Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst were on top of the world as newspaper moguls, but for two weeks in 1899 a youth-led protest by the thousands of newsboys and newsgirls who hawked papers brought those powerful men back to earth.

That story, in the colorful, musical form of Disney’s “Newsies,” will come to life on the local stage, courtesy of West Point students ranging from first grade to seniors.

Production dates are set April 25-27 at the Fairview High School auditorium, which has a stage suited for a production involving 60 students. The performance on the 26th is set for 7 p.m.; and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. the 27th. The 25th performance is for students. A matinee show is being considered for April 28.

Under the director of West Point teachers Jimmy and Kim Harbison, Newsies is a highly successful and popular musical, landing on Broadway and performed more than 1,000 times. A movie of the same name also was a hit at box office.

“The interest in theater is really high at West Point. We have 60 who are involved, but there were still more who wanted to but couldn’t because of spring sports,” Jimmy Harbison said. “The kids are just extremely up for doing this.”

Getting the cast together and rehearsals date back to January. As a history teacher, Harbison said he was particularly interested in Newsies because of the documented history of strike in 1899. The newsboys and newsgirls were successful in gaining changes on how they were paid.

“Not many people could take on successfully a Pulitzer or a Hearst, but a bunch of kids did, and that makes for an interesting backdrop in bringing this to stage,” Harbison said.

Newsies will be the only production this year for West Point students, but Harbison said the goal is for two plays next year.

“The interest is there to continue growing,” he said. “Mr. (Wayne) Cook at Cullman and Mr. (Mark) Dobbs at Fairview have been very helpful and supportive in helping us with a lot of needs, including some costumes they were not using. The stage is just not large enough at West Point, so we’re grateful we can go to Fairview with the production. Some day we’re hopeful to have a place.”