater Company’s production of the Disney hit “Newsies: The Broadway Musical” — running through June 25th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts — was featured in a turn of the century newspaper, it could easily have this headline: “SKIP NYC TRIP, BROADWAY HITS HOME!”
The impeccably acted, stunningly choreographed, beautifully designed production is helmed on stage by Sam Jack Cadieux, a “Cappie” Award winning Actor who graduated from West Boca High School several years ago. He returns from New York City to star in the lead role of Jack Kelly. Cadieux’s performance is spot-on as the charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged newsies in turn-of-the century New York City who lead a strike against titans of newspaper publishing.
Cadieux is part of a huge and hugely talented cast, including Lea Marinelli as Katherine, Joel Hunt as Crutchie, Mickey White as Davey, and 11-Year-Old Nate Colton of Delray Beach in the role of Les. Nate’s role as Les follows a three week run with Slow Burn as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins.
But you can’t have a Broadway musical without a gifted cast of professionals. The acting, dancing, and choreography in Slow Burn’s Newsies must be seen to be believed. Average people are not capable of flipping, dancing, and flying anywhere, let alone on stage. But more than 30 ultra-talented performers do just that — all while singing and acting without missing a beat. Assembled by — and under the direction of — Slow Burn Creative Director Patrick Fitzwater, the cast of Newsies proves that you do not need to travel to Broadway to experience Broadway.
The Cast (in Alphabetical Order, read program here): Chris Alvarez, Matthew J. Brightbill, Jerel Brown, Jaime Brustein, Samuel Cadieux, Tim Canali, Austin Carroll, Michael Cartwright, John Cavaseno, Samuel Colina, Nate Colton, Ryan Crout, Jonathan Eisele, Stephen Eisenwasser, Eli Flynn, Jennifer Fraser, Kevin Hincapie, Lauren Horgan, Joel Hunt, Imran Hylton, Kareema Khouri, Matthew W. Korinko, Lea Marinelli, Michael Materdomini, Geoffrey Mergele, Christopher Mitchell, Nate Promkul, Matthew Quintero, Larry Toyter, Mickey White.
Production: Patrick Fitzwater (Director), Trent Soyster (Choreographer), Michael Ursua (Music Director), Tim Canali (Fight Director), Kelly Tighe (Scenic Designer), Clifford Spulock (Lighting Designed), Rick Pena (Resident Costume Designer), Timothy S. Dickey (Technical Director), Erin Joy Swank (Production Stage Manager), Andre Russell (Assistant Stage Manager, Projection Designer), Alan Menken (Composer), Jack Feldman (Song Writer), Harvey Fierstein (Librettist).
Newies runs through June 25th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Limited tickets in the 600-seat Amaturo Theater are still available here. The performance is appropriate for families. The high-energy musical runs roughly 2:45 with an intermission.
