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| Kale Burr and cast Photo by Franklin Diaz Photography |
Click here for more information on this production that runs through August 26th.
"For over twenty years, Valley Youth Theatre's main creative trio of Producing Artistic Director Bobb Cooper, Resident Music Supervisor Mark Fearey, and Resident Costume Designer Karol Cooper have continuously presented excellent youth theatre productions in the downtown Phoenix area. VYT's latest production of the crowd-pleasing musical Newsies, which opens their 30th anniversary season and is the premiere Phoenix youth theatre production of this show, is no exception. With a flawless cast, excellent creative elements, and choreography that explodes in moments of sheer delight on the Herberger Theater stage, it is a joyous, energetic and emotionally rich production.....Bobb Cooper has done an amazing job directing this engaging musical with a stellar cast led by Kale Burr, who infuses tons of emotion, strength and charm, along with a powerful singing voice, into the commanding and heroic Jack....As Katherine, Kendra Richards is appropriately spunky and headstrong, with a voice that soars...Burr and Richards create realistic characters that have a fire in their eyes and a strong sense of urgency and justice in their hearts. From a shy, quiet boy with downcast eyes, when we first meet him, to a smart, commanding man, Devon Policci beautifully shows the changes that Davey goes through better than anyone I've seen play this part before...Nathaniel McNamara is hilarious as Davey's wisecracking younger brother Les. As Jack's best friend Crutchie, Riley Thornton makes all the right moves, including interjecting a big dose of humor and emotion, which results in a simply excellent portrayal. ...With a keen sense of humanity beneath his villainess exterior, Jack Walton is superb as Pulitzer. ...Cooper's keen staging adds energy and movement to the already lively production, and his ability to get rich, nuanced performances from his cast, several of whom play older adults with expert ease, is a testament to his exceptional directing abilities....Choreographer Tony Spinoza ensures the large male cast deliver, and deliver well, the requisite kicks, jumps, leaps, flips, pirouettes, and high-flying tap numbers. ...Valley Youth Theatre's production is one of the best youth productions I've ever seen.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
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