That’s Rich! Original Newsies Star Capathia Jenkins Will Return Prior to Show’s Final Broadway Bow

She's healthy, she's wealthy, she's wise! Original Newsies star Capathia Jenkins tweeted that she will return to the musical as vaudeville showgirl Medda Larkin and a source close to the production has confirmed that she will begin performances on July 15. Jenkins originally left the Disney tuner on September 9, 2012. The role is currently played by LaVon Fisher-Wilson. The show, which features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein, will play its final performance at the Nederlander Theatre on August 24 before a national tour launches in October.

In addition to Newsies, Jenkins has appeared on Broadway in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Caroline, or Change, The Look of Love and The Civil War.

Based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name, Newsies follows a young New York City newsboy who leads a group of orphans in a protest against Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. The musical took home two Tonys in 2012: Best Score and Best Choreography. In addition to Fisher-Wilson, the cast currently includes Corey Cott, John Dossett, Liana Hunt, Ben Fankhauser and Andy Richardson.