The cigar is mentioned in Jack Feldman's lyric to the song ''Carrying the Banner.''
It's a reference to a real-life Newsie, Anthony ''Racetrack'' Higgins, who was mentioned in the historical coverage of the 1899 newsboys' strike in N.Y. In the original 1992 Disney movie, he was depicted (by Max Casella) as a cigar-chomping, wisecracking guy who loved to bet and hang around the racetrack. Ryan Breslin originated the role of Race on Broadway, and Ben Cook played him in the national tour (and in this filmed version).
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Cook was asked if it was a challenge to play Race with a cigar. Cook: ''It did at first. It was really hard to get used to dancing with it in my mouth the entire show. But now it's become second nature. I couldn't imagine doing it without the cigar.'' |
