It has been 12 years since Newsies first danced its way across Broadway's boards, leaping into the upper echelons of Disney theatrical legend. The show first opened at the Nederlander Theatre March 29, 2012. Starring Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan as union organizer Jack Kelly, the musical ran for more than 1,000 performances, winning two of its eight Tony nominations and launching an immensely successful national tour, as well as a recent immersive West End production.
With Jordan returning to Broadway as the titular role in The Great Gatsby (his first time originating a role in a Broadway musical since Newsies), we're checking in with the original Broadway cast and everything they've been up to in the intervening decade.
Jeremy Jordan - Jack Kelly
The Great Gatsby may be Jeremy Jordan's triumphant return to the musical stage, but he hasn't really been gone that long. On Broadway, he stepped into the role of Dr. Pomatter opposite Shoshana Bean in Sara Bareilles' musical Waitress, and played Officer Paul Larkin in American Son opposite Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale.
His star has risen into the stratosphere on screen as well, appearing in leading roles on the television shows SMASH, Supergirl, and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, as well as on the big screen in The Last Five Years and Spinning Gold.
Andrew Keenan-Bolger - Crutchie
Andrew Keenan-Bolger hasn't been far from the stage since the end of Newsies, starring as Jesse Tuck in the Broadway adaptation of Tuck Everlasting, as well as Off-Broadway in Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors and Seven Deadly Sins, with the upcoming Scarlett Dreams on the horizon.
In addition to his work as a performer, Keenan-Bolger is a writer, producing the children's book series Jack and Louisa with his frequent collaborator Kate Wetherhead, with whom he also created the critically acclaimed web series Submissions Only.
Ben Fankhauser - Davey
The clear voiced Ben Fankhauser has been popping in and out of the New York theatre scene for years, enjoying extended stints in esteemed regional companies before returning for various engagements in the Big Apple. He's even dabbled in writing shows himself, providing book, music, and lyrics for Off-Broadway's A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet.
Having played Barry Mann in the first national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, he originated the role of Adam in The Mad Ones Off-Broadway, and appeared as Frank in the New York City Center Encores! final pre-COVID production, Mack and Mabel. Later this year, he's starring in She Loves Me at Gulfshore Playhouse.
Kara Lindsay - Katherine
Kara Lindsay has remained a fixture in the New York theatre scene since Newsies, doing numerous stints as Glinda in Wicked and Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway. Off-Broadway, she played Lizzie Bennett in Austen's Pride, and regionally she took on the titular role in Mary Poppins, as well as Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain.
Appearing annually with her husband Kevin Massey at the Disney Epcot International Festival of Arts, Lindsay became a mother in 2019 to a beautiful child named Emerson. As he has aged, she has begun to return to the theatre world, standing by for Sutton Foster in the starry New York City Center Encores! production of Once Upon a Mattress earlier this year.
John Dossett - Pulitzer
A Broadway legend long before Newsies came along, John Dossett has continued doing what he does best in the intervening decade. Known for bringing life to a wide variety of power broker characters on Broadway, Dossett hasn’t been far from the boards.
In the years since Newsies, he has played Charles in Pippin, The Wizard in Wicked, Tommy Lewis in War Paint, Frederic Tiggens in Paradise Square, and this season he's back as Stone in The Heart of Rock and Roll.
Capathia Jenkins - Medda Larkin
The Brooklyn-born vocalist Capathia Jenkins has found her footing outside of the Broadway ecosystem since Newsies, appearing as a vocalist with a wide range of orchestras and symphonies, including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
She dipped her toe back into the musical theatre world in 2015, however, playing Dorothy's Mother in The Wiz Live! on NBC. Perhaps we will see her back on the theatrical boards sooner rather than later.
Lewis Grosso and Matthew Schechter - Les
The child actors who played Les are currently keeping their mature lives under wraps. The more public of the pair, Lewis Grosso, has left show business entirely, instead transitioning to work behind the scenes as the audiobook director for John Marshall Media.
