If you've been on the "theater kid" side of TikTok the last two weeks, chances are you have the lyrics, "A barbershop haircut that costs a quarter," stuck in your head. It's all because of a viral video of one passionate actor's performance in the musical Newsies.

The clip originally made waves in 2021, but it's resurfaced this month as part of a new trend. The actor in question cannot escape it. But why would he want to? He's getting praised for his line delivery, at least from savvy actors, writers and directors online.

So, where did the "A Barbershop Haircut That Costs A Quarter" meme come from? Who is the actor and what Newsies song is he singing? Let's explain.

What's The 'A Barbershop Haircut That Costs A Quarter' Song?

The lyrics come from the song "King of New York," which is from the Disney movie Newsies and its later stage adaptation. The words go like this:

A solid gold watch with a chain to twirl it
My very own bed and an indoor terlet [toilet]
A barbershop haircut that cost a quarter

What's The Original 'A Barbershop Haircut That Costs A Quarter' Video?

Sure, the Newsies movie and musical is great, but a lot of people today know the "King of New York" song from a viral video that was posted in 2021.

It was first shared by TikToker @jordanarrasmith, who was seemingly in the play, inferred by his caption, "Y'all, I'm about to quit my job because this is gonna steal the whole thing."

However, a year later, a TikToker @shawndholmes shared the video without any text overlay, claiming that he took the footage and that the first TikToker didn't credit him. He also claimed that the actor was his little brother.

The clip shows three "newsies" singing three lines from "King of New York." The third person really steals the show because the audience cheers when he delivers his line, "A barbershop haircut that costs a quarta."

@shawndholmes Since @Jordan L. Arrasmith didnt give me video AND end laugh credit…WORLD, this is my little brother @Kevin Sievert, and he is AMAZING!!! #disneytiktok #newsies #newsiesthemusical #kingofnewyork #kingofnewyorknewsies #tenor #optionup ♬ original sound – Shawn Holmes

Who's The Actor In The 'A Barbershop Haircut That Costs A Quarter' Meme?

The actor's name is Kevin James Sievert, who posts regularly on TikTok under his username @kevinjamessievert.

It apears that the musical took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, per the geo-tag on @shawndholmes' video. Sievert might be from nearby Chicago, Illinois, as he posts plenty of videos about living in the Windy City.

Overall, he seems to be excited about the meme's resurgence. Last week, he posted a photo slideshow in which he joked about the whole thing.

What Are Some More 'A Barbershop Haircut That Costs A Quarter' Memes?

The trend has attracted multiple meme formats, such as so-called "Accuracy Reenactments," in which other TikTokers film themselves recreating the original with close to 100 percent accuracy.

Others are editing the clip, usually in nonsensical ways, akin to "brainrot" humor, which is all about devolving a clip to its most absurd essence. That means speeding up the clip, slowing it down and adding a few CapCut effects just for show. Think Eye of Rah, for example.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7506203659114384671

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7510673364097273131

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7504383792329674030

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7509198778449038614

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For the full history of A Barbershop Haircut That Costs a Quarter, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.