July 24, 2019
I’m so happy to announce the cast of Paramount’s Newsies beginning previews on September 4, press opening on September 13 and running through October 20.
Here’s the scoop on the complete cast. Casting DIrector Trent Stork has done it again bringing us these acting, singing, dancing, athletes. They auditioned hard!
The Newsies are: Anthony Avino, Tom Bentsen, Joe Capstick, Grant Carriker, Jordan De Leon, Evan C. Dolan, Luke Halpern, Christopher John Kelley, Ivory Leonard IV, Jarais Musgrove, Nich O’Neil, Drew Porrett, Jonny Stein and Travis Austin Wright.
Carrying the various ensemble roles are the golden voiced, versatile, powerhouse players: Katherine Lee Bourne, Kevin Corbett, Ann Delaney, Vasily Deris, Ryan Dooley, Neil Lee Friedman, John Gurdian, Jessica Palkovic and Ken Singleton.
Having held the stage in Paramount’s Legally Blonde, Elf, Little Mermaid and Hairspray, Michael Ehlers plays Snyder, the shady Warden of the Boys Refuge. The youngest of the newsboys, kid brother Les is double cast: Nathaniel Buescher and Daniel Font-Wilets. Their big brother Davey is Koray Tarhan, the Columbia College grad, who recently performed the title role in Mercury Theatre’s Pippin. The show’s Vaudeville star Medda Larkin is gorgeously voiced by JerIca Exum of Black Ensemble Theatre’s Women of Soul. Seen in Paramount’s Once and Million Dollar Quartet, terrific Michael Kurowski returns as Crutchie. Chicago favorite appearing on stages from Goodman to Chicago Shakes, Brett Tuomi is back as well (seen in Annie here) portraying newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer. Making her professional debut from Powerhouse Theatre/New York Stage and Film and Chicago College of Performing Arts, beautiful Justine Cameron and her stunning voice won the coveted role of Katherine Plumber. Which brings us to our young leading man who hails from University of Michigan, the talented, handsome New York actor Alex Prakken as Jack Kelly, having played the role at La Mirada in California.
Lots of new faces here, shining stars all of them, with some 21 talents making their Paramount debut!
Love & thanks,
Jim
