Music Theatre Wichita to present original production of ‘Newsies’

Music Theatre Wichita is one of several regional theaters selected to create new productions of “Newsies” in 2017, the company announced Monday.

Music Theatre Wichita will do its own version of the musical inspired by the newsboy strike of 1899, as it has with other Disney titles including “High School Musical,” “Mary Poppins” and “My Son Pinocchio” last summer.

MTW doesn’t usually announce any of its next season’s shows until its current season is over, but Disney Theatrical made the announcement on Monday, when it also announced the closing date of the tour of its Broadway production of “Newsies.”

MTW’s 2016 season begins June 15 with “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” The North American tour of “Newsies” will end on Oct. 2 in Austin.

It’s not certain when Wichita’s production of “Newsies” will run, development director Angela Cassette said. It’s the first show to be confirmed for 2017, she said.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 6:32 AM with the headline "Music Theatre Wichita to present original production of ‘Newsies’."