Matthew Schechter stayed with the performing profession for a bit longer, appearing as Edward, Prince of Wales in the Broadway revival of Richard III opposite Mark Rylance, and as young Moss and Bernie Hart in the play Act One, opposite Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub. Since 2014, he has opted for a fully private life.
Aaron J. Albano - Finch
Aaron J. Albano has been working almost constantly since leaving Newsies, dancing up a storm in a number of Broadway shows. At various points in the last twelve years, you could've seen Albano on Broadway in Hamilton, The King and I, Here Lies Love, Allegiance, and Cats.
It has been 20 years since Albano made his Broadway debut in Bombay Dreams, but he shows no signs of slowing down: Albano is currently back on Broadway in Aladdin, returning to the New Amsterdam in style.
Mark Aldrich - Seitz
The redheaded tenor Mark Aldrich has had a steady life since the end of Newsies, appearing on Broadway and in the national tour of Bartlett Sher's My Fair Lady until the production was cut short by the COVID-19 lockdown.
Aldrich pivoted during the pandemic, embracing his talents as a writer with his three-book urban fantasy series The Peripherals. The third novel, Chasing Today, is set for release July 7.
Tommy Bracco - Spot Conlon
Any fan of Broadway dance will be familiar with Tommy Bracco's continued career. The powerhouse had a beloved featured role in Pretty Woman, which soon turned into a high profile stint on the reality television show Big Brother, where Bracco was one of America's Favorite Houseguests.
He's back on Broadway this season in The Heart of Rock and Roll, where he is performing opposite John Dossett: who would’ve thought Spot Conlon and Joseph Pulitzer would join forces?!
John E. Brady - Wiesel
Things have mostly been quiet on the John E. Brady front since the end of Newsies, with a handful of screen appearances on Boardwalk Empire, Person of Interest, and The Good Fight making up the majority of his off-stage public appearances.
One consistent place you can find him, however? The pridelands of The Lion King. Performing prior to Newsies in the Broadway production as Zazu, Pumbaa, and Timon, he has since hit the road as Pumbaa, bringing joy to young and old across the United States.
Ryan Breslin - Race
Ryan Breslin has been an ever-reliable ensemblist since the end of Newsies, performing in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Beetlejuice in a variety of dancing tracks (as well as understudying the principal Mike Teavee in Charlie).
He is currently on the road with Beetlejuice, serving as the national tour's dance captain, universal swing, and understudy for Adam, Otho, Maxie Dean.
Kevin Carolan - Governor Roosevelt
Kevin Carolan was working double duty on Newsies as the production's onstage Governor and offstage Fight Captain, roles he continued to inhabit when the production went out on the road. Once the Newsies national tour had ended in 2016, he switched over to the national tour of Come From Away, where he played the loveable Claude and others until that tour came to an end in 2023.
These days, you can find him shining in esteemed regional theatres across the country, including the recently completed production of 42nd Street at Long Beach's Musical Theatre West, where he played Abner Dillon.
Kyle Coffman - Henry
Kyle Coffman sure has been busy since Newsies! The tapper appeared in Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of West Side Story as Ice, continuing his decades long association with the classic, before starring in the medieval drama Raymar.
On stage, Coffman appeared in the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood opposite Chita Rivera, and in the adapted revival of Newsies at the MUNY, as well as in their flashy regional premiere of Jerome Robbins' Broadway.
Mike Faist - Morris Delancey
No member of the Newsies ensemble has had a starry breakout larger that of Mike Faist. He immediately followed up Newsies as the original Connor in Dear Evan Hansen, nabbing a Tony nomination, and the charming tapper had his big break as Riff in Spielberg's West Side Story, leading to recognition from 21 different awards-granting institutions.
