New Musical Experiences

One of the major fads in the movie industry, lately, has been musicals. Today, there are musicals produced like Hairspray, Enchanted, The Muppets, and The Sound of Music. These are just some of the classics that have made a major impact on society, and that's not even counting all the Disney movies. Well one of the musicals that was made in the early 1990s that did not receive much praise during its release, but has gone on to affect and impact many of the current musicals made today is Newsies. This musical was not welcomed with open arms when it first made its appearance, but the story, songs, and AMAZING choreography have made it a musical that I hold very close to my heart.

The musical Newsies follows the main characters Jack Kelly and David Jacobs who fight to have the price of papers reduced to the original cost after Pulitzer increases newspaper price to make a few extra bucks. Now the cast assembled, which includes Christian Bale and David Moscow as the main characters, displays some of the most extraordinary singing and dancing talent that I have seen exhibited in a movie. I mean who knew that Batman had a voice that could make me melt? The acting talent, which is epitomized by Robert Duvall who plays Pulitzer, also entrances the audience and pulls them into the plot of the movie. Soon the audience will find themselves rooting for Jack Kelly to take down "the man" and promote the underprivileged boys who are just trying to make it by.

Additionally, since this movie is based on the New York City Newsboy strike of 1899, the historical aspect of the movie draws viewers in deeper. Adding music and dance is an excellent way to teach a history lesson. Eventually, if you become a fan like me and many of my friends, who will find yourself memorizing not only the words to the songs but also the dance moves that go along with the songs. It becomes an interactive movie.

The main reason I think I can say that Newsies was a prelude to the contemporary musicals is because the director, Kenny Ortega, has since then directed and choreographed musicals like High School Musical, Hocus Pocus, and The Cheetah Girls. These movies have swept the nation in a similar way as Newsies did. So many teens became die hard fans of High School Musical that they had to make two sequels. The odd thing about Newsies is that it tanked it in the box office, but after it was released on video and DVD sold extremely well. I guess it was just made a generation too early because I know that I LOVE Newsies as a musical and a movie. Hearing songs like "Seize the Day" or "King of New York" can turn a frown on my face into a wide smile. And who knows, maybe these songs can turn a bad day in your life into a good one as well. You will just have to watch the musical.