Newsies

Act One

New York City, 1899. In the early morning hours, teenage “newsie” Jack Kelly is alone outside the compound where he lives with other homeless and orphaned newsboys. He is joined by his best friend, the disabled Crutchie, and together, they fantasize about leaving dirty, awful New York City for beautiful Santa Fe (“Santa Fe”). The other newsies begin to awaken and prepare for the long day ahead, selling “papes” (newspapers) out on the tough streets of New York (“Carrying the Banner”).

Each day, these young boys gather outside the offices of New York’s most popular newspaper, the World, to purchase a stock of newspapers. They hope that they estimate correctly and buy the number that they will be able to sell over the course of the day. Today, Jack meets two new newsies at the paper stand: Davey Jacobs and his younger brother, Les. They are trying their hands as newsies in order to provide extra support for their family after their father suffered an accident and was left