Read all about it: Wyoming resident part of Civic Theatre’s ‘Newsies’ cast

Wyoming resident Cullen Dyk is in the current Grand Rapids Civic Theatre production of Disney’s *Newsies*. (Photo by studio3twenty)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

When the cast list was announced for Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of Disney’s Newsies, Wyoming resident Cullen Dyk admitted he was “shocked” to see his name on it.

“My dance callback was not the greatest,” he said with a laugh. “I am not classically trained in any way.”

Hmmm, really? That is a fun fact since Dyk’s most recent production was Civic’s “Mamma Mia!,” a show also known for its dancing. Dyk played Sky.

So given that Dyk is pursuing voice acting, we’ll just say it is his voice that landed him the roll of Darcy and a Newsies ensemble member, which he said “works for me.”

Disney’s Newsies, which runs May 31 — June 23, is based the 1992 cult film of the same name that told the story of the newsboy strike of 1899. The musical follows the story of Jack Kelly, a New York paperboy with dreams of a bright future in Santa Fe. His struggles are complicated with a raise in distribution prices forcing him to sell more papers. He decides to take a stand against publishing titan Joseph Pulitzer, but can he rally the other newsies to do the same and will anyone listen?

Dyk is certainly tap dancing, both literally and figuratively, through the Grand Rapids Civic production as a number of characters.

“I’m a newise. I am a person buying a paper from one of the newsies. I am one of the opposing newsies. I am the person helping them get into the printing press at the end,” Dyk said as he listed off his various roles in the show. “In one scene, I am a couple of different people so there are a lot of costume changes and craziness.”

It is the craziness that Dyk said he would not miss.

“’Newsies was the first professional Broadway show I had ever seen,” Dyk said. Dyk had seen the show when Broadway Grand Rapids brought it in as part of its 2015-2016 season and immediately fell in love with it.

High stepping it: Some of the Newsies cast members show off their moves during a photo shot at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Photo by studio3twenty)

“The dancing is amazing but it was the message that got me,” Dyk said. “It is how a group of young folks chose to be the change that inspired me, something that we are seeing today.

“They went against the big guys to make life better for everyone.”

It was the message that had Dyk sign up for auditions earlier this year and, well, the rest is already in print. And while Dyk admits he can’t do some of the dance movies that some of hist cast mates do — “These guys are incredible. They can do these crazy gymnastic choreography. It is just amazing” — he is holding his own.

“I love the song ‘King of New York,’” Dyk said. “There is a lot of tap dancing and it is all of us out there dancing, tapping, and having fun.”

Full of an array of songs including “Once and For All” and “Change the World” both of which carry that message of “be the change,” Disney’s Newsies is a high energy show.
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Bottomline: “If you like Disney musicals, this is a live action Disney movie on stage,” Dyk said.

Disney’s Newsies is May 31 — June 23 at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. Tickets for the show are $17 — $39. Tickets have been selling quickly for the show. For tickets, visit www.grct.org or call 616-222-6650.