The Beverly Arts Center is set to host a panel discussion on the role of journalism following its Saturday performance of “Disney’s Newsies.” The event, titled “Power of the Press,” will take place after the 3 p.m. show and aims to connect themes from the musical with contemporary issues in media.
“Newsies,” which debuted on Broadway in 2012 and was based on the 1992 film, centers on the newsboys’ strike of 1899. The story highlights how young workers organized for better conditions against major newspaper publishers like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. The local production, directed by Melody DeRogatis, runs Thursday through Sunday at the arts center.
The post-show panel will be moderated by Tracy Baim, executive director of Press Forward Chicago at the Chicago Community Trust. Panelists include DeRogatis, Malik Jackson from South Side Weekly, Jen Sabella from Block Club Chicago, and Kelly White from Southwest Regional Publishing. They plan to discuss journalism’s evolution and its relevance today.
“The idea is to take some of the themes of ‘Newsies’ — a show about youth activism and using the power of the press to make change — [and discuss] how we can do that today,” said Kara Ryan, assistant artistic director at the Beverly Arts Center.
Matt McKinney, artistic director at the center, explained that while “Disney’s Newsies” offers lively entertainment, organizers wanted to ensure its message remained clear. “This is a really energetic and entertaining show, but we didn’t want the message to get lost. It is a powerful message for today about using the collective voice to get your story out and to be heard,” McKinney said.
He added that relating current events to those depicted in “Newsies” could help audiences understand journalism’s ongoing importance. “It’s an important time to relate to the story of ‘Newsies’ and to what the newsies were doing, as far as holding a strike to make sure that their voice could get out there and shine light on what was unjustly being done to them,” he said.
McKinney noted that this production fits into a broader season theme: “make them hear you.” He explained: “We have chosen to do stories about America, specifically, often told from the point of view of those marginalized in our society from a historical background. The panel is a way to really talk about that theme we are holding with our other productions.”
Earlier in its season, Beverly Arts Center staged productions such as “The Crucible” in September and “The Mountaintop” in January; it plans another show, “Ragtime,” for August.
Tickets for “Disney’s Newsies” are priced at $50 for general admission and $45 for members. More details are available on Beverly Arts Center’s website.
