DISNEY'S NEWSIES

Music by ALAN MENKEN

Lyrics by JACK FELDMAN

Book by HARVEY FIERSTEIN

Based on the Disney Film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White

Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions​​​

​July 3rd thru July 19th

Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 2:00pm

 ​"Great dancing and singing with plenty of action - one of the most engaging stories and musicals I've seen!"

"Open the Gates and Seize the Day" - Come join Captain Jack, Katherine & Medda as they influence and reshape The World​!"

The Tony-winning Broadway Hit Musical (Best Choreographer and Best Score) is set in turn-of-the century New York City and spins the tale of Jack Kelly, an amalgamation of all the charismatic newsboy leaders who led their fellow "newsies" to a better life. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices and the price of doing business to increase poor circulation at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies all of the newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair demands placed on them in hopes of turning the tide. The poignant words, inspiration and unabashed resonance of Medda Larkin, and the social influence of Katherine - a knight in shining newsprint - who leads the way to victory and celebration for the 'newsies'.

Based on the 1992 motion picture inspired by true stories, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles, Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs 'Carrying the Banner,' 'Seize the Day,' and 'Santa Fe,' Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a rousing historic tale perfect for the whole family and every audience member.

Join us for this outstanding performances during our 2026 Woodstock Playhouse Summer Theatre Festival Season as we celebrate the 88th season of the iconic Woodstock Playhouse; originally established in 1938 by Robert Elwyn, a Woodstock Resident, Broadway/Film professional director/actor and member of one of Woodstock's oldest families...and during this 16th anniversary season of leadership by the current Woodstock Playhouse team.

This performance is brought to the stage of the iconic Woodstock Playhouse featuring the Woodstock Playhouse Summer Theatre Cast 2026, a regional company of professional performers widely acclaimed for some of the finest performances in our NY & Tri-State region at one of the most iconic theatrical sites in the Hudson Valley.

Director/Choreographer: Michael Blatt

Assistant Choreographer: Randy Conti

Resident Music Director: Robert J. Tomasulo

Resident Lighting Designer: Michael Gugliotti, Jr.

Resident Sound Designer: Steve Maffia

Resident Costume Designer: Diane Stein

Length of Performance: 2 hours and 30 minutes with intermission 

TICKET PRICING:

•$65 for Front-of-House Seating, Rows A - F

•$60 for Mid-House Seating, Rows G - N

•$50 for Rear-of-House Seating, Rows P - Q

Second Saturdays are Cabaret Nights after the mainstage show in the East Piano Gallery.

Each ticket price already includes a $5 handling/convenience charge; All seating is Reserved Seating, and all sales are final; no refunds nor exchanges.

Disney's Newsies is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.MTIShows.com ​

The Woodstock Playhouse, established in 1938 as a rural extension of Broadway and Summer Theater by a member of one of Woodstock's Oldest Families, became a central hub for the launching of major careers on Broadway and in film and television - including Robert Hutton, Larry Hagman, Lee Marvin, Diane Keaton, Chevy Chase, Andrea Martin, Karl Malden, Kitty Kelly, Elissa Landi, Judd Hirsch, Anne Meara, Dick Van Patten and Estelle Parsons to name just a few - as it continues to do today.

During the late 1950s and into the 60s, the Woodstock Playhouse directors instituted Saturday morning children's productions 

& concerts as well as midnight concerts featuring such artists as Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, Tim Hardin, Pete Seeger, Happy and Artie Traum, Billy Faire, and Jack Elliot. The Band, including Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Jaime Robbie Robertson, would record their album Stage Fright at the Woodstock Playhouse with Todd Rundgren serving as sound engineer. As the 1960s evolved and Woodstock found itself at the center of a cultural revolution, the Playhouse was host to the final concert in a series of performances known as the Sound-Outs in 1968. Produced by John “Jocko” Moffitt and generally perceived as a precursor concert to the Woodstock Festival held in Bethel a year later, the Playhouse concert featured Richie Havens, with additional performances by Jerry Moore, Don Preston, Major Wiley and Bunky and Jake. 

Throughout the 60s and 70s, legendary musicians and bands played at the Woodstock Playhouse, including Arlo Guthrie, Van Morrison, Orleans, Full Moon, Sonia Malkine, John Hammond, Holy Moses, Dave Van Ronk, Levon and The Band, The Montgomeries, Geoff and Maria Muldaur, Jim Rooney and Bill Keith, and after the burning and rebuilding of the Woodstock Playhouse: Leon Russell, Cindy Cashdollar, Jacke DeJohnette, Sonny Rollins, Peter Yarrow, Bethany and Rufus Cappadocia, John Sebastian, Natalie Merchant, Larry Campbell, David Bromberg, Richie Havens, Noel Paul Stookey, The Indigo Girls, Leon Russell, Well Strung, all of the amazing Headliners at the annual String Sampler Concert, and so many more. 

A more detailed history of the Woodstock Playhouse can be enjoyed by viewing the History Wall and memorabilia when visiting the Woodstock Playhouse and by viewing our history page online at  https://www.woodstockplayhouse.org/history-of-the-woodstock-playhouse where you can also read about and purchase tickets for our other upcoming events.