NEWSIES Original Broadway Cast: Where Are They Now?
The original cast of Newsies starred Jeremy Jordan, Kara Lindsay, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and more!
Newsies, featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein first premiered on Broadway in 2012, following its regional world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011.
Based on the 1992 musical film of the same name, which was inspired by the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City, the production starred Jeremy Jordan, Kara Lindsay, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and more! Newsies earned two Tony Awards for Best Choreography by Christopher Gattelli, and Best Original Score for Alan Menken and Jack Feldman.
BroadwayWorld is looking back at what the cast has been up to since the show first burst onto Broadway!
Jeremy Jordan
Jeremy Jordan originated the role of Jack Kelly in the original Broadway production of Newsies. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
Following Newsies, Jordan joined the cast of NBC's Smash as Jimmy Collins, becoming a series regular during the show's second season. In 2014, he starred opposite Anna Kendrick as Jamie Wellerstein in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years. He returned to the stage in 2015 to star as Leo Frank in the Manhattan Concert Production of Parade at Lincoln Center.
Jordan joined the Broadway cast of Waitress as Dr. Pomatter in 2016, returning to the role for multiple engagements over the years. In 2017, he reprised Jack Kelly in the filmed stage production of Newsies: The Broadway Musical. Beginning in 2015, he also starred as Winn Schott on The CW's Supergirl, appearing throughout the series' six-season run through 2021. He returned to Broadway in 2018 in American Son as Officer Paul Larkin, later reprising the role in the 2019 Netflix film adaptation.
In 2021, Jordan appeared Off-Broadway as Seymour in the revival of Little Shop of Horrors. He went on to portray record executive Neil Bogart in the 2023 film Spinning Gold. Since 2024, Jordan has voiced Lucifer Morningstar in the adult animated musical series Hazbin Hotel, earning an Annie Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production. That same year, he reprised his performance as Clyde Barrow in the filmed stage production of Bonnie and Clyde: The Musical and returned to Broadway to originate the role of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.
Recently, Jordan starred in the 2025 Broadway revival of Floyd Collins in the title role before returning to Broadway in 2026 in Just in Time, joining the cast as Bobby Darin. He is currently starring in the show at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
John Dossett
John Dossett starred as Joseph Pulitzer in the original Broadway production of Newsies.
Following Newsies, Dossett joined the Broadway revival of Pippin in 2013, taking over the role of Charles. He went on to originate the role of Larry in the original Off-Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen in 2016 before starring as Tommy Lewis in the world premiere of War Paint at Chicago's Goodman Theatre later that year. He reprised the role when War Paint transferred to Broadway in 2017.
In 2018, Dossett appeared in the City Center Encores! revival of Grand Hotel, The Musical and originated the role of Stone in the world premiere of The Heart of Rock & Roll at The Old Globe. He returned to Broadway in 2022 as Frederic Tiggens in Paradise Square.
Most recently, Dossett reprised the role of Stone when The Heart of Rock and Roll made its Broadway premiere in 2024.
Kara Lindsay
Kara Lindsay originated the role of Katherine Plumber in the original Broadway production of Newsies. She later reprised the role in the 2017 filmed stage production, Newsies: The Broadway Musical.
Following Newsies, Lindsay joined the Broadway cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2014, taking over the role of Cynthia Weil. She went on to star as Elizabeth Bennet in the New York presentation of Austen's Pride in 2017. In 2014, Lindsay played the role of Glinda in the second national tour of Wicked, beffoe joining the Broadway cast later that year.
In 2024, Lindsay starred as Princess Winnifred in the Encores! concert revival of Once Upon a Mattress, reprising the role later that year when the production transferred to Broadway. Most recently, she returned Off-Broadway in 2025 as Michele Weinberger in Romy & Michele: The Musical. She is currently starring as Princess Fiona in Shrek at The Muny.
Ben Fankhauser
Ben Fankhauser originated the role of Davey in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012, making his Broadway debut. He later reprised the role in the 2017 filmed stage production, Newsies: The Broadway Musical.
