NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Watch What Happens!" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Newsies With Kara LindsayKara Lindsay, making her Broadway debut as leading lady Katherine Plummer in Disney's Newsies, documents a recent two-performance day with the cast, crew and high-flying newsboys inhabiting the Nederlander Theatre.
By
Matthew Blank
July 31, 2012
"When the show premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse last fall, Broadway was certainly NOT on the radar," says Lindsay. "Because of its great success and our amazing fans, we were able to move to the Great White Way. Now half of the cast has made their Broadway debut, including myself. 'Grateful' does not even begin to describe how appreciative we are!"
"Here is a glimpse into our world on a two-show day! There is never a dull moment at the theatre with this zany cast: from morning preparations, subway rides, greetings at the theater, to tumbling boys, sleepy cast members and a toast to a birthday girl. We have a very special family here at the Nederlander Theatre."
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"Watch What Happens!" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Newsies With Kara Lindsay
"Watch What Happens!" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Newsies With Kara Lindsay
Kara Lindsay, making her Broadway debut as leading lady Katherine Plummer in Disney's Newsies, documented a two-performance day at the Nederlander Theatre. She offers a look at morning preparations, subway rides, coffee stops, greetings at the theatre, tumbling boys and more.
53 PHOTOS
Starting the morning off enjoying a yummy breakfast with my handsome fiance! His: waffles with peanut butter and fruit on top. Hers: oatmeal with fruit mixed in and a huge glob of peanut butter on top. I could eat a whole jar...
Kara Lindsay
Walking a half mile to the subway station. At least it's beautiful here in the historic district of Jackson Heights! A tree? Yes, please!
Kara Lindsay
The E train came pretty quick! MTA, I like you... today :)
Kara Lindsay
Arriving at the lovely Nederlander Theatre! It still gives me goosebumps.
Kara Lindsay
Nelson and Brian greet us everyday at the theater and open the door for us. Such gentlemen!
Why hello, Jack and Bres! Everyday we walk through this famous alley to get to the stage door. If you squint...a lot... you can see signatures of all the people involved in shows prior to ours. So much history in this theater!
Kara Lindsay
We walk in and greet Joe, our doorman, who keeps us safe from invaders.
Kara Lindsay
The sign-in sheet! If you don't sign in, Thom Gates (our stage manager) will call you out at the Half Hour announcement and embarrass you... just sayin. I've been there and I am still blushing :)
Kara Lindsay
Our wonderful stage management team! They seriously rock. Thom, Tim and Bryan. Our only girl ASM, Becky, was out this afternoon, but she and I stick together. Ya gotta in a theater filled with boys!
Kara Lindsay
I walk up to the dressing room and find a party has already began! Capathia and I love visitors.... We have some good laughs!
Kara Lindsay
Ok, time to get down to business. Getting my stretch on while chatting it up with Capathia. She puts up with me rollin' around all over that floor. Gotta try and keep up with my Newsies boys! TRY, being the key word
Kara Lindsay
Rushing to make my skin less transparent. The rouge is key!
Kara Lindsay
Down in the wig department with these awesome gals! This is when we have approximately 7 minutes of girl time. Giggles, pink, puppies, cupcakes... mmmmm cupcakes
Kara Lindsay
And the wig is on! Ahhhhhhh..... Though, the bald wig cap head is pretty sexy.
Kara Lindsay
On my way back up to my dressing room I pass Mark Hummel, our handsome music director, getting dolled up in his luxury dressing room. This man has brought in furniture, painted, decorated, etc. I asked if I could pay him rent and live there.
Kara Lindsay
Our two little guys that share the role of Les prepare for the show by playing on their iPads. I want a dang iPad! Maybe they can teach me how to use it?
Kara Lindsay
John Dossett and I have a love/ hate relationship. You know why if you've seen the show. Crazy Pulitzer!
Kara Lindsay
At the 5-minute call, Ephraim leads us in a prayer circle to get us all ready and centered before the show. He is an amazing leader!
