‘Newsies!’ to Be Performed By Local Children in Boro
Photos
Neighborhood children from Point Pleasant are putting on a backyard rendition of “Newsies!” this weekend. The cast includes the daughters of the play’s producer, Elizabeth Tiroly — Celeste [from left], 10, Isabel, 8, and Maggie, 11. Mrs. Tiroly volunteers her time over the summer to put the play together with 15 children from the neighborhood. Photo courtesy ELIZABETH TIROLY
POINT PELASANT — A summer camp, run by resident Elizabeth Tiroly out of her home, will hold a backyard performance of “Newsies!” for all who wish to attend next weekend.
“Newsies!” is a play about how orphans in New York City united to tell the story of the 1899 newsboy strike. The boys went on strike after the price of newspapers was raised.
Mrs. Tiroly, who has been babysitting children for seven years, has four daughters of her own: Maggie, 11, Celeste, 10, Isabel, 8, and Sheena, 5.
Mrs. Tiroly decided to start putting on backyard plays a few years ago when she was unable to send all of her children to take theater classes.
“None of them are trained,” she explained, but all had an interest in acting — so they decided to put on a show of their own.
“My daughters love to sing, and we did ‘Wicked’ and ‘Wizard of Oz,’ and they just wanted to sing all of those songs and those kids just joined in,” she said.
The summer camp consists of Mrs. Tiroly’s four daughters and four local children she babysits. There are also another six children that come to her house throughout the summer months just to be in the play.
“They love it,” Mrs. Tiroly said. “They love hanging out with the other kids and they just all mix and play well. They all just love being together and performing.”
Mrs. Tiroly said she generally holds practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but most of the time is spent in the kitchen or playing in the yard instead of on the stage.
“We spent more time in the pool and kitchen, but the whole time they’re here, they’re inundated,” Mrs. Tiroly said. “Theses songs are long. It’s a lot of words for them to learn, but I always have the music on. We watched the movies in the beginning, but I stopped them from that so that they could have their own ideas of what they wanted to do and how they wanted to do it.”
Mrs. Tiroly orders sound equipment and tries to keep the play as professional as possible.
“We make it as professional as we can with the stage [and] set up,” she said. “We get a professional sound system so that they each have their own wireless headsets. We have play bills and we sell snacks and drinks like a normal play. We have a curtain drop and a set change, and we rent costumes.
“They have 10 numbers, there’s a couple of solos. They’re all 12 and under and they do a great job,” she added.
The play is free of charge for both the children and anyone who wishes to see it.
Mrs. Tiroly’s mother-in-law, Nancy Tiroly, said Mrs. Tiroly does all of this from the bottom of her heart.
“It’s just wonderful. The kids have gotten so much enjoyment and confidence — last year was ‘Godspell,’ and now ‘Newsies,’” Mrs. Nancy Tiroly said. “She [Elizabeth] puts so much of herself and her heart into it and it’s great for the kids to have someone care about them so much all summer long.”
Mrs. Tiroly said her family came up from West Virginia this year and in years past to see the play. She also invited neighbors, friends and teachers from the Point Pleasant Borough School District to attend.
The summer camp put on two shows this past weekend and will hold two more this upcoming weekend.
This weekend, show times will be Saturday, Sept. 8, at 4 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m.
The play will be held in Mrs. Tiroly’s backyard, located at 1516 Beaver Dam Road.
The total show time is approximately two hours and 15 minutes with intermissions.
Space is limited, so to reserve a seat or find out more information, contact Mrs. Tiroly at 732-899-2521 or Tiroly@comcast.net.
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