Following Newsies, Fankhauser joined the First National Tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2015 as Barry Mann. He went on to appear Off-Broadway in The Mad Ones in 2017 and Bar Mitzvah Boy at York Theatre in 2018. In 2019, he starred as Steve in the world premiere of The Flamingo Kid at Hartford Stage before appearing in the 2020 Encores! production of Mack and Mabel.
Most recently, Fankhauser appeared Off-Broadway in Ghost of John McCain at Soho Playhouse in 2024. He is also the co-creator and star of the original Off-Broadway musical A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet. His television credits include The Deuce, FBI: Most Wanted, and Indoor Boys.
Capathia Jenkins
Capathia Jenkins starred as Medda Larkin in the Broadway production of Newsies. Jenkins appeared as Dorothy's Mother in NBC's The Wiz Live! in 2015. Her other screen credits include 30 Rock, The Sopranos, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Practice, and the 2012 film Musical Chairs. An acclaimed concert artist, she has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, among many others.
Prior to Newsies, Jenkins made her Broadway debut in The Civil War in 1999 before starring in the 2000 Off-Broadway revival of Godspell. She went on to appear on Broadway in The Look of Love in 2003 and originated the role of The Washing Machine in Caroline, or Change, first Off-Broadway in 2003 and later on Broadway in 2004. In 2006, she created the role of Frieda May in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me before appearing in the 2007 Encores! production of Stairway to Paradise. She also appeared in Love, Loss, and What I Wore Off-Broadway in 2009.
Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Andrew Keenan-Bolger originated the role of Crutchie in the original Broadway production of Newsies, earning an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for his performance. He later reprised the role in the 2017 filmed stage production, Newsies: The Broadway Musical.
Following Newsies, Keenan-Bolger starred as Jesse Tuck in the original Broadway production of Tuck Everlasting in 2016, earning a Drama League Award nomination. He went on to appear Off-Broadway as Kris Kringle in Kris Kringle The Musical in 2017 and participated in the New York staged reading of Laramie: A Legacy in 2018.
In 2021, Keenan-Bolger starred as Philippe in Envy, part of Seven Deadly Sins, followed by Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors in 2023 and the world premiere of Scarlett Dreams Off-Broadway in 2024. His screen credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Undoing, Looking, and The Rewrite. In addition to acting, he is an accomplished filmmaker, co-creator of the web series Submissions Only, and co-author of the Jack & Louisa children's book series.
Mike Faist
Mike Faist starred as Morris Delancey in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Faist appeared Off-Broadway in Signature Theatre's production of Appropriate in 2014 and Classic Stage Company's A Month in the Country in 2015. That same year, he originated the role of Connor Murphy in the world premiere of Dear Evan Hansen at Arena Stage before reprising the role Off-Broadway and on Broadway in 2016. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and he shared a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album with the cast.
After Dear Evan Hansen, Faist returned Off-Broadway in Second Stage Theater's world premiere of Days of Rage in 2018. He made his television breakthrough in the Amazon series Panic in 2021 before starring as Riff in Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of West Side Story, earning a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to star in Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game in 2022.
In 2023, Faist portrayed Jack Twist in the original West End production of Brokeback Mountain. He also appeared as Danny Lyon in The Bikeriders and starred opposite Zendaya and Josh O'Connor in Luca Guadagnino's Challengers. He will soon appear in the mini series adaptation of East of Eden on Netflix.
Thayne Jasperson
Thayne Jasperson starred as Darcy in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Jasperson joined the original Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical in 2013. In 2015, he became a member of the original company of Hamilton, appearing first in the Off-Broadway production at The Public Theater before transferring with the show to Broadway later that year. He has remained with Hamilton since it opened on Broadway, performing in the ensemble while also understudying the roles of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and King George III.
Most recently, Jasperson appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Only Gold at MCC Theater in 2022. His screen credits include High School Musical, High School Musical 2, Smash, The American Mall, and So You Think You Can Dance, where he competed during the show's fourth season.