Kara Lindsay
This is weird, but every day I punch Brady in the fake padded stomach for good luck. Its just so squishy and I can't help myself.
Kara Lindsay
Sister Capathia Jenkins wishing me a good show as she heads down to the stage...
Kara Lindsay
Ben and I dance to "Carrying the Banner" every so often as he heads down for his entrance. Davey has some serious moves.
Kara Lindsay
This would be intermission, directly after "Seize the Day" and the fight.... they don't look sweaty or tired at all, right? Oh, so you guys wanna run it again? Ok, sweet.
Kara Lindsay
I caught these two in our dressing room looking suspicious. Intermission= fuel time. Good thing Capathia and I have a huge candy station to keep our visitors energized!
Kara Lindsay
THE Jeremy Jordan arriving at his dressing room next door after belting his face off in "Santa Fe" and running around the stage. He looks like he needs to work a little harder. Stop marking, Jeremy.
Kara Lindsay
My awesome dresser, Jenny, getting me into the "King of New York" costume. Time to tap it out with my Newsies! Always crossing my fingers that I don't slip and fall on my butt. I am a bit of a klutz.
Kara Lindsay
After the show we generally go outside and meet the fans (fansies) to sign autographs. We have the best fans ever! Crutchie is such a star... look at that adorable face!
Kara Lindsay
Dinner in Bryant Park with some Newsies. Got me a hearty salad from Chop't filled with turkey, avocado, cheese, veggies, and white balsamic dressing. So healthy....for now. There are always sweets at the theater so I have to cancel it out.
Kara Lindsay
Then this happened... The look on Ben's face reflects mine behind the camera. The Newsies never cease to amaze me.
Kara Lindsay
Ben and Garett digest their food by taking a little walk.... on their hands. I wanna try!
Kara Lindsay
Yeah maybe not. Laurie and I got nothin'. We watch and applaud the insane brilliance that is our Newsies!
Kara Lindsay
This little guy thought we were pretty cool and wanted to come play too! Ugh, had to take a picture of him because he was so darn cute!
Kara Lindsay
Coffee time!!! Matt is wonderful and gets my iced coffee prepared nicely every two show day. The amount of money I have spent on Starbucks... Boy is it worth every cent!
Kara Lindsay
Walking into the theater, we pass the merchandise folks setting up for the second show! Love them! Look at all that merch!
Kara Lindsay
Cassie gets our mics ready so that we are sounding loud and clear! Look at all those knobs and buttons.... I just wanna press 'em all!
Kara Lindsay
Between shows, Jeremy likes to play video games in his dressing room. This is his 12-year-old way of decompressing and relaxing. Check out some of the gadgets on his shelf! Love it!
Kara Lindsay
The boys head up to their dressing room refueled, reenergized, and ready for round two!
Kara Lindsay
Hollywood arrives back at the dressing room. Best dressing roommate award goes to? Capathia Jenkins! Her laugh is contagious. "Wowza!"
Kara Lindsay
Our crew plays poker almost every single day before the show. Sometimes I take the pile of money in the center of the table just to freak em out for a second. Hehe.
Kara Lindsay
Kyle is our expert napper. When we were at Paper Mill he would nap in the backseat of the van. That backseat makes for a VERY bumpy ride. But Kyle managed to get some shut eye!
Kara Lindsay
Laurie napping on her dressing room floor...
Kara Lindsay
Jess napping on stage with ear buds in and a foot up his back? I guess when you are jumping around and dancing for 2 and half hours, THIS is comfortable.
Kara Lindsay
Wandering up to the boys dressing room to say hello and I see this? Sometimes the older men in our cast get jealous of the attention that our Newsies get.
Kara Lindsay
Evan proves that he is strong enough to take all the "Oldsies" at once! No, this is not fake, he is really supporting all his weight sideways on a pole. WHAT?!
Kara Lindsay
Andy, our diligent student, does homework between shows to get that A+ report card!
