Jeremy Jordan Is "Not Just A Pretty Face"

Newsies, Disney’s new stage adaptation of their 1992 live-action movie musical, is an utter delight. It may not be great art, but it’s certainly great entertainment. Since opening last fall at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Newsies has won over skeptics with its grit, enthusiasm and cast of talented young performers giving their all to audiences. Now that it’s opened to raves on Broadway, it’s quickly becoming a phenomenon. Directed with ingenious style by Jeff Calhoun and boasting athletic choreography by Christopher Gattelli, Newsies’ stage incarnation owes most of its success to two ingredients: a streamlined book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, and a sensational performance by Broadway’s new heartthrob, Jeremy Jordan, as “newsie” ringleader Jack Kelly, who heads an insurrection against magnate Joseph Pulitzer when he raises the distribution price of newspapers.

Fierstein’s book almost solves the problems of the film, which resulted in a critical and financial debacle for Disney. Starring a fresh-faced Christian Bale as Kelly and a crazed Robert Duvall as Pulitzer, director Kenny Ortega’s film version remains a jaw-dropping disaster despite a handful of tuneful songs by Alan Menken (music) and Jack Feldman (lyrics) that have been retained and supplemented in the stage adaptation. Joining popular songs “Seize the Day,” “King of New York” and “Santa Fe” are new songs “Watch What Happens,” for Kelly’s new love interest, Katherine (who just happens to be Pulitzer’s daughter), and “Something to Believe In.” Befitting an old-fashioned musical, which is what Newsies aspires to and achieves, the score is richly melodic and filled with rousing anthems that enrich the timeless story of the underdogs taking on the power brokers.

The handsome Jordan is an undeniable star who holds the stage with charisma, intelligence and sex appeal. He’s a terrific actor who manages the difficult task of actually making the New Yawk dialect in Newsies sound authentic, and has a beautiful lyric tenor voice that makes Menken’s melodies soar. He’s not just another pretty face with a personal trainer—though he certainly has both those assets, too. Fortunately, Jordan is surrounded by a strong supporting cast that includes the lovely and feisty Kara Lindsay as Katherine, Ben Fankhauser as Davey, Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Crutchie and seasoned pro John Dossett as Pulitzer. Additionally, as at Paper Mill, the male ensemble of dancers outdoes itself with Gattelli’s thrilling dancing, led once again by breathtaking dance captain Ryan Steele, whose split-leaps and dazzling extension are worth the price of admission all by themselves.


Source: Next magazine