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A Small Stage, Remarkable Talent: Newsies Shines in Jonesborough
Jonesborough Repertory Theatre’s production brings together strong acting, impressive voices, and choreography that makes every inch of the stage count.
An invitation from a friend brought me to Newsies. The talent onstage gave me a reason to write about it.
Mandee Langley invited me to see the production at Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, where she and her son, Charleston, are performing. Charleston, whom I know as one of the hosts of Kidversations, plays Les, the younger brother of Davey. Mandee appears as a nun and a community woman. That personal connection made attending especially meaningful. But my appreciation for the production quickly extended to the entire company.
Without giving away the story, Newsies follows young newspaper sellers in New York City who find the courage to stand together against unfair treatment.
It is a musical about friendship, dignity, and discovering the strength of a shared voice. Those themes give the show its heart, while its songs and demanding dance numbers give the performers plenty of opportunities to shine.
And Shine They Do
What impressed me most was the range of talent within this cast. These are strong actors who are also excellent singers, and many are remarkable tap dancers. A musical like Newsies asks performers to move between dialogue, song, and physically demanding choreography. Seeing those skills come together so effectively was one of the pleasures of the evening.
It was also a pleasure to see Charleston in a different setting. I know him through his work on Kidversations, so watching him take on Les added a personal dimension to the experience. Seeing Mandee onstage alongside him made the invitation even more special.
Yet perhaps the production’s most impressive achievement was its use of space.
The theater and stage are small, and Newsies frequently brings a large group of performers together. That combination could easily make a production feel crowded. Here, the choreography was so carefully arranged that the limited space never became a distraction. The performers had room to move, the group numbers remained engaging, and the stage accommodated far more activity than its size might suggest.
That deserves recognition. Choreography involves much more than creating individual steps. It requires an understanding of how bodies move together, how formations change, and how the audience follows the action. This production demonstrated that understanding.
It also left me with a thought I could not shake: these artists — and Jonesborough itself — deserve a larger theater and stage.
That is a reflection of how highly I regard their work. The company accomplishes an impressive amount in its current home. Watching this production, I found myself imagining what the same talent could achieve with more room for movement, staging, and audiences. The quality is already there. I would love to see the space grow to match it.
As a filmmaker and the owner of 353 Studios, I also saw possibilities beyond the theater. I would welcome a conversation about partnering on professionally produced video versions of suitable shows, including potential commercial distribution where filming and distribution rights are available. Productions of this quality make me want to explore ways of bringing local theatrical talent to a wider audience.
For now, the opportunity is to experience that talent in person.
I went to Newsies to support people I knew. I left with admiration for an entire company — and a stronger belief in what live theater can contribute to our community.
Disney’s Newsies runs October 16–November 1, 2026, at Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. Visit jonesboroughtheatre.com for performance and ticket information.
Written by: Wallace Moura
Newsies in the Spotlight
A glimpse of the talent, energy, and choreography that bring Jonesborough Repertory Theatre’s production to life.
Photography by Wallace Moura | 353 Studios
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