Woodland Christian School presents their spring musical, “Newsies Jr,” set to be performed Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the WCS Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available at the door for $10 for students and staff and $15 for general admission.

Based on the real-life 1899 Newsboy Strike, Disney’s “Newsies Jr.” tells the story of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense (“a mere tenth of a penny per paper,” as noted in the show), Kelly and his fellow newsies take action.

With help from reporter Katherine Plumber, the newsies publish their own paper, leading all of New York City to recognize the power of “the little man.” The stage production is based on the 1992 musical film “Newsies.” The film was, interestingly enough, a box office bomb— receiving negative reviews when it was originally released, but it later became a cult favorite on home video. It was adapted into a popular stage musical in 2011.

The historical newsboys’ strike of 1899 was a youth-led strike with the goal of changing how New York publishers Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst compensated the children who sold their newspapers. The newsboys’ demonstrations blocked the Brooklyn Bridge for several days, slowed newspaper distribution and reduced profits. The strike lasted two weeks and was successful in winning increased wages for the newsboys. The newspapers agreed to buy back unsold copies, the cost of which had previously been absorbed by the newsboys.

Lights, microphones, and sound were incorporated into rehearsals for the first time on Monday, according to director Missy Day, who also teaches drama and choir at the school.

Day said rehearsals are going well, “It’s starting to feel like we are almost there,” she said.

The production is more complicated than last year’s musical, Peter Pan Jr. Newsies has a larger cast and a more complicated set, with lots of moving parts.

“There are so many scene changes and props, so the actors have been rehearsing how to stay in character while climbing on scaffolding and throwing around newspapers,” Day said.

Day also praised the cast and their families for the high level of effort they have put into the production.

“They are great leaders and have been very responsible,” she said. “There is a lot of dancing and the kids are doing a good job with it—despite the fact that many of them do not have formal dance training. The students have really stepped up, practicing on their own and helping one another.”

Finding some of the props for a period piece set in 1899 has proved to be a challenging task. Jordan Waldron, a cast member’s parent, loaned the production an authentic early 1900s camera; Carrie Gibbs, another cast parent, found a vintage candlestick telephone; and Jonathan Berke, a friend of the Day family, fixed up an authentic Underwood typewriter for the show.

“We are so grateful for the help of parents and friends, because the show would be impossible without them,” Day said. Finding an authentic printing press proved impossible, so one was constructed from scratch by another cast member’s parent, Justin Gibbs. Many others have donated to the production, as well.”

Day said she looks forward to presenting the show to an audience.

“It’s a fun show and the cast has worked very hard,” she said. “I believe that our Creator gives us His creativity, so being able to display that through the performing arts here at Woodland Christian School is just an amazing way to be able to reflect the beauty of the God we serve.”