After nationwide talent search, ‘Newsies’ cast includes pilot, banker, dancers

'Newsies' brings together a talented cast of triple threats. All photos: 9 Works Theatrical

This July, Disney’s "Newsies" takes the stage for the first time in the Philippines, courtesy of 9 Works Theatrical. The Broadway hit boasts a cast of triple threats, as it entails singing, acting, and heavy amounts of dancing.

In order to do justice to the Tony-award winning musical, the artistic team held a nationwide search on social media, looking for the best dancers, singers, and theater actors to complete the cast. These included dancers with various backgrounds, from ballet danseurs to hiphop crews.

What the musical has ended up with is a cast that runs the gamut of professions, from folk dancer to licensed commercial pilot.

Here’s a look at some of the diverse performers in the cast of "Newsies."

Jourdan Bartolome

It might be Jourdan’s first time on the musical theater stage, but by no means is he an inexperienced dancer. His forte is modern jazz and Philippine folk dance, having been the associate artistic director for the UP Filipinianas, as well as a freelance performer and choreographer for various dance schools.

Jourdan sent in a profile video after seeing a social media post about the auditions, and aced the first day of dance tryouts. When it came to singing, however, Jourdan admits he was a little nervous. “At first, I had no confidence,” he says. “But thanks to Training Ground, my confidence is building up little by little.” Training Ground, Globe Live and 9 Works’ very own professional performing arts boot camp, not only prepared them for the intense dancing, but also the singing, with each cast member spending about two hours every day with a voice and speech coach.

Clark Dela Riva

Clark traces his dancing roots to the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and Whiplash Dance Company, where he danced semi-professionally. Nicknamed “The Dolphin” by his castmates due to his fearless leaps and somersaults, Clark was a fitness instructor before auditioning for Newsies. He says that his experience in street dance and hiphop is his strongest suit, especially when it came to the various hiphop classes for Training Ground.

On the flipside, Clark doesn’t hide his struggle when it comes to ballet, acting or singing, but he says that the Newsies cast has been very supportive of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “Everyone here is doing something for the first time,” he says.

Jan Mayo

While Clark got his groove on the streets, cheerleader Jan instead took to the skies. Former UP Pep Squad member Jan also happens to be a licensed commercial pilot, usually hired to fly small charter flights.

He auditioned for the London production of Miss Saigon earlier this year, but after making it to the final round, received no further callback. On the fence about continuing dance, he sent an audition video for this musical, copying choreography from the "Newsies" performance at the 2012 Tony Awards. Needless to say, his impressive gymnastic talents landed him a spot in the cast. This pilot's aerial time now takes on a different form as one of the best gymnasts and aerial stuntmen in the "Newsies" cast.

Vyen Villanueva

On the other side of the professional ladder is Vyen: corporate banker by day, Newsie by night. A dancer with the Company of Ateneo Dancers in his college years, Vyen wasn’t sure if he was going to continue with his artistic side, after landing a sales job in a prominent bank.

He took a chance upon hearing about "Newsies," filed a leave on audition day, and eventually landed the role of Morris Delancey. Vyen reveals, however, that despite having been cast, he hasn’t quit his day job. “Basically, I work from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day,” he says, adding that his balancing act means he sometimes has to rush back to his office at night, after "Newsies" rehearsals, to continue working.

Erick Arenas

Erick might be the most seasoned dancer in the cast, having dipped his feet in ballet, gymnastics, ballroom, jazz, modern, tap, and many other genres. The eldest in the cast of dancers, Erick’s dancing career has brought him around the world as a performer on a cruise ship.

He might even have left the Philippines for good, as he was making plans to move to London for work, but the "Newsies" audition announcement changed his plans. He admits to being a huge fan of the show, even having seen it live on Broadway. “Ever since [I saw Newsies live in New York], I knew I wanted to do this musical,” he said.

Catch Jourdan, Clark, Jan, Vyen, Erick, and the rest of the cast when "Newsies" opens on July 7 at the Globe Iconic Store, Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater. — BM, GMA News

Tickets are available now on TicketWorld.