Broadway talent guides Aspen High School Conservatory in Disney’s ‘Newsies’ 

Theatre Aspen’s Education High School Summer Musical Conservatory fuses exceptional talent with a thought-provoking tale in Disney’s “Newsies.” 

Stephen Christopher Anthony will direct its student production of “Newsies” — his first time both in Aspen and directing at this scale.

“Come see these unbelievable performers,” Anthony said. “Whether you know someone in the production or not, you will be blown away.”

Theatre Aspen’s students will perform Disney’s “Newsies” at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at Aspen’s District Theater.

The production consists of two dozen actors from seventh grade to high school seniors, all of whom auditioned to be part of the show. Many are locals and some of the cast are visiting the area during their summer vacation.

Professional choreographer and Breckenridge native Kiana Holmes, who upon garnering the position announced on Instagram, “Dreams come true, yeah they do!!!”

First produced in 1992, Disney’s “Newsies” is a historical musical loosely based on the true story of New York’s 1899 newsboy strike.

When the publisher of a large newspaper decides to set new rules to make it hard for young newspaper salesmen to make a buck, the boys go on strike. 

A sympathetic journalist gives the boys some tips, and the entertaining musical aims to capture the strength that young people have when they join together and stand up against injustice. The musical is based on the book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.

Rising actor and upcoming senior Khalil Khan-Farooqi will play the musical’s lead, “Jack ‘Cowboy’ Kelly.” In real life newsboy Kid Blink was the inspiration for the role. Recent graduate, Colby Vanderaa plays the role of a female journalist assisting the newsies. 

“It’s a show about kids coming together and discovering their power,” Anthony said. “It’s been pretty incredible to work on it with twenty kids for whom that same thing is happening. They’ve blown me away every day.”

Anthony, best known for his lead role in “Dear Evan Hansen,” says he’s long dreamed of directing. 

“I’ve always felt supported as an actor, but at heart, I love to take care of others,” he said. “And that’s how directing feels to me — it’s an act of service.”

When Anthony first moved to New York to join “The Book of Mormon” as an understudy for Elder McKinley, “Newsies” was also the hot ticket on Broadway. Many of Anthony’s original theater friends had worked on both shows. 

In a full-circle moment, original Broadway “Newsies” cast members Ben Fankhauser and Ryan Breslin have been willing to hop on Zoom and mentor this summer’s Aspen cast with a few of their experiences.

The talented Anthony, who already played the lead actor in “Dear Evan Hansen” in a North American Tour, will be directing a future production of the play in Miami. Then, he will be back directing Theatre Aspen’s cabaret, “Come Together” (singing all the best hits from the Beatles) during the 2025 Summer Cabaret series at the Prospect at Hotel Jerome, Aug. 10.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Aspen District Theatre is located at 199 High School Rd. Visit theatreaspen.org/newsies or call the box office at (970) 300-4474 for tickets and more information.