BWW Interviews: Andy Richardson from NEWSIES ON TOUR

NEWSIES has entertained audiences all over North America as the tour visited many cities. As this current tour wraps up in Austin, Texas, BWW had a chance to visit with San Antonio, Texas native Andy Richardson who plays Crutchie.

You started out performing very young.

I started doing community theater at the San Pedro Playhouse, called The Playhouse now, when I was seven. I did a second grade play called THE CHEESE STANDS ALONE. I was the main cheese. I loved performing and my mom found The Playhouse and I started doing shows there. My first show ever was CINDERELLA. I was a mouse. I was also a magic trick. I hid under a table and when the Fairy Godmother motioned, I pulled a chair so I was magic.

So then you left San Antonio. What did you do then?

I did a regional production of THE MUSIC MAN in Austin at the Paramount. It was directed by a Broadway veteran, Leroy Reams. He's the sweetest man. Afterwards, he went up to my mom and (said), "Wow. Your son is very good. He could be in New York or LA." And she was like, "Oh, you're so sweet." And he said, "No, I'm not being sweet. I'm being serious." So, she thought about that and she saw that there was a casting call for GYPSY at the New York City Center in New York. She asked if I wanted to go up and audition. So, we made a trip out of it and I ended up getting it. Through that, I got an agent, I got my Equity card. While I was there doing GYPSY, I auditioned for HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. So, I made my Broadway debut when I was 12. After GRINCH, I heard that GYPSY was coming to Broadway so I did that. Then, after six months, I shot up three inches, my voice changed. I just went back to Texas. I did more community theater and then I was at Northeast School of the Arts (NESA). I was there until my sophomore year when I auditioned for NEWSIES. I saw that they were doing the show in New York but they restricted the age. The minimum you could be was 18 and I was 16 at the time. I asked my agent if I could still go. And she said, "No, they're being very strict with the age." So, I kept looking at it because I had always heard that NEWSIES was going to be a thing. The movie had such a cult following and it was just a matter of time. Then, they lowered the age to 16 so I called my agent right up. And so I got in. I got an appointment. I went through the entire process the final callback was crazy, seeing how much talent because we were in this giant ballet studio with about 50 guys and then the creative team was sitting at the front. You have Thomas Schumacher (head of Disney Theatrical), Jeff Calhoun (director), and Chris Gattelli (choreographer). The heads of Disney Theatricals was the entire creative team. So, it felt like Mickey Mouse was staring you down. I did all that and then I flew back home. And I actually found out I got NEWSIES in my sophomore English Class. We had just taken a test. I turned it in and my phone kept vibrating. So, I checked and it was my mom. And she never texted me during school. So, I checked it and in all caps was "YOU GOT NEWSIES!!!! I freaked out. My teacher was a little upset because I was silently jamming in my chair. I wrote a little sign and showed it to my friends and they were totally freaking out.

Then you did NEWSIES on Broadway for a while. And then you joined the tour later.

While I was with NEWSIES on Broadway, I started school at NYU. So, after NEWSIES closed, I did my sophomore year and I was just continuing and focusing on school. Then, earlier this year, I got a call from my agent while I was in a library. She said the current tour, the last Crutchie, Zachery Sail, he was leaving the show. They asked if I was available. It just so happened to coincide with only two weeks left of the semester. And, when I heard we were ending in Austin, I thought it was perfect. All of my family is from that area. It was perfect. So I joined the tour the tail end of April, beginning of May and I've been with it since and it's been amazing. It's such a family of a company. NEWSIES has been a part of my life, now almost five years. All of the people who have been a part of the show are so tight knit. Not only a wonderful experience, travelling an even better show. The comradery onstage is real and people can see that. People can feel that and it's the best.

Are you going to have time to come down to San Antonio and show some of your old haunts to fellow cast members?

My mom is already telling me, "Andy, you have to throw a party." It will be so much fun taking people down.

What advice do you have for people thinking about getting into the business?

The best advice I can give, is go at this with your entire heart. If this is your passion, do whatever you can to be the best you. I've struggled at trying to be the best...you see all these great theatrical stars and icons and you're like, "I wanna be like them." But, you have to be able to know that you have to be able to focus on yourself and play to your own strengths. Learn as much as you can. That's what I love telling people. Even though we do this show, and I got to do it on Broadway, everyone still trains because you never stop learning.

NEWSIES final stop on the tour will be in Austin, Texas at the BASS CONCERT HALL from September 27 - October 2, 2016. You can tickets at the Texas Performing Arts website. Don't miss this show.