Newsies, Newsies--Read All about It! - by Emily Hamilton-Honey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Newsies has been a self-perpetuating cultural phenomenon for over three decades. Initially a box office flop, the 1992 film musical became a cult classic and created a legendary fandom. Members of that same fandom were instrumental in making the 2012 Broadway show a smash hit; the stage production ran for over 1,000 performances and won two Tony awards, had a two-year North American tour, and was filmed for Netflix. A successful second production was mounted in the 2022-23 season in London's West End.

Now, in the first ever collection of scholarly writing about Newsies, voices from across academia and fandom come together to consider why this beloved property means so much to so many, and how it continues to inspire and light the civic imaginations of people all around the world.

Review Quotes

"In the first ever collection of scholarly writing about Newsies, voices from across academia and fandom come together to consider why this beloved property means so much to so many, and how it continues to inspire and light the civic imaginations of people all around the world."--Broadway World

"Newsies, Newsies is remarkable both for the depth of its scholarship and the sheer variety of it. Deftly navigating between a range of topics and methodologies--film studies, fashion studies, fandom, and so much more--the volume provides the most comprehensive and nuanced examination of the Newsies franchise to date, leaving absolutely no critical stone unturned. This collection is an essential addition to the growing field of Disney Studies and solidifies Newsies' place as among the most important, enduring, and challenging texts ever produced by the House of Mouse."--Jennessa Hester, Texas Tech University, senior managing editor of Iron Horse Literary Review

"It should go without saying that this interdisciplinary exploration of the cultural phenomenon that is Newsies proves essential for its immense fandom. But, maybe even more importantly, it shows the necessity and possibilities of public-facing scholarship. Bringing together astute analysis of the original Disney film and its Broadway adaptation, the collection interrogates these cultural texts through the lens of queerness, race, gender, fandom, disability, American history, and workers' rights, among others, and does so through engaging, accessible discourse. Newsies, Newsies--Read All About It! truly epitomizes the phrase 'labor of love' through these essays by authors who are both academics and Newsies aficionados. A tremendous achievement."--Paige Gray, professor, Savannah College of Art and Design, author of Cub Reporters: American Children's Literature and Journalism in the Golden Age

"This book is an exciting addition to the scholarship on Newsies, as it brings together scholars from various disciplines to discuss the impact of Newsies, its themes, history, and position within popular culture. It is also a refreshing departure from many academic works as it includes the work of non-academic fans, placing their insights in conversation with the academy, broadening the scope and impact of the text. While there is a great deal of enthusiastic, positive fandom in the volume, it doesn't shy away from criticism, including tackling the ways in which Newsies engages with disability and race. Perhaps most exciting is the quantitative analysis of the Newsies fandom, which offers great insight for fandom scholars across mediums. Overall, this book is an exciting contribution to multiple fields, including Musical Theatre Studies, Disney Studies, and Popular Culture Studies. It's also an engaging text and an excellent read for anyone interested in the phenomenon that is Disney's Newsies!"--Amy Osatinski, associate professor of theatre history, Oklahoma City University

About the Author

Emily Hamilton-Honey is an associate professor of English and gender studies and co-chief diversity officer at SUNY Canton, specializing in series fiction, girlhood studies, and postbellum and Progressive Era American women's literature and history. She lives in Canton, New York.