D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre is kicking off its season at Shea’s 710 Theatre with a jubilant production of Disney’s Newsies.

If you were a fan of the original 1992 film or saw the Broadway or touring production, you know what a treat the Alan Menken/Jack Feldman score is with Harvey Fierstein’s book. Team Kavinoky assembled a stellar ensemble cast and smartly put the show on 710’s stage for maximum impact. This production is a joy.

Here’s the backstory: teens (mostly boys but some girls, too) sold newspapers on the streets of New York and other cities in 1899. When the two biggest publishers wanted to raise prices, the newsies staged a strike, engaged other youth workers for support, and eventually agreed to a compromise that benefited their overall economic well-being. The broad brush strokes of the musical are authentic and some of the characters are inspired by actual newsies of the day, too. And when history gets the full on Disney treatment, the fun begins!

Eric Deeb Weaver directed and choreographed an exuberant, energetic cast that’s a mix of some familiar names with a good mix of emerging new-to-our-stages actors, too. Glen Chitty as the ringleader Jack Kelly is NY-tough with a sweetness in his voice when he sings about moving to the fresh air in “Santa Fe.” Matthew Rittler is a hoot as Crutchie, as is Kris Bartolomeo as Specs. The one newsie girl is Buttons and Melanie Kaisen is a scene-stealing spitfire. She commands your attention in the ensemble pieces and then is center stage for some awesome tap dancing in act II. Look for Sean Ryan dancing with the newsies, too, and then sliding into dress clothes as one of Joseph Pulitzer’s (a stern-faced Steve Copps) minions. Heather Casseri uses her high belt to the max as Katherine Plumber, the cub reporter who helps break the story of the newsies’ plight.

You can’t help but be on their side when the ensemble is ready to “Seize the Day” and you feel their passion for social justice in “The World Will Know.” It’s all just so darn good. The backstage team makes the raggamuffins and the wealthy look great in point-perfect costumes (Kari Drozd) with hair/makeup with just enough smudges and rags (Susan Drozd). Primo Thomas’ minimalist set did the trick. Diane Jones’ props were well-detailed and perfect: (love the use of Royal Albert Old Country Roses tea cup as Pulitzer’s shaving cup. Oh the excesses of the rich!)

This is one of those “break into song” musicals that some may disdain but I will always love. Yes, it’s good to suspend reality for a couple hours. Newsies is a great start to the season for Kavinoky.

Disney’s Newsies runs a little more than two hours with a 15-minute intermission until September 29. Read all about it and snag your tickets at sheas.org and hop on over to kavinokytheatre.com to learn more about the rest of the Kav season.