Exclusive! The New Newsboys of Newsies Part II: Meet Vets of Billy Elliot, Dancing With the Stars & More

It’s been a year since Disney’s mega-popular, two-time Tony-winning musical Newsies opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre. In honor of the show's birthday, Broadway.com photographer Jenny Anderson gathered the eight talented young actors who have joined the show in recent months for a portrait session at Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens. In the second of a two-part feature, Hogan Fulton, Tommy Martinez and twins David & Jacob Guzman tell us about their backgrounds and share dream roles, “desert island” picks and more.

HOGAN FULTON
Age and Hometown: 18; Thousand Oaks, CA

Moment You Knew You Wanted to be a Performer: When I was five, I asked my mom to take me to dance class.

Most Cherished Stage Credit Before Newsies?: Billy in Billy Elliot [in London]

Favorite Newsies Number: “The World Will Know”

“Desert Island” Album, Film and TV show:
Album: Breakout by Miley Cyrus
Film: Spirited Away
TV Show: Skins

Favorite Real-Life News Source: Tumblr.

On My Day Off From Newsies, You’ll Find Me: Meeting new cats.


DAVID GUZMAN
Age and Hometown: 18; Brockton MA

Origin of Newsboy Name: My nickname is Mush because I seem tough on the outside but I am actually scared and mush on the inside.

Moment You Knew You Wanted to be a Performer: When I did my first recital at my dance studio I loved it.

Most Cherished Stage Credit Before Newsies: I was a part of Project Moves Dance Company in which, through our dancing, we were trying to stop bullying. This company made it possible for me to perform on Dancing with the Stars and the Fire Island Dance Festival.

Favorite Newsies Number: “King of New York.” It is so much fun!

Dream Role in Five Years? In 20 years? It’s already a dream to have a job that includes the things I love, and I hope in five and 20 years I will be doing the same.

“Desert Island” Album, Film and TV show:
Album: Mumford and Sons
Film: Ted
TV Show: Criminal Minds


JACOB GUZMAN
Age and Hometown: 18; Brockton MA

Origin of Newsboy Name: My newsie name is Sniper and the newsies call me that because I have the "sniper mentality" and can spot in a crowd who would want to buy a newspaper; I sell my papers very efficiently.

Moment You Knew You Wanted to be a Performer: As a kid my schedule was getting really busy, so I had to choose between soccer and dancing. I could not imagine myself not dancing and being with that group of people so I chose dancing, and I knew then I would do it for my whole life.

Most Cherished Stage Credit Before Newsies: I was a part of Project Moves Dance Company, whose goal is to stop bullying through dance. We put on really moving shows and performances that I felt I changed views of people in the audience in a good way. With that company, I had great opportunities like performing on Dancing with the Stars in November 2011 in an AT&T Spotlight performance with three other company members. I also got to perform in the 18th annual Fire Island Dance Festival, an event to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Favorite Newsies Number: One of my favorites to perform is “Carrying the Banner.” Everyone is full of energy and it's a fantastic opening for the show. We just run up and down the towers and have a great time.

Dream Role in Five Years? In 20 years? I don't know what my future has in store; I am just going with the flow right now. I still see myself performing and what I am doing now. I would also love to be performing with my twin brother David because we have such a great connection. There is not much I would rather be doing than performing on stage with him.

“Desert Island” Album, Film and TV show:
Album: Babel by Mumford and Sons
Film: Master of Disguise because I think that movie is so funny! I never can stop laughing at it. It has been one of my favorite movies for a while.
TV Show: Once Upon a Time (that show has a lot of suspense) or Lost

Favorite Real-Life News Source: I hear about a lot of news through social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Then I go and look up what exactly has happened on the Internet.


TOMMY MARTINEZ
Age/Hometown: 30, Austin, TX

Origin of Newsboy Name: Romeo is a ladies' man who can't get the ladies.

Moment You Knew You Wanted to be a Performer: I knew I wanted to perform since I was three, when I saw The Nutcracker.

Most Cherished Stage Credit Before Newsies?: Gideon in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Favorite Newsies Number: Curtain Call.

Dream Role in Five Years? In 20 years? In five years, Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys; and in 20, Mary Sunshine in Chicago.

“Desert Island” Album, Film and TV show:
Album: Mary Poppins
Film: Legally Blonde
TV Show: Drop Dead Diva

Favorite Real-Life News Source: Yahoo News on my iPhone.

Click here to for the first part of Broadway.com’s exclusive Meet the New Newsies feature.