Capathia Jenkins Joins Broadway Cast of Newsies

Broadway vet Capathia Jenkins is set to play Medda in the forthcoming Broadway production of Newsies. Directed by Jeff Calhoun and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, Newsies begins previews on March 15 at the Nederlander Theatre. With an official opening night on March 29, the musical will play a limited engagement until June 10.

Jenkins joins previously announced cast members Jeremy Jordan (Jack Kelly), John Dossett (Joseph Pulitzer), Kara Lindsay (Katherine Plumber), Ben Fankhauser (Davey), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie), and Lewis Grosso and Matthew Schechter (alternating in the role of Les).

Newsies, based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name, is based on the true story of the Newsboy Strike of 1899. The musical follows Jack Kelly (Jordan), a young newsboy in New York City who leads a strike against powerful newspaper publishers, including William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Jenkins plays Medda, a vaudeville star and friend to the newsboys.

Jenkins made her Broadway debut in The Civil War, and has appeared in The Look of Love, Caroline, or Change and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. Her film and TV credits include 30 Rock, The Practice, The Sopranos and the upcoming film, Musical Chairs.