In the years since, he has starred in the films Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game and The Bikeriders, as the male lead of the television drama Panic, and in London's West End in the stage adaptation of Brokeback Mountain. His next blockbuster film, Challengers opposite Zendaya and Josh O'Connor, premieres later this year.
Julie Foldesi - Nun
Newsies may be a male-focused show, but ensemble members like Julie Foldesi held the show's catchy Menken score together. Following Newsies, she worked as a swing for the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George, prior to transitioning to a thriving regional theatre career.
In various regional theatres, Foldesi has appeared in Little Orphan Danny and Pump Boys and Dinettes, while also elevating her songwriting career, creating for the Hallmark film In The Key of Love and with her various bands.
Garett Hawe - Albert
Garett Hawe has been high stepping his way into hearts across the country ever since the end of Newsies, starring first as Barnaby Tucker in the 2013 tour of Hello, Dolly! before taking on Ambrose Kemper for the 2018 tour, patterned off of the splashy recent Broadway revival.
Like many of his fellow Newsies, he danced in Spielberg's West Side Story, playing Jet. On Broadway, he has since appeared in both Matilda and the revival of Carousel, where he played Enoch Snow Jr. On the road, he has appeared in Wicked and Mary Poppins.
Thayne Jasperson - Darcy
You all know where Thayne Jasperson has been! Since the end of Newsies, he has become one of Broadway's few fixtures, appearing as Samuel Seabury in Hamilton in more than 2,000 performances since the show first came to Broadway.
As one of the only original Hamilton cast members left with the production, he has become one of their defacto community leaders, creating and appearing in the production's various fundraising performances as the smash hit gives back to the community at large.
Evan Kasprzak - Elmer
Evan Kasprzak has become a favored dancer in the industry for his ability to pick up choreography with very little prep time, which has made him a perfect fit for the New York City Center Encores! series.
He has danced in a multitude of the program's revivals in the years since Newsies, including The New Yorkers, The Golden Apple, and Mack and Mabel. He came back to Broadway in the 2016 revival of CATS as Pouncival.
Jess LeProtto - Scab
Jess LeProtto has been a busy bee since Newsies ended, dancing on Broadway in On The Town, Cats, Carousel, and Hello, Dolly!, which he went on to tour as Barnaby Tucker opposite his Newsies co-star Garett Hawe.
Currently, he can be seen on Broadway in A Beautiful Noise, where he serves as dance captain as well as a member of the ensemble, with his own solo song "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)."
Stuart Marland - Snyder
Stuart Maitland led a primarily private life in the immediate aftermath of Newsies, but in the last few years, he has re-entered the public sphere, performing in a number of regional and touring theatres across the country. In 2018, he starred opposite Carolee Carmello in Broadway Sacramento's production of Gypsy, kickstarting a West Coast career that continues to this day.
In 2022, he joined the national tour of My Fair Lady as an understudy for Doolittle and Pickering, and in 2023, he appeared opposite fellow Newsies alum Garett Hawe in Broadway Sacramento's production of The Music Man.
Andy Richardson - Romeo
The babyface of the original Newsies cast, Andy Richardson has continued on his path of endearing principals, with a particularly dedicated instagram that shows off his divinely-detailed annual Halloween costumes.
On the touring circuit, he has worked as an Angel in the first national tour of Kinky Boots before transitioning to his current gig, understudying Boq in Wicked across America.
Ryan Steele - Specs
It takes one hell of a dancer to work as dance captain on a show like Newsies, but Ryan Steele practically made it look easy, becoming a social media darling for Fansies across the globe. In the intervening years, Steele has hardly slowed down, performing as Jerry in the first national tour of An American in Paris.
Back in New York, he danced on Broadway in the revival of Carousel, the original Broadway productions of Matilda and Once Upon a One More Time, Off-Broadway in Only Gold, and in the New York City Center Encores! productions of I Married An Angel, A Chorus Line, and Wild Party.
