Newsies!

Although it was wonderful to spend time with my dear friend, Sarno, as well as visit with my aunt and uncle over the weekend, the real reason for the trip to New York City was to see Newsies on Broadway.  This was a moment I had waited my whole life for.... or at least my last 20 years.

I remember seeing the movie when it first came out in 1992.   We were the only ones in the theater at the Latham Circle Mall.  I was so in love with the rousing songs, the male voices in harmony, the impressive dance numbers, that I remember attempting a jump/split/twirl on my way out and probably falling on the ground (of course it was a beautiful pirouette in my memory, but that most likely wasn't the case).

I remember waiting for it to come out on video and being the first ones to request it from Pete's Video in downtown Berlin.  We recorded a copy, of course, and watched it over and over, trying to memorize the songs and copy some of the dance moves.  That summer we made three-year-old David wear a newsboy cap and pretend he was selling papes.  I was hopelessly devoted to Spot Conlon from Brooklyn and my cousin, Jenna, and I would argue over who was going to marry him. 

I remember buying the soundtrack on cassette tape and listening to it as I fell asleep.  I was too tired to get up to fast forward through the boring instrumental songs, so I learned to enjoy those too.  And since I couldn't sing along with those, I could easily fall asleep during "Rooftop," which plays when Jack is romancing David's sister in the movie.

I remember Lynn giving me the Newsies DVD 15 years later as a gift for being in her wedding party.  She knew of my deep devotion to the movie, but I'm not sure she knew there was a sing-along version on the DVD and that it would drive Spike insane.  With my age and wisdom I now realize that it might not be the best. movie. ever. like I used to think, but that doesn't make me love it any less.

Seeing it on Broadway was everything I had hoped it would be and more.  The dancing was amazing, the fact that the lead character could actually sing helped a lot, and although the new songs meant I couldn't sing along, they still caused goosebumps and tears of joy.  My mother took me for my 32nd birthday, but during the show I was definitely that 12-year-old who pirouetted her way out of the movie theater.