Zilker Theater Productions presents Newsies

Zilker Theater Productions (ZTP) is celebrating the 63rd year of its free outdoor summer music production in partnership with the City of Austin.

The Broadway hit Disney’s Newsies the Musical will play at the Beverly Sheffield Hillside Theater in Zilker Park, Thursday through Sunday, July 8 through August 13, 2022 at 8:15 p.m.

Today we were joined by LJ Salinas, playing the lead role of Jack Kelly, and David Ponton, the executive director.

Based on the 1992 film, Disney’s Newsies features a score by eight-time Oscar® winners Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by four-time Tony Award® winner Harvey Fierstein.

Newsies is inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, when newsboy Kid Blink led a group of orphaned, runaway “newsies” in a two-week action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other publishers of powerful newspapers.

Timely and fresh, the fictional adaptation of Newsies is full of energy with non-stop thrills, featuring eight new songs in addition to retaining many beloved songs from the film, including “Carrying the Banner”, “Sixteen the Day”, “King of New York” and “Santa Fe”.

LJ SALINAS (Jack Kelly) is beyond thrilled to be part of his dream show here with Zilker Theater Productions! He made his stage debut as Sir Robin in spamlotthen starred as Sky in Mama Mia! as well as Leeward in the ZTPs Disney’s Little Mermaidand was most recently seen as the ever-sparkling Link Larkin in The Musical Hairspray. He wants to thank his family for supporting his constant carpool karaoke, and everyone in his life for their support. Hope this show gives you all something to believe in! HAVE.

DAVID PONTON (Executive Director, Zilker Hillside Productions) David Ponton was recently appointed as the new executive director of ZTP’s management team. David brings extensive musical theater experience to the role, having first appeared on the Zilker Hillside in Crazy of you in 2003. Since then, David has appeared seven times as a performer, co-directing and choreographing hair spray in 2015, and co-choreographed productions of All stirred in 2018 and Little Shop of Horrors in the summer of 2021.

When: July 8 to August 13, 2022 | Thursday–Sunday | 8:15 p.m.

Where: Beverly Sheffield Hillside Theater at Zilker Park | 2206 William Barton Drive | Austin 78704

Tickets: Free, no tickets required, donations are greatly appreciated.