Andy Richardson to Replace Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Newsies's Next Crutchie

Newsies ensemble member Andy Richardson will assume the role of Crutchie in the Tony-nominated musical beginning March 11. Richardson will replace Andrew Keenan-Bolger, who is leaving to star in the pre-Broadway world premiere of the new musical Tuck Everlasting. No exact final performance for Keenan-Bolger has been announced at this time.

Richardson currently plays the role of newsboy Romeo in Newsies. He made his Broadway debut in as Danny Who in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and later performed alongside Patti LuPone in Gypsy. He has been a part of the Newsies cast since the musical’s original run at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse.

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.

In addition to Keenan-Bolger and Cott, Newsies currently stars John Dossett as Joseph Pulitzer, Kara Lindsay as Katherine Plumber, Ben Fankhauser as Davey and LaVon Fisher-Wilson as Medda.

Featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein, Newsies opened on March 29 and received eight Tony nominations. The musical went on to become the fastest recouping Broadway show in Disney history.