“Y’all I’m about to quit my job because this is gonna steal the whole thing.”

Every so typically, TikTok latches onto a forgotten second and turns it right into a full-blown meme. This is exactly what occurred with “A barbershop haircut that costs a quarter,” a line from the musical Newsies.

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It first went viral after a clip from an novice theater manufacturing was posted on TikTok in 2021. The phrase resurfaced on TikTok this summer season, years after its unique viral debut, sparking reenactments and edits throughout the app.

The clip featured actor Kevin James Sievert (@kevinjamessievert) delivering the road throughout the tune “King of New York” in a Wisconsin manufacturing. He emphasised the phrase “quarter” with a heavy New York accent, stretching it into “qwarta.” Audience cheers adopted immediately, and the second grew to become a spotlight for viewers. Initially, the video went viral in 2021, however reposts in 2025 gave the meme new life.

The origin of the viral theater clip

The first viral add appeared on March 3, 2021, when TikToker @jordanarrasmith shared footage of the scene. Text overlay predicted the second would steal the present, and it shortly took off. It gained greater than 152.3K likes and now has over 1.1 million views.

@jordanarrasmith Ok however why did @kevinsievert make this complete tune means higher than it was written in simply 2 measures? #theatre #newsies #fyp #actor #musicaltheatre ♬ unique sound – Jordo

It was reposted once more in December 2023 by @shawndholmes, clarifying that it got here from his recording of his little brother Kevin’s efficiency in Milwaukee. His put up of the recording has been considered over 18.8 million instances.

@shawndholmes Since @Jordan L. Arrasmith didnt give me video AND finish giggle credit score…WORLD, that is my little brother @Kevin Sievert, and he’s AMAZING!!! #disneytiktok #newsies #newsiesthemusical #kingofnewyork #kingofnewyorknewsies #tenor #optionup ♬ unique sound – Shawn Holmes

TikTok resurrects the “barbershop haircut that costs a quarter” meme

The meme’s resurgence in 2025 got here with a twist of Accuracy Meme Reenactments and brainrot edits. On May 14, TikToker @mokamochaa recreated the supply with exaggerated aptitude, incomes greater than 210,000 likes in simply two weeks. Other creators adopted, staging theatrical variations of the road or weaving it into skits. They are much like the latest reenactments of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton making an attempt to sneak out of the home.

People aren’t solely doing reenactments; they’re remixing the video, creating edits, and following different brainrot developments.

@tonsiltiggla Adrien doesn’t give eeffoc #abarbershop #haircut #adrien #eeffoc #fyp ♬ unique sound – TonsilTiggla

Kevin James Sievert himself even responded to the clip of himself going viral once more in a video the place he sang, “If you don’t love me at my, ‘A barbershop haircut that costs a qwarta,’ then you don’t deserve me at my, ‘wooah-oh-oh,’” giving a sliding riff on the finish. 

@kevinjamessievert attempt explaining this to your straight mates @VoskInTheMetropolis #abarbershophaircutthatcostsaquarter ♬ unique sound – Kevin James Sievert

The resurgence is additional proof of how TikTok always retools outdated materials. Some memes thrive for weeks, others resurface years later with new contexts. The “barbershop haircut” second now joins the rising record of area of interest efficiency clips that social media customers have remodeled into a preferred TikTok pattern.

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