Ephraim Sykes
Ephraim Sykes starred as Mush in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Sykes joined the original Broadway cast of Motown: The Musical in 2013 before becoming a member of the original company of Hamilton, appearing Off-Broadway at The Public Theater and transferring with the production to Broadway in 2015.
In 2016, Sykes portrayed Seaweed J. Stubbs in NBC's Hairspray Live!, earning an MTV Movie & TV Award nomination for Best Musical Moment. He originated the role of David Ruffin in the world premiere of Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2017 before reprising the role on Broadway in 2021. His performance earned Tony, Grammy, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations.
Sykes returned Off-Broadway in the world premiere of Black No More in 2022 before starring as SuperJack in the Broadway adaptation of Room and Joey Evans in the Encores! revival of Pal Joey in 2023. In 2024, he starred as George Gibbs in the Broadway revival of Our Town, earning a Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance. Most recently, he joined the Broadway cast of The Fear of 13 in 2026. His screen credits also include Detroit, Vinyl, Luke Cage, Russian Doll, and Crisis in Six Scenes.
Tommy Bracco
Tommy Bracco starred as Spot Conlon in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Bracco appeared in the Park Avenue Armory revival of The Hairy Ape in 2017. He went on to join the world premiere of Pretty Woman in Chicago before reprising his role as Giulio in the original Broadway production in 2018. That same year, he starred as Mike in the New York City Center Gala presentation of A Chorus Line.
In addition to his stage career, Bracco has appeared on screen in Submissions Only, The Battery's Down, 4th Man Out, and Isn't It Romantic. In 2019, he competed on Big Brother 21, finishing in fifth place, before returning to reality television on MTV's The Challenge: Ride or Dies in 2022 and 99 to Beat in 2025. Most recently, he returned to Broadway in the original production of The Heart of Rock and Roll in 2024 and co-hosts the podcast REAL TAWK with his family.
Alex Wong
Alex Wong appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012, playing a Scab. Following Newsies, Wong appeared in NBC's Peter Pan Live! in 2014 and joined the Encores! productions of Do I Hear a Waltz? in 2016 and The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin in 2017. His additional television credits include Smash, Glee, Dancing with the Stars, and multiple appearances on So You Think You Can Dance.
Prior to Newsies, Wong was a principal soloist with Miami City Ballet after beginning his professional career with American Ballet Theatre. He gained national recognition as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance, competing in Season 7 after first reaching the Top 20 in Season 5. He later returned as an All-Star.
Lewis Grosso
Lewis Grosso starred as Les in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Prior to Newsies, Grosso appeared on Broadway in Mary Poppins, where he played Michael Banks after joining the cast as a replacement.
Matthew Schechter
Matthew Schechter alternated the role of Les in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Prior to Newsies, Schechter appeared on Broadway in Mary Poppins as Michael Banks, Waiting for Godot as The Boy, and Elf: The Musical. Following Newsies, he returned to Broadway in Richard III in 2013 and Act One at Lincoln Center in 2014. His television credits include 30 Rock, Law & Order, A Gifted Man, and Z Rock.
Kevin Carolan
Kevin Carolan appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012, originating the role of Governor Theodore Roosevelt. He later reprised the role in the 2017 filmed stage production, Newsies: The Broadway Musical.
Following Newsies, Carolan appeared on screen in The Good Wife, The Michael J. Fox Show, Orange Is the New Black, Vinyl, Gotham, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy. In 2018, he returned to the stage for the First National Tour of Come From Away, playing Claude and other roles.
More recently, Carolan has appeared in Billions and the comedy series Off the Cuff: Healthy Cooking with Craig Mitchell. Prior to Newsies, he toured internationally with Chicago and originated the role of Baloo in the world premiere stage production of Disney's The Jungle Book.
Ryan Steele
Ryan Steele starred as Specs in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012. Following Newsies, Steele joined the original Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical in 2013 before appearing as Curly in NBC's Peter Pan Live! in 2014. He went on to perform in the world premiere of In Your Arms at The Old Globe and the Encores! Off-Center production of The Wild Party in 2015.
