Page 33 - The Paduan: Winter 2020

Fine Arts NEWS Newsies the Musical - Fall 2019 Production
In November of 2019, Padua Performing Arts mounted a thoroughly entertaining production of Disney’s Newsies the Musical. Directing her 10th fall play at Padua, Rebecca Simna led a company of 35 Bruin cast members, a middle school chorus of “Brooklyn Newsies,” nearly 30 high school crew members (or “Crewsies” as they called themselves), a wealth of talented student and adult orchestra members, and four returning alumni guest stars from Simna’s very first fall show in 2010.
Easily among the most energetic and ambitious fall productions Padua has attempted, the final product was a massive showcase of ingenuity and inter-departmental collaboration, capitalizing on the expertise of over a hundred students, faculty, and staff, each bringing his or her own unique skillset to the table. From the hours of rehearsing, singing, dancing and acting, to the innovative set building, brand new lighting, sound, prop and projection design, and the contributions of several Padua student artists adding to show’s visual splendor -- there’s hardly an aspect of Padua’s community that Newsies didn’t touch.
Spring Musical: AIDA
Padua Performing Arts was well on their way to produce AIDA when schools were closed in March. The performance was scheduled for April but cancelled. Members of the cast and crew contributed to a virtual production, which celebrated the gifts and talents of our students through the spirit of the show.