Ever heard of the musical, Newsies, starring the legendary Jeremy Jordan, soon to be replaced by the young hopeful, Corey Cott? Well, let's just say that I'm a pretty big fan. OK, a huge fan. Though I would be lying if I said I was the biggest fan. If I was the biggest fan, I would have already seen it...so you may call me hypocritical for talking like this if I haven't even seen this musical, but here's the proof.
1. NEWSIES was nominated for 8 Tonys.
2. NEWSIES won two tonys.
3. NEWSIES is inspirational.
I love Newsies because the music is awesome, I love theater, the singers are authentic (I'm completely against autotune and voice coaters, because what's the point of being a singer if they are no good really?) and mostly because the musical and lyrics are so inspirational.
Child labor makes me really sad. I know that if you are reading this, you probably have never witnessed child labor. I haven't. In America at least. In India, where I was just a few days ago, it's everywhere. And you see it. Everywhere. In fact, I bought a paper from a newsie in India just last week. For three rupees, the equivalent of about six cents. Perhaps the same cost that the newsies back in 1899 were payed for a paper. Perhaps the old American newsies were payed less.
Indians have a strangely sensible idea of how to stop child labor, but I don't believe it actually works. Indians believe that if they ignore child laborers and do not buy their papers or products, the child laborers will not make any money, and will go to school, and the government will pay for the education. The truth is, if they can't make money, they'll starve. And I'm pretty sure that these kids would rather eat and be uneducated than be educated and hungry. And who can study on an empty stomach? I know I can't.
All in all, I think Newsies is an inspirational story. And it is applicable today. For even if perhaps child labor is diminishing in the USA, it is still growing, flourishing even, in many developing countries. Perhaps, Newsies can be an inspiration to these countries too.
Srujana
1. NEWSIES was nominated for 8 Tonys.
2. NEWSIES won two tonys.
3. NEWSIES is inspirational.
I love Newsies because the music is awesome, I love theater, the singers are authentic (I'm completely against autotune and voice coaters, because what's the point of being a singer if they are no good really?) and mostly because the musical and lyrics are so inspirational.
Child labor makes me really sad. I know that if you are reading this, you probably have never witnessed child labor. I haven't. In America at least. In India, where I was just a few days ago, it's everywhere. And you see it. Everywhere. In fact, I bought a paper from a newsie in India just last week. For three rupees, the equivalent of about six cents. Perhaps the same cost that the newsies back in 1899 were payed for a paper. Perhaps the old American newsies were payed less.
Indians have a strangely sensible idea of how to stop child labor, but I don't believe it actually works. Indians believe that if they ignore child laborers and do not buy their papers or products, the child laborers will not make any money, and will go to school, and the government will pay for the education. The truth is, if they can't make money, they'll starve. And I'm pretty sure that these kids would rather eat and be uneducated than be educated and hungry. And who can study on an empty stomach? I know I can't.
All in all, I think Newsies is an inspirational story. And it is applicable today. For even if perhaps child labor is diminishing in the USA, it is still growing, flourishing even, in many developing countries. Perhaps, Newsies can be an inspiration to these countries too.
Srujana