In 2016, Steele joined the First National Tour of An American in Paris, performing in the ensemble and understudying the role of Jerry. He returned to New York in the City Center Gala presentation of A Chorus Line in 2018 as Larry before appearing in the Broadway revival of Carousel later that year. In 2019, he was seen in the Encores! revival of I Married an Angel and the Broadway Center Stage production of The Music Man in Washington, D.C.
Steele originated the role of Prince Erudite in the 2021 world premiere of Once Upon a One More Time in Washington, D.C. After appearing in Only Gold Off-Broadway and joining the Broadway cast of MJ the Musical in 2022, he reprised the role of Prince Erudite when Once Upon a One More Time opened on Broadway in 2023.
Ryan Breslin
Ryan Breslin starred as Race in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Breslin joined the original Broadway cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2017, appearing in the ensemble while understudying Mike Teavee. He then joined the pre-Broadway engagement of Beetlejuice in Washington, D.C., in 2018 before transferring with the production to Broadway in 2019.
After Beetlejuice returned to Broadway in 2022, Breslin reprised his role in the production before joining the North American Tour as a swing. Most recently, he returned to Broadway with Beetlejuice in 2025 as a replacement swing. His screen credits include the Coen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! and CBS's Person of Interest.
Kyle Coffman
Kyle Coffman starred as Henry in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, he returned to the musical for The Muny's 2017 production before appearing in Jerome Robbins' Broadway at The Muny in 2018.
His screen credits include Someday This Pain Will Be Useful, Between the Bars, and Manhattan Diaries. His regional theater credits also include productions at Arena Stage, Paper Mill Playhouse, and The Muny.
Julie Foldesi
Julie Foldesi appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as a Nun and a Citizen of New York while understudying the roles of Hannah and Medda Larkin.
Following Newsies, Foldesi joined the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George as a swing in 2017 before appearing in Little Orphan Danny at the Vassar Powerhouse Theater in 2018. Her television credits include As the World Turns, and she is also a singer-songwriter and musician.
Prior to Newsies, Foldesi appeared on Broadway in The Full Monty, Little Women, and South Pacific. She also starred as Jo in the First National Tour of Little Women and toured nationally in 101 Dalmatians and Jekyll & Hyde.
Garett Hawe
Garett Hawe starred as Albert in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Hawe joined the original Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical in 2013. His other Broadway credits include Mary Poppins, while his national tour credits include Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Hello, Dolly!.
His regional theater credits include Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse, Gypsy at The Cape Playhouse, and Bye Bye Birdie at Sacramento Music Circus. On television, Hawe has appeared in Peter Pan Live! and Nurse Jackie.
Evan Kasprzak
Evan Kasprzak starred as Elmer in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Kasprzak appeared in Can-Can at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2014 before joining the Broadway revival of Cats in 2016 as the replacement Pouncival. In 2017, he appeared in the Encores! productions of The Golden Apple and The New Yorkers, followed by the Encores! revival of Mack and Mabel in 2020 as Freddy.
Prior to his Broadway career, Kasprzak placed third on Season 5 of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. His screen credits include Hail, Caesar!, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Fosse/Verdon, and the short film How You Look at It. His regional credits also include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at New Theatre.
Jess LeProtto
Jess LeProtto appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as a Scab and a member of the ensemble before taking over the role of Buttons. Following Newsies, LeProtto joined the Broadway revival of On the Town in 2014 before appearing in the world premiere of In Your Arms at The Old Globe in 2015. In 2016, he appeared in the Paper Mill Playhouse world premiere of A Bronx Tale and joined the Broadway revival of Cats as Mungojerrie.
LeProtto returned to Broadway in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! before joining the national tour as Barnaby Tucker in 2018. That same year, he appeared in the Broadway revival of Carousel and went on to perform in the Kennedy Center's Broadway Center Stage production of Footloose in 2019. He returned to Broadway in A Beautiful Noise in 2022 before appearing Off-Broadway in Gotta Dance with American Dance Machine in 2025. He is currently in the ensemble of Schmigadoon! on Broadway.
