Boys & Girls Club Kids Get Lesson About 'Newsies'
DENVER (CBS4) - Some cast members of the Broadway musical "Newsies" held a workshop for kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver this week. The message of the lesson was be active, live healthy and look for ways to make a difference in the world.
About 20 children from the Boys and Girls Clubs' Shopneck Club filed into a rehearsal studio at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The club members were joined by Lauren Whitney and three ensemble cast members from the travelling Broadway musical.
"I really like taking the kids out of the technology and just have them really focus on each other," said Andrew Wilson, the actor who led the workshop.
The group got right to work learning fun choreography and songs from "Newsies." They talked about making healthy choices while eating and exercising, but the cast members also stressed the main message of the musical, which is that working together can spur change.
"It was so fun, and I got to learn new things, and it was just so fun," said 11-year-old Alicia Reese. "I learned not to be on my phone so much and to eat more fruits and vegetables."
"Did you ever think of dance and being in a show as a way of exercising?" Whitney asked one of the participants.
"No ... not until now," replied 14-year-old Louis Ray.
After the hour-long workshop, the club members got tickets to see the show. For many of them it was their first time seeing a Broadway musical.
"They get to see their first Broadway show, do you remember what it was like to see your first Broadway show?" Whitney asked Wilson.
"Oh absolutely. Mine was 'Oklahoma' on Broadway. Totally inspired me," Wilson replied.
The cast of "Newsies" hopes the musical and the message will inspire these children to live healthy, meaningful lives.
"Newsies" plays through April 9 at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for Performing Arts. For tickets, go to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts website or call 800.641.1222.
Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.
