Billy Elliot the Forum

CJ-Rochester wrote:This is too cool! The cast of NEWSIES on Tour made a surprise appearance at an LA movie theater full of fans who were watching the 1992 movie, and treated them to a live version of "King of New York".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkraT1REjcg

A cast standout is Benjamin Cook as Race. Cook separates himself from the rest with a signature high-pitched and spunky voice, and he continues to define his character with a cigar always in-hand, or rather mouth, and absolutely impeccable dancing. He makes his turn at the end of ‘Seize the Day’ look like child’s play, smirking at the end as if the audience doesn’t know the difficulty level of what appears to be a walk in the park for a dancer like Cook. But his real spotlight moment lasts probably less than a second, towards the end of the tap number in ‘King of New York,’ he flaps his foot so fast it might as well be a cartoon onstage instead of a human.

CJ-Rochester wrote:The Newsies tour is currently in Boston, where it received this excellent review.

The flashy dance numbers and Disney songs make for a great piece of entertainment, but the finesse of the dancing and powerful story of brotherhood is what makes this show not just a piece of entertainment – but a piece of art.