Middle School Musicals Return

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Twenty-five Middle School kids take the Trinity community by storm!

Trinity’s last Middle School musical took place in spring 2019, so the students in Newsies Jr. really were a new generation of performers. The last time a Middle School musical was seen on the Trinity stage, these students were in the third and fourth grades, and many of this year’s Middle School performers were inspired by last year’s Upper School production of Beauty and the Beast. They were all-in with their commitment to learning choreography, singing many songs, and creating fantastic characters that were heartwarming and fun to watch!

The return of the Middle School musical to Trinity brought so much delight, as these students sang and danced their way through Newsies Jr. In this musical, which is set in 1899, powerful newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises prices at the newsboys’ expense. The charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies and working children from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions, and together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what’s right. The changes they make have a rippling impact upon future generations, and the same can be said for this cast of performers, as the students built skills they will use in future productions.

In the newsies’ story, we see the power in uniting and serving a common purpose. Like the newsies, these students were united in their focus to produce the best show possible. They tackled choreography (a LOT of choreography!) and learned complicated harmonies, and they worked to bring their characters to life in an authentic and entertaining way. It takes a lot of work to make something look effortless and fun onstage, but these students were committed to the process. The result was an entertaining but touching musical about the power of young people and hope for a brighter future. When asked about his experience in Newsies, Ethan Johnson, who played strike leader Jack Kelly, said, “I feel like performing this script brought us closer together. If there’s a problem that comes up, I know I can count on my friends to have my back. We can tackle anything together.”

Middle School Language Arts and Bible teacher Elizabeth Jacobs remarked, “I loved seeing students on the stage, sure of themselves and so clearly having fun. And all the parents, faculty, and friends there to cheer them on—I think this was the Trinity community at its best.” As the newsies took the stage, sold their papers, and inspired the next generation of performers, the words they sang rang true: “Tomorrow they’ll see what we are / and sure as a star / we ain’t come this far to lose!”

CARRIE SIPPY, our Middle and Upper School Theatre teacher, is in her eighth year at Trinity. While she is normally behind the scenes of Trinity’s productions, she loves the opportunity to stretch her performing muscles and has been seen locally in shows such as The Lightning Thief, Into the Woods, and The Little Mermaid. When not in rehearsals, she can be found cross-stitching, baking, or hosting game nights.