Damon Gillespie
On Sunday, the day before Damon Gillespie debuted in “Newsies,” Disney Theatrical announced that the show would end its Broadway run on Aug. 24.Three summers ago, Damon Gillespie was dancing on the Jukebox Junction stage at Lake Winnepesaukah. This week he made his Broadway debut.
Gillespie, a 2012 graduate of Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, has been cast as Buttons, part of the newsboys ensemble in Disney Theatrical Productions’ musical, “Newsies,” at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City.
“I’m living the dream,” says the 20-year-old dancer in a phone interview.
Gillespie had just been cast in the national touring company of “Newsies” when he was called up to New York on June 2. He had 20 days to learn the Broadway show’s choreography before making his debut on Monday night, June 23. Ironically, the day before his debut, Disney Theatrical announced “Newsies” would close on Aug. 24 after a run of two years and more than $100 million in box-office receipts, but dwindling ticket sales in recent months.
Attempts to reach Gillespie after word of the closing were unsuccessful this week, but even two months on a Broadway stage adds a strong credit to Gillespie’s resume.