Kara Lindsay
CAUGHT! No, Thayne, that is Julie's birthday cake....you have to wait. "But just one taste of frosting?"
Kara Lindsay
Jack attempts to do my pin curls for me. "Yeah good job, Jack!" (I'll fix it later)
Kara Lindsay
The birthday girl!!! Julie Foldesi! Whenever there is a birthday in the cast, we celebrate at half hour with cake and candles and LOUD singing! That's how we show the love.
Kara Lindsay
Steven, our conductor this evening, and Mark, our music director, striking a very musician-like pose. Those are piano fingers!
Kara Lindsay
Getting into character before the places call. Yeah, they look like Newsies to me!
Kara Lindsay
When Jeremy came on for his final bow, the exuberance with which he entered brought him quickly to the floor in a "sliding into home base" type fashion. How did that feel Jeremy?! He's a good sport:)
Kara Lindsay
Capathia and I say "peace out" to our lovely dressing room. This two-show day is done!
Kara Lindsay
Jeremy Jordan signing autographs after the show. Look at those little faces! So adorable!
Kara Lindsay
Finally on the train back to Jackson Heights with my Kevin. Attempting to keep our eyes open for the journey home. What a fun day! Night night, Playbill!
The cast features Jeremy Jordan (Bonnie & Clyde) as Jack Kelly, John Dossett (2003 revival of Gypsy) as Joseph Pulitzer, Kara Lindsay (Little House on the Prairie) as Katherine Plumber, Capathia Jenkins (The Civil War; The Look of Love; Caroline, or Change; and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me) as Medda, Ben Fankhauser (Spring Awakening national tour) as Davey, Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Mary Poppins) as Crutchie and Lewis Grosso (Mary Poppins) and Matthew Schechter (Elf) alternating the role of Les. (Jordan, Dossett, Lindsay, Fankhauser and Keenan-Bolger are all reprising the roles they created in the Paper Mill Playhouse production last fall.)
The ensemble of Newsies comprises Aaron J. Albano, Mark Aldrich, Tommy Bracco, John E. Brady, Ryan Breslin, Kevin Carolan, Caitlyn Caughell, Kyle Coffman, Mike Faist, Michael Fatica, Julie Foldesi, Garett Hawe, Thayne Jasperson, Evan Kasprzak, Jess Le Protto, Stuart Marland, Andy Richardson, Jack Scott, Ryan Steele, Brendon Stimson, Nick Sullivan, Ephraim Sykes, Laurie Veldheer, Alex Wong and Stuart Zagnit. Newsies features a score by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sister Act, Leap of Faith) and Jack Feldman and a book by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy). The musical, produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, is directed by Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun (Big River revival) and choreographed by Tony nominee Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific revival).
The production also features musical supervision/incidental music and vocal arrangements by Michael Kosarin, musical direction and dance music arrangements by Mark Hummel, music coordination by John Miller, orchestrations by Danny Troob, scenic design by Tobin Ost, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting design by Jeff Croiter and projection design by Sven Ortel.
Rounding out the creative team are sound designer Ken Travis, hair and wig designer Charles G. LaPointe and fight director J. Allen Suddeth. Thomas J. Gates serves as production stage manager; Eduardo Castro is production manager.
Beginning two-and-a-half hours before every performance, patrons are invited to enter the ticket lottery; winners will be drawn two hours before each performance. Winners may then purchase up to two $30 cash-only tickets to that day's performance. Winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing. The lottery will be offered before every performance.
The Nederlander Theatre box office (208 West 41st Street) is open Monday through Saturday 10 AM-8 PM and Sunday 11 AM-7 PM. Tickets are also available for purchase through NewsiesTheMusical.com or by calling Ticketmaster’s Disney on Broadway hotline at (866) 870-2717. Tickets are also on sale to groups of 15 or more by calling (800) 439-9000 or visiting www.disneytheatricalsales.com/newsies.
For more information visit NewsiesTheMusical.com, Facebook.com/Newsies and Twitter.com/Newsies.
