“No one will want the show to end”: Moya Angela on Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park

Hit Broadway musical Newsies is coming to the West End with a few more surprises up its sleeve in a newly reimagined production. Initially a Disney film that centred around the story of the Newsboy Strike of New York in 1899, the original Broadway production at first planned for 100 performances. It became such a huge hit, the show ended up playing over 1000 performances and claimed a couple of Tony awards in its blazing trail. This new West End production is led by Oliver Award nominee Matt Cole as director and choreographer.

Newsies follows Jack Kelly, a young paperboy who rallies his band of fellow newsies against Joseph Pulitzer, a newspaper magnate who has hiked up the prices of the paper the boys are selling. The story is about solidarity, falling in love, exploitation of the publishing industry, and issues surrounding young immigrants. The Upcoming caught up with Moya Angela (The Lion King, Dreamgirls) who plays Medda Larkin, to talk about her research into the strike and immigration, her favourite Alan Menken songs and the move from performing in Broadway to the West End.

First of all, for those unfamiliar with the Newsies musical, can you give us a quick rundown of what it’s about and the character you will be playing?

Newsies is set in 1890s New York. It’s about children who work for a big newspaper, selling papers on the street. The paper decides to charge them more for selling the paper and the children are not having it. They stand together and strike against the paper. I play Medda Larkin, a wealthy theatre owner, who is a kind of family figure to the leader of the young ones, Jack Kelly.

What is it about Newsies that initially made you want to be part of this production? How did you come across it and what was the audition process like for you?

Definitely the dancing! I have always been obsessed with it, although I’m no dancer. For me, it was not about auditioning rather than if I wanted to play the role – and I definitely did.

How much research did you guys do on the actual strike in New York City in preparation for this production, and what in particular about that event do you think is so interesting?

On the first few days of rehearsals, all we did was dig deep into the newsboys of New York and immigrant history. It was so eye-opening and informative for moving forward with rehearsing. I think what was so interesting to me was how young those kids were and their home conditions; to be so strong and to stand up for themselves at that age with all that was on their backs.

The initial Broadway production was planned to have 100 performances, and it ended up being a hit and claiming a couple of Tony Awards. Is it daunting to step into this musical knowing how much weight its legacy carries?

Not at all! Because we are doing it 100% justice – I can assure you. Matt Cole, our director/choreographer, is holding back absolutely nothing.

And what about this particular production of Newsies sets it apart from its Broadway predecessor?

We have a few surprises and tricks up our sleeves. You will have to wait and see! But trust me, it will stand out and no one will want this show to close either.

You’ve had your fair share of big performances from The Lion King on Broadway to playing Effie White in Dreamgirls at the West End. Why the switch from Broadway to the West End, and is there a big difference in performing between the two?

The only difference for me, personally, is London is an easier city for me to manage. Here in London, I’m able to do all I love in one city, from voiceovers to songwriting, and, to top it off, there is the West End. At home, all of that was in a different state – hard to create stability. I love living in London; it’s a special city.

Which roles or productions would you really love to tackle somewhere in the near future?

For me, I’ve already played my dream role in Dreamgirls. But I have more than one dream. Celie in The Color Purple is a role I’ve had my eye on for a while.

We know the music is by Alan Menken. He’s a bit of a legend in the musical sphere – what are some of your favourite works by him?

Little Shop of Horrors has some of my favourite Alan Menken songs in it. As far as arrangements go, I love songs from The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well.

Do you have any fun stories or anecdotes to share about what goes on behind the scenes and in rehearsals for Newsies?

We are a silly group of young and old and we get along so well! We tell jokes and are silly most of the time. There is a lot of dancing so there is a lot of time to watch all the talent come together. We are in tech so we have very delirious moments. But, all in all, we are quite close as a cast.

Mae Trumata

Newsies is on at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from 29^th November 2022 until 16^th April 2023. For further information or to book visit here.

Read our review here.