THE LOOP — Despite single-digit temperatures, this flock of mostly teenage girls was determined to "seize the day."
Or at least snap a photo with their favorite dancing newsboys.
"Newsies," a musical based on the New York newsboys strike of 1899, has drawn sold-out crowds to the Oriental Theatre during its Chicago run — and crowds in the alley behind the venue as so-called "fansies" wait for the show's actors.
To quote "Seize the Day," one of "Newsies" more popular songs, "Wrongs will be righted if we're united!"
In the alley, dozens of fans snap photos of themselves with the stars, pictures that populate Facebook and Twitter (#newsies and #fansies) and reveal a unique bond between the predominantly female audience and the mostly young, male performers.
One fan tweeted a photo of herself with a cast member declaring "Life is complete!" Another tweeted "Highlight of 2014 #kissedbynewsies."
Cast members, lithe dancers mostly in their teens and early 20s, reciprocate: "I have the coolest job on the planet," tweeted Chaz Wolcott, who plays the character Buttons.
Out back of the Oriental, at 24 W. Randolph St, after a matinee on New Year's Eve, was Brenda Bass, a Chicagoan who studies theater at Lindenwood University–Belleville. She said her dancing experience helped her appreciate the cast's skill on the stage — though that wasn't all she appreciated.
"Newsies," Bass observed, has "hot guys who sing and dance," adding, "It's different than every show."
The theater presentation has built a loyal following. Though a movie version of "Newsies" starring a young Christian Bale flopped at the box office in 1992, it evolved into a cult classic as young people, particularly girls, watched it at home on VHS, DVD and on demand.
Disney adapted "Newsies" for live performance after high schools sought stage versions to present in student productions. After opening in a suburban New York City playhouse in 2011 for what was expected to be a limited run, the story of young men who sing and dance their way to better working conditions during the height of 19th century yellow journalism moved to Broadway. It became a Tony Award-winning smash and hit the road on a national tour, including the Chicago stop.
Audrey Hare, of Aurora, and her mother, Deb, who has seen the show twice in New York, said she was delighted with the Chicago show Wednesday. Waiting for the stars, she said 17-year-old "Newsies" star Ben Cook had favorited her tweet to him.
Liz Halsey traveled from Holland, Mich., and made patches for her favorite actors, including one adorned with "attaboy," a nod to star Dan DeLuca's Instagram catchphrase.
The original movie may have been panned by critics, but the story sends a message that youth can create positive change. That resonated with Chicago fansie Caitlyn Greenspan.
"It takes a lot to get kids involved in theater," she said. "The show says you're a kid, but you can change the world."
"Newsies" wraps up its Chicago run with a 2 p.m. show Sunday at the Oriental.
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