Brendon Stimson - Oscar Delancey
Both of the Delancey brothers have been swinging for the rafters! Since Newsies, Brendon Stimson has worked all over Broadway, with credits in the ensemble of Honeymoon in Vegas, Something Rotten, and Mean Girls (where he also served as dance captain).
His most recent Broadway gig was in Some Like It Hot, but he has also been busy leading his own coaching business, where he helps young dancers prepare for audition season.
Nick Sullivan - Bunsen
Like many of Newsies' adult actors, Nick Sullivan's career was well established long before the Kings of New York roared to life. An alum of Broadway's White Liars & Black Comedy, The Molière Comedies, and Footloose, Sullivan toured Kinky Boots after Newsies before pivoting to the screen.
On screen, Sullivan has appeared on Boardwalk Empire, Madame Secretary, Younger, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Bull, Fosse/Verdon, and Orange is the New Black.
Ephraim Sykes - Mush
Chances are you kept track of Ephraim Sykes' whereabouts since the end of Newsies. A true triple threat, he danced on Broadway in Motown and Hamilton before achieving acclaim as Seaweed J. Stubbs in Hairspray Live! on NBC, which he immediately followed up with his Tony nominated performance in Ain't Too Proud.
Since then, Sykes starred in the Off-Broadway run of Black No More and in New York City Center's radical reimagining of Pal Joey. He was set to return to Broadway opposite Adrienne Warren in the sadly stymied Room last season, but he's sure to come back to the boards soon.
Laurie Veldheer - Hannah
Newsies' trio of women was completed by Laurie Veldheer, where her multi-track skills set her up for a successful career following the show's end.
She toured the country in Fiasco Theatre's successful production of Into the Woods, playing both Cinderella and Granny. She returned to Broadway in 2022 as an understudy in the 2022 Broadway revival of Plaza Suite starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.
Alex Wong - Sniper
The hyper-flexible Alex Wong has become a social media star, wracking up millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok for his inventive short videos. On screen, he appeared in The Greatest Showman and on the television show SMASH, before returning to his pre-Newsies roots of competition dance.
An alum of So You Think You Can Dance, Wong has returned to the program as an All Star, as well as worked on Dancing With The Stars, SYTYCD Vietnam, Glee, and more.
Caitlyn Caughell - Swing
The Newsies swing team was always ready for action, and that has certainly remained true for the production's female swing, Caitlyn Caughell.
After Newsies, Caughell toured with Finding Neverland, where she covered Miss Jones, Mrs. du Maurier, and Mary, all the while working one of the production's most complex ensemble tracks. Since the pandemic, she has split her time between starry regional productions, like Tuacahn Center for the Arts's The Count of Monte Cristo, and raising her children.
Michael Fatica - Swing
Michael Fatica has been awfully busy since making his Broadway debut swinging for Newsies. In the intervening years, he has appeared on Broadway in She Loves Me, Matilda, Frozen, Groundhog Day, A Bronx Tale, and The Cher Show.
He has also made moves toward shifting to work behind the scenes, helping to choreograph the return run of Beetlejuice on Broadway. Currently, you can see Fatica in the Broadway revival of Spamalot, where he understudies both Sir Lancelot and the Historian.
Jack Scott - Swing
There are all sorts of ways to express artistry, not just theatre.
Jack Scott, who made his Broadway debut swinging in Newsies, has since transitioned to writing and recording his own music. His debut single, "Get A Clue" was released March 21, with an accompanying music video starring Scott and model Tommy Laurence.
Stuart Zagnit - Swing
Lastly, the self-crowned "King of the Oldsies" Stuart Zagnit is still hard at work bringing smiles to audiences across America. Since Newsies, Zagnit has appeared on the national tours of Wicked and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, striking fear and mirth into the young and old.
On Broadway, he's since played Grandpa Gellman in the revival of Caroline or Change, and just this season, he was back as the understudy for Chip Zien's Rabbi in the musical Harmony.
Newsies forever, once and for all!
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