CONCEPT: Carrying the Banner (A Newsies Welcome Show)
Lilly Concept by Lilly
Itʼs 8:55am on Main Street USA. The park opens at 9:00. Hundreds of excited guests are streaming through the turnstiles, hustling through the arches and town square, until they meet a rope draped across main street just before from the Emporium, keeping them from the excitement of the park for just five more minutes.
A couple of Newsies have wandered out of the Emporium and other nearby buildings, just getting ready for a day of selling “papes.” Some of them are just tucking their shirt in, one is just drying his face with a towel, others are arranging their newspapers getting ready to sell them.
They have the demeanor you would expect from a Newsie, pushing each other around, cracking jokes, talking about the girl they met last night. They donʼt acknowledge their audience just yet. At about 8:55 one of them sings “Try Bottle Alley or the harbor,” another Newsie adds, “Try Central Park itʼs guaranteed,” and the song continues. There are only three lookalikes in this show from the Disney film. One is Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, and he sings his own lines from the film. Eventually the Newsies bring in the audience and interact with them during the number. In the appropriate place in the song (we cut the part with the nuns), the Delancey brothers, Oscar and Morris, enter. These are the only other two lookalikes from the film. One of the Newsies states “Dear me! What is that unpleasant aroma? I fear the sewers may have backed up during the night,” and the scene continues up until Jack says “That's right. It's an insult. So's this!” Instead of knocking the hat of Morrisʼ head, he steals it and a choreographed fight scene/keep the hat from the Delancey brothers/Jack hiding from the Delancey brothers proceeds as the Newsies continue to sing around this scene up until the end of the song.
As the Newsies finish the musical number the Newsies then explain to the crowd how the rope drop will work. They form a line of Newsies in the front and then walk the guests to each land, mingling and interacting with them as they go. When they get to each land, various cast members take over and lead the guests to the most popular attractions. The Newsies stick around Main Street and sell papes.
The best part is that the papers the Newsies have are actual papers filled with never before seen articles about the Walt Disney Company. Essentially, they are collectors items and the Newsies actually sell them for whatever they can get. The Newsies donʼt advertise the papers for what they are, they just sell like Newsies would sell, but they only place you can get one is from a Newsie.
After the morning set, Jack and maybe the Delancy Brothers will continue to do sets throughout the day on Main Street, continuing to sell papers and to interact with each other and the guests.
Concept, Entertainment, Main Street U.S.A
Reader Comments (23)
Really fun show idea. I am more of a ride guy but I'm annoyed by poorly written shows and always enjoy a well performed, non cheezy quality show.
Excellent idea.
Seriously, even if a large number of guests don't know the movie, the show will be good, they'll get the idea no problem and will probably want to buy the dvd.
Love this idea. Love Newies and think revisiting the show would be a big hit in Walt Disney World and Disneyland. People loved Newies when it came out. I think that this can be the interactive experience that main street needs, where guests can not only watch the show, but then interact with the Newies on main street as they frequent shops and see the sites. I really hope that this show can be done in the streets and amongst the guests, rather than on a stage where they removed from the energy of the crowd. The best part is the papers that they are going to sell, what an innovative idea! I can't wait to see it materialize.
I might move to Florida for this one. I'd at least make a pilgrimage in honor of my favorite movie! ;-) This idea makes my Newsies-loving heart so very warm & fuzzy.
PLEASE DO THIS! I'll make a trip to see it every summer!!!!
This is the ONLY way you would ever convince me to visit Disney. Just reading this made me want to cry with emotions I am not entirely sure of. Love. Please happen, concept.
Oh my god, an amazing idea. If I knew this was going to happen, I'd head off to Orlando right now.
I would fly to Orlando for this one. I love this idea. LOVE IT. How much fun! How creative! Definitely has my vote of confidence.
Great idea, Lilly Belle. Very well thought out. Let's hear more of your ideas!
Wonderful idea!!
omgsh!! this would be amazing! I would looove to go and see something like this!! honestly it would make the experiance at disney even better!
YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best. idea. ever!
I absolutely love this idea!!! I would definitely come to see it!! It would introduce people to this great movie.
This would be pretty much amazing, and should be done at Disneyland too!
I think this is a great idea...but with the setting (New York) it might fit in better at the Studios! I think it would be a great fit there!
That's a BRILLIANT idea! Disney needs to do more rides/shows based off of movies that were both critical and financial flops! How about a Black Cauldron ride? Or a Treasure Planet show? A Home On The Range ride would also be a great idea! Good work fellas!
Haha Bobo, I see what you mean, but hey, Splash Mountain is a great attraction and makes people want to see Song of the South. Plus, even though Newsies bombed the box offices, the film has developed a strong following since it was released. When it finally made its DVD debut in January 2002, it was in a full-blown Collector's Edition, which remains unrivaled by any other DVD release of a live action Disney film from the '90s. So cut me a little slack! lol.
Courtney: I do agree that it is a little out of place on Main street, but I feel it would be more out of place in the Hollywood setting of Studios. It could probably go somewhere in the backlot area, but then it wouldn't be a rope drop show, but that would be okay. Then they could sell "papes" in that area. Hmmm. I'll have to think about that a little more. Good comment.
Aren't ALL Disney DVD's (Well, the second releases) "Collector Editions"? And we all know why we got "Song Of The South" characters in Splash Mountain and it had nothing to do with the popularity of that movie.
Newsies was a Collector's Edition on it's FIRST DVD release and was only released on DVD after its huge fan base petitioned to have it on DVD. It's DVD sales were one of the highest grossing in the 90's and has a large and dedicated cult following. Check out fanfiction.net
http://www.fanfiction.net/movie/#
On the filters on the top, click "Sort by popularity." Its's number 5 in fans. It's beats out Ghostbusters, Planet of the Apes, the Godfather, Goonies, the Matrix, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones....even Superman. Sorry friend, but this movie has a lot of nerdy followers.
Point is, even if it wasn't popular (which it is), it can still be good show, just like Splash Mountain is a good attraction even though nobody has seen the film (because it's banned) and all the animatronics were just taken from America Sings. If you only do things because they are popular, you are going to end up with a bunch of crappy High School Musical and Hanna Montana Shows. That's how the executives think. I personally wouldn't advise going down that road.
I don't care for High School Musical, but it makes Disney money, Newsies does not. I also wouldn't use a horrible little fan fiction site to judge a product's popularity.
But right now Newsies has had a huge resurgence due to the regional popularity of the musical at Papermill Playhouse and it's even going to Broadway in March because of popular demand, albeit a limited run. Yes, the did some major work on it to make it stage ready, but the reception was outstanding. If they were ever going to do something like this the time is now.
Apparently, you've got somebody's ear. (Hopefully, they take a look at your Matterhorn complex while they`re at it)
http://www.mouseplanet.com/9936/Disneyland_Resort_Update#news1