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December 10 • 2015 47 a Tony for his work. The Tony Award- winning score keeps many of the songs written for the 1992 Disney film, such as "Carrying the Banner," "Seize the Day," "King of New York" and "Santa Fe." It also includes "Letter From the Refuge," written especially for the tour. "This is definitely a highlight of my career," says Assor, 27 and single. "Alan Menken was present for a lot of our rehearsals in New York and came out on the road to check up on things. Jack Feldman was very involved as well. It was cool to meet those two and Harvey Fierstein." Assor, who didn't decide on an entertainment career until he was in his late teens, always liked the stage, and at 9 years old appeared in a production of Oliver for the Jewish Community Theatre in Winnipeg, where he grew up. He had his first pro- fessional role at 16 when he was cho- sen for the cast of Beauty and the Beast at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg. A scholarship to attend EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles cemented his outlook. "I was around people who seemed to think I had a good shot [at a stage career] so that's when I made my decision," says Assor, who enjoyed all styles of dance, but particularly the ones that required athletic prow- ess. Studying at the Ken Peters Dance Express, a Winnipeg studio, he also participated in dance competitions. "As soon as I was back in Canada, I was in West Side Story at the Stratford Festival. I was there for almost a year, and did a ton of acting training. I was surrounded by incredible actors and could work with them in between shows." Assor moved to New York City about two years ago, first traveling there to audition for a Mary Poppins tour. He won the role of dancing statue Neleus and later transferred into the Broadway company. A tour of The Wizard of Oz brought him through Detroit. "It's fun to play Detroit because I have quite a bit of family in Windsor so they come and see me," says Assor, who keeps up with his Hebrew by practicing with another Jewish cast member: Ethan Steiner, an 11-year-old from Ann Arbor who is making his national tour debut alternating as the character Les. "It's taken a lot of practice and hard work to prepare for Newsies. All three of the swings started from the begin- ning, and we've been doing it for about 14 months. At first, there was a lot of learning lines and going over and over notes, but it got easier and easier. "Every character is an individual, and it's fun to play so many different parts. I find a connection with each one in the group of young, hard-work- ing boys. Anybody who grew up in the dance world can relate to that." * The original company of the North American Tour. "Even for the cynics among us, Newsies has a stirring, old-world sincerity that's hard to resist," the New York Times wrote of the Broadway production. PHOTO BY DEEN VAN MEER details Newsies runs Dec. 15-27, at the Detroit Opera House. $35-$89. (313) 872-1000; broadwayindetroit.com. Mediterranean Persian Cuisine Hours: Mon-Thur 11am-10pm Fri & Sat 11am-11pm Sunday 11am-9pm 30005 Orchard Lake Road Farmington Hills (North of 13 Mile) www.pars1resturant.com 248.851.8200 Pars Mediterranean Restaurant 20% Off Total Food Bill Exp. 1.3.16 Pars Mediterranean Restaurant Buy One Entrée Get 2nd Entrée 1/2 Off Exp. 1.3.16 2042180 JlYjZi`Y\kf[Xp )+/%*,(%,(.+ Siegel's Deli 3426 E. West Maple Rd. at Haggerty Rd. (248) 926-9555 expires 2/2/12 exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 $ 17 99 expires 2/2/12 exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 LOX OR SABLE APPETIZER INCLUDES FREE COFFEE $ 9 99 $ 3 99 $ 10 99 BREAKFAST SPECIAL Two-eggs, hash browns, choice of meat & toast. 7 days a week exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 $ 21 99 LOX OR SABLE FOR TWO Includes ½ Dozen Latkes and Fresh Coffee $ 14 99 exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 exp 12/23/2015 SPECIAL FOR TWO Any Salad with two bowls of soup SOUP, SANDWICH AND DRINK $ 11 99 Deli Tray for 10 $ 8.99 per person Dairy Tray for 10 $ 16.99 per person Both include 2 Dozen Latkes LB. of Sable $ 32.99 LB. of Lox $ 16.99 HAPPY HANUKKAH exp 12/23/2015 SIEGEL'S HOMEMADE CHOPPED LIVER $ 8 99 ANY QUART OF SOUP AND ANY SANDWICH $ 11 99 1 DOZEN LATKES $ 11 99 LB of any Meat, LB of Coleslaw, LB of Potato Salad, LB of Rye Bread DINNER SPECIAL Roast Chicken, Beef Short Ribs, Beef Brisket, Stuffed Cabbage 6 LATKES AND SOUP $ 7 99