Stuart Marland
Stuart Marland appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as Snyder. Prior to Newsies, Marland built an extensive Broadway career, appearing in Cyrano: The Musical in 1993, Beauty and the Beast as a replacement Lumiere beginning in 1994, and Jekyll & Hyde in 1997. His additional stage credits include the national tours of Seussical and The Producers, the Off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks, and the original Broadway production of Xanadu in 2007.
Andy Richardson
Andy Richardson starred as Romeo in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Prior to Newsies, Richardson appeared on Broadway in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in 2007 and the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy. He also joined the second national tour of Wicked in 2009, performing in the ensemble while understudying Boq.
Aaron J. Albano
Aaron J. Albano appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as Finch. Following Newsies, Albano joined the Off-Broadway cast of Here Lies Love in 2014 before appearing on Broadway in Aladdin later that year. In 2015, he performed in the Broadway revival of The King and I, joined the original Broadway cast of Hamilton as a replacement, and appeared in the original Broadway production of Allegiance.
Albano returned to Broadway in the 2016 revival of Cats before joining both the Angelica and Philip companies of Hamilton on tour in 2017 and 2018. He also appeared in the City Center Encores! revival of Grand Hotel, The Musical in 2018. Most recently, Albano returned to Here Lies Love, joining the original Broadway production in 2023 as a replacement swing.
Brendon Stimson
Brendon Stimson starred as Oscar Delancey in the original Broadway production of Newsies. Following Newsies, Stimson joined the original Broadway production of Honeymoon in Vegas as a swing in 2014 before appearing in the world premiere of In Your Arms at The Old Globe in 2015. Later that year, he joined the Broadway cast of Something Rotten! as a replacement.
In 2017, Stimson appeared in the world premiere of Mean Girls at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre and returned to Newsies for The Muny's production in St. Louis. He reprised his role when Mean Girls transferred to Broadway in 2018, performing in the ensemble while understudying Mr. Duvall and Damian Hubbard. Most recently, Stimson starred in the original Broadway cast of Some Like It Hot in 2022.
Nick Sullivan
Nick Sullivan appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as Bunsen. Following Newsies, Sullivan shifted his focus primarily to screen work. His television and film credits include Madam Secretary, BrainDead, The Affair, Bull, Younger, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Private Life, Divorce, Fosse/Verdon, Orange Is the New Black, and Elsbeth. He has also lent his voice to the video game Starfinder and appeared in the podcast series The Wedding Proposal and Low Life.
Prior to Newsies, Sullivan appeared on Broadway in Footloose beginning in 1998. His additional stage credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor Off-Broadway, Lone Star Love Off-Broadway in 2004, But I'm a Cheerleader at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2005, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2007.
Mark Aldrich
Mark Aldrich appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as Seitz. Following Newsies, Aldrich reprised his role as Seitz on the First National Tour of Newsies in 2014. He later joined the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady as a replacement in 2018 before continuing with the production on its national tour in 2019.
His screen credits include Bull, The Americans, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Gotham, Madam Secretary, PN & Friends, and FBI: Most Wanted.
Laurie Veldheer
Laurie Veldheer starred as Hannah in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012. Following Newsies, Veldheer starred as Cinderella and Granny in Fiasco Theater's national tour of Into the Woods in 2016. She later returned to Broadway as an understudy in the 2022 revival of Plaza Suite.
John E. Brady
John E. Brady appeared in the original Broadway production of Newsies in 2012 as Wiesel. Following Newsies, Brady appeared in the world premiere of Diner at Delaware Theatre Company in 2015. His screen credits include Boardwalk Empire, Person of Interest, Hardest Jobs in Sports, Newsies: The Broadway Musical, and The Good Fight.
Prior to Newsies, Brady appeared in the Broadway production of The Lion King, understudying the roles of Zazu, Timon, and Pumbaa. He later took over the role of Pumbaa on the national tour.
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