Months of rehearsing are coming to an end, as latest musical, Newsies, prepares to hit the stage.

The musical, adapted from the 1992 movie of the same name, opens Jan. 23 in the Lakeside Resort鈥檚 East Ballroom, for a total of five performances, including a matinee on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Director Lynne Leydier says this is the first time she has brought a Disney musical to Penticton.

鈥凄颈蝉苍别测鈥檚 Newsies was a movie in the 1990s with a young Christian Bale,鈥� said Leydier.

鈥淚 just love the show. When I saw the show I thought, 鈥榓udiences are going to love this.鈥�

Leydier said Soundstage鈥檚 history stretches back some 20 years, starting with review shows.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time, starting as review shows,鈥� said Leydier. 鈥淥ur first really big show is probably West Side Story, which was in 2012.鈥�

Soundstage has also tried their hand at many major productions: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd and more, including last year鈥檚 show, Secret Garden.

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鈥淚 like to try different types of shows, bring the audience different types of things. I just want them to trust they鈥檙e going to get a good product,鈥� said Laydier. 鈥淵ou might like some better than others but still, you鈥檙e going to get an experience 鈥� going to the theatre and seeing shows you would probably never see unless you went to New York.

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鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to bring back that level of theatre here.鈥�

Newsies tells the story of the real-life newsboys鈥� strike of 1899 in New York City, with a side plot following the budding relationship between Jake Kelly (Josh Richardson) and reporter Katherine Plumber (Tianna Ferlizza). The Soundstage production demands a lot of the actors: singing and energetic dancing, fight scenes and helping adjust the flexible stage set up, which incorporates scaffolding.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like cardio. It鈥檚 a lot of work. It鈥檚 very active and that will come out and the audience will appreciate that,鈥� said Nathan Heiberg, who plays the part of Davey in the production.

鈥淚t takes a lot of rehearsal to build the stamina,鈥� said Ashley Surowski, who plays the part of Medda Larkin. She added that for rehearsals of the Broadway production, actors are said to have practiced their songs while on a treadmill.

Surowski said it鈥檚 a privilege to be taking on a role in the production, which played for 1,004 performances from 2012 to 2014 on Broadway before heading out on tour. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a bit intimidating,鈥� said Heiberg.

鈥淭hey do so well on Broadway and if we can match even half of that in our own way.鈥�

Finding the right cast for an active production like Newsies, Leydier said, is a challenge, but that鈥檚 nothing unusual.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a challenge every year, every show is so unique. That鈥檚 kind of the beauty of what I do because I love theatre. Every show is a new day, and you start from scratch, and they all have their own unique challenges.

鈥淭here is choreography in front of the stage and there is choreography behind the stage. Some people have a lot of costume changes 鈥� we鈥檝e got everything. They get quite an experience,鈥� said Leydier, adding that applies for the lighting, sound and stage crews too. 鈥淓verybody gets pushed. And I think that鈥檚 why from year to year they stick with it. It鈥檚 not like 鈥榮ame old, same old.鈥� Everybody gets, in their areas, challenged and I think people like that. I think people want to keep learning.鈥�

The show is choreographed by Eve Noonan, with costumes by Kerry Younie.

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Newsies has evening shows from 7 to 9 p.m. from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26, and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 26. Tickets are $45 and are available at the .