Something to Believe In → Toursies

01. chapter one

❝strangers are friends you haven't met yet❞

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          Dear Noelle Stevens,
We regret to inform you that you will not be receiving the role of Katherine Plumber/Pulitzer in Newsies on Tour.  Instead, we would like to extend to you the role of Margaret Plumber/Pulitzer (Racetrack's added love interest).  You will begin rehearsals Tuesday, May 1st, and the first show will be held on Wednesday, June 22nd in Boston, Massachusetts.
Thank you for auditioning and best wishes,
Disney

May 1st was, undoubtedly, recorded as the greatest day in Noelle Stevens's life - aside from the day she got the letter.

Now she stood inside the rehearsal building, both familiar and unfamiliar people occupying it. 

A tap on her shoulder made Noelle spin around.

"Hey fellow fansie," Laurel greeted with an excited grin. 

She had just arrived.  The day she got the call, she discovered she'd gotten the role of Katherine after all.  She nearly burst into tears when she got the news.  She had been so set on getting it that when she did it was like everything was finally coming together.  And now here she was, in rehearsals for one of the best shows in the world in one of her most favorite roles to date.  She only hoped Noelle had made out well.

"Oh my Disney!  It's you!" Noelle gasped, a smile spreading across her face.  "Who'd you get?  Wait!  Did you get Katherine?!"

"Yes!" she exclaimed hoisting her tote bag over her shoulder, "and you?"

She adjusted her black shirt-straps absentmindedly.

"I got Margaret Plumber - who I didn't know existed until I got the letter.  She's Racetrack's added love interest.  By the way, do you know who's playing him?" Her green eyes searched the dance studio. 

Laurel tried to track her gaze as she said,

"I'm not exactly sure, but I think he's one of the kids from the Billy Elliot tour." She paused, but quickly added, "Didn't you get a cast list?"

"Maybe I did.  They handed me a bag of stuff but I didn't get the chance to look inside it." 

While people were still filing into the building, Noelle seized the opportunity to look inside the previously mentioned bag - well, suitcase rather.

She motioned Laurel to come follow her.

Laurel eyed the suitcase closely and followed her friend to a nearby bench where they soon seated themselves. 

"It must be in there - I'm pretty sure everybody got one," she assured her as a couple cast members walked by them.

Noelle unzipped the large portable suitcase she was given upon her arrival.  She noticed that almost everyone in that room was hauling one around.

She unzipped the first section and saw a big, white binder (probably her script) and a few papers stapled together.

"Found it," she announced triumphantly.  She pulled it out and read it thoroughly.

"Someone called...Ben Tyler Cook."  A different name caught her attention.  "Hey, you get to be opposite of Corey Cott!"

Laurel leaned in closer, taking a good look at all the black-and-white pictures.  She nodded. 
"Wait--he..." she paused as she thought it through, "he was Jack on Broadway!"

She very nearly yelled this as various nervous, anxious, and excited thoughts swirled within her.

"I'm playing opposite a professional," she whispered aloud.

Before Noelle could give her any form of sympathy or assurance, a tall, graying man walked through the doors.  She instantly recognized him as Jeff Calhoun, the director of Newsies on Tour. 

He raised his hands, everyone's voices suddenly silenced.

"Welcome, everyone!  As you may know, I'm super excited to begin this incredible journey with all of you." 

From there, he proceeded to tell us a bit about the history and writing process of the Broadway Newsies.  Then he introduced some of the staff - including Jack Feldman and Alan Menken.  He also introduced most of the cast.

"When I call your name, please step forward," Jeff instructed with a kind smile.  "Corey Cott as Jack Kelly."

A young, clean-shaven man with dark brown hair stepped out from the gathered line of people.

Multiple people greeted him with warm smiles and some muffled applause.  Laurel smiled and for an instant, caught his gaze.  For only a moment they looked at each other.  She wondered if he'd recognized her from the cast list, because she knew exactly who he was--even without the introduction.  She would have known him anywhere. She blinked suddenly and turned away as Jeff spoke up saying,

"Laurel Scherwin as Katherine Plumber."

She stepped forward, trying to act casual and was met in the same manner.

"Next up," Jeff continued, "we have Ben Cook playing Racetrack."

A handsome, fair-skinned boy with curly, sandy blonde hair stepped forward. 

Noelle instantly noticed his promintent left dimple as he smiled.

"Followed by Noelle Stevens as Margaret Pulizter." 

With nervous hesitation, Noelle stepped out as an enthusiastic applause erupted in the room.

"Ben Fankhauser as David Jacobs," Jeff announced as he stepped up.

Laurel immediately recognized both the name and the face.  It was pretty hard not to, being such a fan of the show.  Her excitement only grew as she realized she'd be performing with these amazing actors. 

The annoucements continued as both recongnized and new people stepped out of line, each receiving a wild applause. 

However, during all of that, Noelle couldn't refrain herself from stealing occasional glances at Ben.  Each time she scolded herself, warning that the next time she'd definitely be caught.  But she wasn't...until, she was.

They locked eyes for only a second, but it was enough to scare Noelle from ever doing it again.

Laurel, who had seen this happening, had been doing her share of observing...Corey Cott.  Luckily he never caught her.  She couldn't help looking at him.  Something about his eyes, she thought, so kind and welcoming, speckled with dark greens and browns.  But she was soon forced to take her attention off of him when Jeff anounced the names of the background characters and their actors--the dancers, mostly. 

They crowded the circle making it hard to see anyone on the outside.  She couldn't even see Noelle anymore.