Making headlines! The Grand Theatre High School Project presents Disney's Newsies
Applications for the 2025 student company are now open through FEB 18.
The Grand Theatre High School Project Production of
Disney’s
NEWSIES
A Musical based on the Disney Film
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Based on the Disney Film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions
Directed by Ray Hogg
On the Spriet Stage
September 17 to 27, 2025
Opening Night: September 19
Title Sponsor: Western Fair District
Program Sponsors: Thames Valley District School Board & London District Catholic School Board
January 27, 2025 – London, ON – Stop the presses and get ready to carry your banner! The Grand Theatre is proud to announce that Disney’s Newsies will be the 2025 Grand Theatre High School Project. Applications to be part of the student company (in cast, production teams, or orchestra) are now open through February 18, 2025.
On the heels of a record-smashing application year for the 27-year-old program, the High School Project returns providing London and area high school students with education and training in the working environment of a professional theatre, at no cost to the participants. From September 17 through 27, 2025, the Spriet Stage will transform into the bustling streets of turn-of-the-century New York City, and London’s talented teens will be the ones donning the tweed newsboy caps (as members of the cast), creating and running various production elements that bring the show to life (on its production teams), as well as playing instruments in the live orchestra.
"The Grand Theatre High School Project is a 27-year-long tradition that the Grand is immensely proud of,” says Grand Theatre Artistic Director, Rachel Peake. “Selecting a show like Newsies for the 2025 production means vibrant dance sequences, the sights and sounds of the Gilded Age in New York City, and a moving true story of young people standing up for change and fighting for justice. I am excited to see what these students, under the exceptional leadership of Director Ray Hogg, will make of the experience.”
Adapted from the 1992 Disney film of the same name (starring Christian Bale), and based on the true story of the newsboy’s strike of 1899, Newsies follows the journey of Jack Kelly, a bold and determined young leader, and his band of street-smart newsies as they hustle to make a living selling papers in the bustling streets of New York. But when greedy publishing giants raise distribution costs at the newsies’ expense, it’s up to Jack and his pals to strike for what’s right.
The Grand welcomes back Ray Hogg (Controlled Damage, 2023) as the director of Newsies. With 30 years’ experience as a director, theatre artist, and choreographer, Hogg is well-known in Canadian theatre, not least as the past Artistic Director of The Musical Stage Company, Canada's largest not-for-profit musical theatre company. Also part of the 2025 creative team and taking on the show’s iconic movement and dance sequences, is Choreographer Krista Leis. More creative team names are to be announced in the coming weeks.
“Newsies is a story about young people coming together, claiming their space and claiming their rights, in the face of an uncaring capitalist,” says Director Ray Hogg. “It's a story about community - a group of people who have each other's backs, and slowly over the course of the play, realize the power of the collective.”
The Grand Theatre is seeking students to make up the show’s cast, various production roles, and students to play alongside professional musicians in the show’s orchestra. Students interested in production roles may apply to work in one of several areas, including stage management, props, wardrobe, scenic art, orchestra, sound, lighting, and marketing. The program has historically created opportunities for up to 80 student participants.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The Grand Theatre invites London and area high school students to apply for the 2025 Grand Theatre High School Project. The project is open to any high school student from the London region who will be enrolled in high school in the fall of 2025 or participating in homeschooling.
Like all Grand Theatre High School Project productions, Newsies will endeavour to bring a new and unique voice to this well-known story.
For more information on how to apply to be part of the 2025 Grand Theatre High School Project, visit www.grandtheatre.com/high-school-project. Applications will close at 9:00 a.m. on February 18, 2025, interested students are encouraged to apply now!
Grand Theatre High School Project (HSP)
An acclaimed mentorship program unique in North America, the HSP began in 1998 with West Side Story. Since then, the Grand Theatre has produced 37 High School Projects.
The HSP offers an exceptional opportunity for students to receive education and training in the working environment of a professional theatre, at no cost to the participants. High school students from the London area are mentored by professional artists and coaches in all departments (performance, stage management, props, wardrobe, scenic art, orchestra, sound, lighting, and marketing), culminating in a production on the Grand's Spriet Stage. The initiative provides leadership, creative skills, and communication aptitude that serve these students on and off stage - in every area of their lives.
A true testament to the strength of the program, and the promise of London’s youth, a number of generous London organizations have already come forward to support the 27th year of the project. The Grand Theatre gratefully acknowledges Title Sponsor, Western Fair District, and Program Sponsors Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board.
Tickets for the Grand Theatre High School Project production of Disney’s Newsies will be available for subscriber pre-sale following the launch of the not-yet-announced 2025/26 Season, and to the public in summer of 2025.
To learn more about the Grand Theatre High School Project, visit: grandtheatre.com/high-school-project . Additional facts, photos, and updates can also be found by following @thegrandlondon and #GrandNewsies or #GrandHSP on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok
The Grand Theatre is located on the traditional territories of the Original storytellers and caretakers of this land and the Nations, both settler and Indigenous, who continue to uphold the various treaties of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Lunaapéewak. We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations, and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (colonially known as North America), and acknowledge the traditional lands upon which we live, work, share, and tell stories together.
About the Grand Theatre – World Curious. London Made.
The Grand Theatre is known for world-class theatre created and built in London, Ontario. As southwestern Ontario’s premiere producing theatre and one of the most beautiful theatre spaces in Canada, the company has deep ties to the community and to its artists, artisans, and technicians.
As a vibrant cultural hub and not-for-profit professional theatre, the Grand serves to gather, inspire, and entertain audiences in London and beyond. At our home in downtown London, we create productions on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the Auburn Developments Stage (144 seats). The Grand season of theatrical offerings runs from September to May, and we collaborate with companies and artists across the country through our co-productions that see London-made artistic and creative work travel to audiences nation-wide. Through our successful New Play Development Program, the Grand is committed to developing and premiering new, original works and supporting the growth and reach of theatre writers and creators. Our recently renovated venue offers a contemporary and welcoming environment that is also home to several successful music series’, community arts rentals, and cultural and special events.
A cornerstone of the organization is our place as a teaching theatre, exemplified in our many mentorship programs and highlighted in our annual Grand Theatre High School Project. As the first program of its kind in the country and currently in its twenty-sixth year, the High School Project involves as many as one hundred high school participants annually from schools across the region. These students participate at no cost and take on roles both on stage and off, in a fully realized mainstage production under the direction of a professional creative team.
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For more information, and interviews, please contact:
Maria Siabato, PR and Communications Specialist
msiabato [at] grandtheatre.com (msiabato[at]grandtheatre[dot]com)
519-672-9030 ext. 266
