Newsies at RBC! 

The final Wednesday of every session has many traditions, most notably spirit dinner and spirit fire. But before we get there, Rockbrook thespians participate in the most exciting camp tradition of all, the play! Campers who elect to participate rehearse for only one hour a day, and by the end of the session have a full musical production ready to perform. It is a feat of scheduling and dedication, not only for the campers who spend fourth period rehearsing, but also for the counselors who direct, choreograph, and manage the show. It is a massive group effort to get everything ready for curtain! 

This year, campers tell the story based on the real newspaper strikes of the early 1900s, but that many today would know better by the Disney film or Broadway musical. Led by a young Jack Kelly, the newsies of New York demand fair wages from Joseph Pulitzer. The intrepid young reporter, Katherine, shows them the power that media can have in swaying public opinion and forcing Pulitzer’s hand. The newsies learn that they don’t just sell news, they make it! Through this story, the campers have gotten in touch with their positive rebellious streak, learning songs like Seize The Day, Carrying the Banner, and King of New York. 

Although the costumes, lighting, and scenic design are not exactly what you’d find on Broadway, we transform our own Rockbrook gym to the streets of NYC with the help of some signs, suspenders, and suspension of disbelief. Campers who do theatre at home may be shocked at how much they’re able to accomplish and fun they’re able to have, even with far less stage tech and rehearsal time than they’re used to. Since we perform without microphones, and rainy afternoons are commonplace in our tin-roofed gym, rule number 1 of the Rockbrook play is to be LOUD and proud! More important than hitting all the right notes, or even saying all the right words, is making sure you do it with confidence and project! 

Singing, dancing, and skits are all hallmarks of camp life, so it only makes sense that we would have so many talented campers ready to step into the roles. The play is open to everyone, and there is no role too small. During intermission, campers who have taken dance throughout their time at RBC get to show what they’ve been working on in the dance show. Even the counselors get a chance to strut their stuff in the “counselor dance” – a camp play tradition where for one song, the counselors emerge from their seats in the audience to fill in as ensemble dancers, often to the delight of their campers.

This story of camaraderie, collective action, and finding your power has been a great connection point for our cast, and even those not in the play are often recruited to help run lines with cabin mates, or end up humming the catchy tunes they overhear. Bravo to the cast of Newsies, and be on the lookout for links to our video recordings!

— Alyssa Calloway