Article by Greg Jaklewicz

Photos Courtesy of Wylie Theater Department

Going to the Show?

What: “Newsies,” historical musical drama based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
When: 7 p.m. Thursday–Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Wylie ISD Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10 online at wylietheatre.org

Back to the Headlines

These days, many “newspaper” readers get the news on their electronic device.
But back in the day …

The Wylie High School theater department is taking audiences back in time—126 years, to be exact—and to the streets of New York City for the musical Newsies.

The story is based on the newsboy strike that year, when those hawking newspapers in the city were being charged a higher purchase rate (they bought the newspapers, then relied on sales to make a profit). Already forking out a high rate, they had enough and banded together to force change through protest.

This was the era of newspaper giants—William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, in this story. When Pulitzer died in 1917, his will designated funds to honor journalists each year. Those awards were named the Pulitzer Prize, still given today.

But for this story, we go to the streets, where Jack Kelly organizes a strike. Brothers David and Les Jacobs become allies, particularly David.

A Big Stage and Bigger Dreams

The Paramount Theatre in 2019 presented Newsies, based on the 1992 Disney movie starring Christian Bale as Jack, as its summer show.

It’s an ambitious production requiring a large set and cast. More than 60 WHS students are in the show, directed by Wylie theater alum (2016) and fifth-year fine arts teacher Maddie Jones, who also serves as music director.

Peyton Bourland (Wylie, 2017), who teaches fourth-grade reading at Wylie West Intermediate, is overseeing the choreography-heavy show. She and Jones were in high school together, both learning under Christopher Shoemake, director of theater.

“It’s definitely ambitious. We feel the weight of that,” Jones said. “But this is the right group to push there. Since their freshman year … we have been building to this.”

Newsies will be performed four times, beginning Thursday and including a Sunday matinee. It will feature an orchestra composed of student and professional musicians.

That in itself has been a learning element for the actors, who have worked with audio for three months but only in the final week did the show with live music.

“The kids are so, so excited about it,” Jones said. “I feel like there is something for every age group. There is the historical aspect. There is the social justice aspect. It’s a really important story that needs to be told. It’s such a universal story of the underdog.

“It’s also beautiful and timeless.”

Right Students, Right Show

Newsies has been a show Wylie has considered but needed the right group of students to pull off.

“It’s a dream show, for sure,” Jones said. “When you have the right group for a show, it clicks. This is a show that Peyton and I have been wanting to do, and this group of upperclassmen is so strong. We have a huge group of young guys who are strong vocalists, we have strong female dancers, we have tappers … we have the perfect combination of personalities for the show.

“It’s really great when you have kids who can play multiple roles. It was tough to cast.”

Ashtyn Kershner won the role of Jack, while Reece Harvey is Katherine Plumber, a reporter who becomes an advocate for the newsies—and Jack’s love interest. Both are seniors.

Harvey said the show is ambitious but the students have been taught the skills it requires.

“It might be ambitious but we are completely capable of pulling it off,” she said. “I feel I’m completely ready and I’ve been helped in every area that I needed.

“I think the show is looking great.”

Jones said one goal was to encourage students to own their part personally, not simply imitate.

“It’s so iconic, but we don’t want them to replicate the Broadway show. We want to make it their own,” she said. “We want them to bring their own ideas, not just watch a recording.”

The students are learning to differentiate ages, too, she said.

Dancing Through the Story

Bourland, who is in her sixth year as choreographer for the fall musical, said her challenge has been to teach students with little to no dance background to take on this show.

“They’re coming from a theater background, so you have to work to those abilities,” she said.

Since rehearsals began before school started, Bourland has held two to three dance rehearsals a week.

“Could be two hours, could be three hours,” she said. “They have been working really, really hard. They are going to make it look good.”

The long hours are needed because, Bourland said, most of the show is singing and dancing. The storyline flows through that.

“The kids, the way they express their emotions through the dances and use their bodies tells the story,” she said. “It really keeps the show going. You really feel that you are a part of something wonderful.”

Some numbers require a select group, she said, “but overall, the majority of the kids are in every single number, which is awesome.”

Bourland, on the other hand, has been dancing since she was 5.

“I am still doing what I love,” she said. “I get to teach the younger children, which I really love, but then I get to dance with the older kids.”

A Stage Beyond Imagination

Jones said performing a big show like Newsies in the PAC, which opened after she graduated, is “beyond anything I could’ve imagined in high school, for sure. I try to tell the kids, ‘You don't know how blessed we are with the facility, support from admin, with the budget that we’re given for a set like this. It’s pretty remarkable.

“Yeah, beyond anything we could’ve imagined back in the cafeteria days.”

Wylie once rehearsed where students ate lunch, then performed off campus.

Jack—but Not Jill

Ashtyn Kershner treasures his role.

“When you think of theater, you think of Newsies and you think of Jack Kelly. This is every guy’s dream role, when you think about it,” Kershner said. “He serves as a leader to the newsies and he serves as an older brother figure. He personifies this idea of hope for people who feel like there’s no hope in this world and their city. He’s there to show … that I am not going to be pushed around and I am not going to be bullied.”

Is Kershner Jack Kelly in real life?

“That’s my goal,” he said, smiling.

Harvey already has attained a goal. She was named homecoming queen just a few weeks ago.

She said her stage strength is singing and acting.

“I don’t do dance classes outside of school but I’ve done every area of theater.”

Kershner has been involved in theater since fourth grade. That’s the same story for Harvey.

“In fact, she was in the very first show I did, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was Charlie and she was the candy man,” he said. It was a show by Mrs. Z’s Performing Arts Studio.

Kershner recalled surprising his parents with a desire to be on stage.

“And they were like, ‘Good luck. Go for it. Dude, you do you,’” he said, grinning. “I got the part I wanted and after that, I realized this is my passion. And it’s what I am good at.

“It matches my comfort on stage and my outgoing personality. And my love of people.”

He remained in the Mrs. Z program until turning his attention to Wylie High theater as a sophomore.

Both were in White Christmas last year at WHS. He was Phil, the Danny Kaye role. She was Rita, one of the showgirl sisters.

She also was the female lead in the 2025 one-act production of The Ferryman.

Both plan to continue in theater, eyeing the program at Abilene Christian University. Kershner also is interested in studying business.

“I love people, and I love money,” he said, cracking a smile.

Favorite Moments on Stage

Does he have a Newsies highlight?

“Most Jacks that play this part are most excited for (the song) ‘Santa Fe,’” he said. Jack has ambitions of moving to New Mexico one day. In 1899, that would be a big change from New York City. Still would be today.

“That’s the big end to Act 1,” he said. “I love that moment. It’s really special. But my favorite part is opening the show with ‘Prologue’ with Crutchie.”

Crutchie, key in the newsies’ rebellion, is played by Ryan Trahan.

“He has been one of my best friends for a long, long time, so opening the show with him is very special. It’s how we are in real life. I get to be that big brother, and I get to be that best friend.”

Harvey’s favorite is the song Watch What Happens.

“She is struggling to write her story, and she’s going back and forth on how Jack is so annoying but he is so cute. That part is really fun,” she said. “Switching motives has been fun to do.”

The three-minute song itself is demanding.

“It’s so fast. I had to learn a lot of breath control. There are not many places to find breaths,” she said, laughing.

Harvey is aware that her Wylie theater days are ending, and so will some stage relationships that go back to elementary school.

“It’s bittersweet,” she said.