Theatre and Dance Students Star in Disney's "Newsies" at Shea's 710 Theatre

UB Theatre and Dance (THD) students and graduates are in demand with professional theater companies in Buffalo and nationally. We’re proud to announce that ten current and former THD students will appear in the Kavinoky Theatre’s production of “Newsies” at Shea’s 710 Theatre this September! https://www.kavinokytheatre.com/newsies

KRIS BARTOLOMEO (’21 Music Theatre BFA) plays SPECS/SPOT CONLON. He has also recently been seen in The Rocky Horror Show (Frank ‘N’ Furter), The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric), Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio), and Kinky Boots (Lola’s Angel).

RYAN BUTLER is a sophomore Music Theatre BFA at UB. He appears as DAVEY and is making his Shea's 710 debut in Newsies. Ryan is a sophomore music theatre major. He is a Kenny Award winner and Jimmy awards Nominee. Past favorite credits include Something Rotten (Shakespeare), Newsies (Jack), Pete the Cat (Jimmy), and 9 to 5 (Hart).

JACK CATENA is a senior Music Theatre BFA with a Dance Minor, and plays HENRY. While in college, Jack has had the opportunity to be in O’Connell & Company’s Chicago, play Editor in Renascence at UB, and Scarecrow in Timber Lake Playhouse’s Wizard of Oz.

GLEN CHITTY (’24 Music Theatre BFA) portrays JACK KELLY and makes his Kavinoky debut with Newsies. Favorite credits include White Christmas (Phil Davis), The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay), Renasence (Father), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino). You can see what’s next @glen.chitty on social media!

THOMAS EVANS (’20 Music Theatre BFA) plays ALBERT/BUNSEN/STAGE MANAGER, and was last seen with D'Youville Kavinoky in Rock of Ages as Joey Primo/Ensemble. His other recent credits include: Legally Blonde, Guys and Dolls, and Twelfth Night (Musicalfare), Romance/Romance (O'Connell & Company), and Great Expectations (ICTC).

ANNA FERNANDEZ (’21 Music Theatre BFA) plays HANNAH/NUN/BOWERY BEAUTY/MEDDA UNDERSTUDY. Past credits include Legally Blonde (Margot), Kinky Boots (Nicola), and A Chorus Line (Diana Morales).

TIMIYAH LOVE (’21 Music Theatre BFA) appears as NUN/BOWERY BEAUTY/KATHERINE UNDERSTUDY and is also making her Kavinoky debut. Most recent credits include Mimi in Rent and Whatsername in American Idiot with Bellissima Productions, Cleopatra and others in Well Behaved Women, Shirley/Ensemble in Beautiful, Factory Worker/Ensemble in Kinky Boots and Beehive with Musicalfare.

MATTHEW RITTLER (’18 Music Theatre BFA) plays CRUTCHIE. This is his first production with the Kavinoky. Recent credits include O’Connell & Company’s Plaid Tidings (Sparky), Lancaster Opera House’s The Producers (Carmen Ghia), and Alleyway Theatre’s Kragtar! The American Monster Musical (Jr. Congressman Sullivan).

SEAN RYAN (’16 Music Theatre BFA) plays SEITZ/JACK KELLY UNDERSTUDY/DANCE CAPTAIN) and is making his Kavinoky debut. Previous Buffalo credits: Tick, Tick…Boom! (Jonathan, Artie Award Nominee), Beautiful (Gerry Goffin), Legally Blonde (Emmett), Pippin (Pippin). National Tour: Rent 20th Anniversary Tour (Swing, Mark u/s, Dance Captain), Cinderella (Swing), Fame: The Musical (Ensemble, Nick u/s). @seanzyryan

WILLIAM SCHMIDT is a freshman Dance BA at UB who has also danced for nine years at Kiptom Dance Studio in Buffalo, NY. He plays TOMMY BOY. Over the years, William has participated in numerous competitions and conventions, achieving notable rankings such as a runner-up for solos at the Summerdanse Competition and the Empire Dance Challenge. He has participated in conventions for Dance Masters of America for the past two years as well.