Tony Nominee Ron Raines to Bully the Boys of Newsies as Joseph Pulitzer

The rowdy boys of Newsies have someone new to rebel against. Tony nominee Ron Raines will assume the devious role of Joseph Pulitzer in Disney’s popular musical beginning October 9 at the Nederlander Theatre. Raines will step in for the show's original star John Dossett through December 16. Dossett is departing the production to appear in the Public Theater’s new musical Giant.

Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies follows Jack Kelly (Corey Cott), a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged boys, who dreams of a better life far from the hardships of the streets. When publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike. Featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein, Newsies opened on March 29 and received eight Tony Award nominations.

Raines received a Tony nomination earlier this year for playing Ben Stone in the Kennedy Center revival of Follies, a part he later recreated in Los Angeles. His other Broadway credits include Chicago, Teddy & Alice and Show Boat. He is a three-time Emmy nominee for his work on the soap opera Guiding Light and has starred in numerous regional musical productions.

Relive Raines' performance of "Live, Laugh, Love" from Follies by clicking below!