From production to performance, the show was a huge success.
Preparations began well before Christmas. Logic Stage (Grades 6 to 8) students began auditioning for roles in Newsies Jr. in early December. Callbacks took place before the break, and all students who auditioned participated in the musical—whether in a lead role, a minor character, an ensemble member, or as part of the amazing backstage crew. Approximately 50 students were involved in the musical on the day of the performance, either backstage or on stage.
The annual Logic musical is a testament to the dedication and work ethic of our students. “The musical is an enormous commitment, and it is inspiring to see how many of our 13- and 14-year-olds give their time and talents to make it happen,” said Mr. Trenton O’Neil, music teacher and director of the production. During tech week, the student team rehearsed for 16 hours—on top of their schoolwork, homework, sports, and other activities.
They had great examples of diligence and dedication from the adults and student assistants involved in the show. Mr. O’Neil served as the director, while Mara McDonald was the student assistant director. Mrs. Rachel McDonald led the choreography with assistance from Mrs. Rita Smith and student dance captains Emily Graham (‘28) and Audrey Fairchild (‘26). Mrs. Danielle Baalman acted as the stage manager and volunteer coordinator, and Ms. Anne Patterson designed the costumes with help from Mrs. June Trent. Several parents also volunteered their time to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Mr. O’Neil provided insight into what goes into preparing for this production and how the musical is chosen. He said, “We decided to go with Newsies Jr. for this year’s musical because we knew we had the talent necessary to produce a show with such high-caliber acting, singing, and dancing.”
Mr. O’Neil intentionally designed the set to resemble the original Broadway production. Newsies Jr. featured many scene changes, requiring the set to be highly versatile and mobile to convey different locations. Mrs. McDonald added the care and effort that went into inspiration and research, which included “viewing the broadway musical, the movie production, and so on” she said.
When asked about highlights, Mrs. McDonald, shared that “there were many beautiful moments along the way, but a few stand out in my memory. Seeing Mary Morgan (‘29) and Becca Minter (‘30) belt out Watch What Happens as Katherine for the first time on stage gave me chills. I also enjoyed witnessing the joy and excitement of some of the boy Newsies receiving permission to perform their leapfrog trick in Seize the Day. The beautiful, soft voices of Danny Shreck (‘29) and Joe Morgan (‘29) as Davey, singing Seize the Day, Part 1, were truly moving.” We say: “Encore!”
