Meet Newsies Standout Ryan Steele and Hear How the Michigan Boy Went from Ballet to Broadway

In the newest installment of Gotta Dance!, Broadway.com gets to hear about a dancer’s life firsthand from Ryan Steele, the Newsies dancer who has eyes popping and jaws dropping at the Nederlander Theatre. This Michigan native started taking dance class as a boy and soon found dance (particularly ballet) to be his passion. Though he had a classical dance position lined up, Steele went out on a limb and auditioned at an open call for the Broadway revival of West Side Story. Soon, Steele landed the role of Baby John and has been dancing on the boards since. Click below to see his headline-making photo shoot with Matthew Murphy and be sure to see him work his magic as Specs in Newsies.

Watch the video below to hear how about the call that changed Ryan Steele’s destiny and sidelined his ballet dreams.

About the Photographer
Matthew Murphy is a New York City-based photographer specializing in theater and dance. His work appears regularly in the Arts and Leisure section of The New York Times and additional credits include Bravo TV, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Village Voice, Dance Magazine, The Financial Times and The New York Post. He is a former member of American Ballet Theatre. For more information visit MurphyMade.com.

Additional Credits: Hair & makeup by Ariel Vega; styling by David Withrow; production assistant: Kevin Thomas Garcia; Photo Post Production: Matthew Murphy & Jennifer Dunne