Lincoln Park Performing Arts school has done it again! With live theater making its return to Broadway, the performing arts school is once again hosting its own shows. This month the school staged a fantastic rendition of Disney’s stirring Broadway hit “Newsies”.

The production ran the weekends of October 8 and October 15. The production’s music was written by noted composer Alan Menken with lyrics by Jack Feldman based on the original 1992 Disney movie musical of the same name.

In Lincoln Park’s rendition of the show, the leading actor was junior Cameron Tino who portrayed strike leader Jack Kelly. The leading actress, Grace Baker, in her first role in a Lincoln Park production, played a fabulous rendition of the role Katherine Pulitzer. Senior Adam Stater played the role of Davey, the brains behind the newsies’ strike.

The cast, consisting primarily of high schoolers, was also enhanced by several professional performers such as AP music teacher Erich Lascek, who portrayed the main antagonist Joseph Pulitzer.

While art in every form can be moving, there’s something about seeing a live theater production that is especially stirring.

As Beaver Area senior Grace Jessel said, “It kind of blew my mind. I kept having to remind myself that it wasn't recorded, that everything was happening in front of me in real time. Live theater has always been one of my favorite things, but I hadn't realized how much I missed seeing it.”

Many members of the community come together to watch Lincoln Park’s performances and this month was no exception. The show certainly drew in the crowds, with a nearly full mezzanine and balcony opening weekend.

The performing arts school will certainly be busy this coming year. This production marked the start of Lincoln Park's nine-show season. The season runs until the end of July 2022.

The next show on the list is another Disney production: “Descendants: The Musical” opens November 12.

December will feature two Christmas-themed musicals. “All Is Calm”, a story set during Christmas in World War I, will play for the first three weeks of the month. For the weekend of December 9, The Nutcracker (fast becoming a local holiday tradition) will play alongside the aforementioned production.

There will be no shows during January, but the shows will return in February with “Pride and Prejudice.” March will feature a two-day only performance of “Swing!”.

There is a surprise bonus musical running during the last weekend in April and first weekend in May. The show will be announced closer to the time of the performance.

The season will conclude this summer with “Carousel” being featured in June and “Memphis: The Musical” at the end of July.