"Newsies" [Theater program]

Abstract

The musical NEWSIES is loosely based on actual historical events. In 1898, in response to skyrocketing sales due to the Spanish American War, newspapers throughout the US raised the wholesale price of their papers. In other words, the price for newspaper sellers (newsies) was raised from 50 cents for 100 papers to 60 cents for 100 papers. The newsies didn’t mind, though, because they sold the papers for 1 cent each and, with such a popular topic as the war, and multiple daily editions to sell, they were making money. •Eventually, the war ended and most papers slowly reduced their wholesale price back to the original % cent per paper. However, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer kept the prices of their papers (The NY Morning Journal and NY World, respectively) where they were. So, on July 19, 1899, the newsies in Manhattan went on strike. The strike quickly spread through NYC and beyond. •On July 24 the newsies hosted a rally at New Irving Hall and, though the hall only held 2000, there were 5000 newsies there that night, overflowing into the streets. (From Program) ==== [Note: Newsies is a 1992 American historical musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by choreographer Kenny Ortega (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay written by the writing team of Bob Tzudiker and Noni White, Featuring twelve original songs by Alan Menken with lyrics by Jack Feldman and an underscore by J. A. C. Redford. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsies]