Character guide
Medda Larkin
from Newsies
Medda Larkin is a warm-hearted vaudeville performer in Newsies who offers the newsboys a safe haven and a friendly ear amid the turmoil of the strike.
- Show
- Newsies
- Broadway premiere
- 2012
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Alan Menken
Medda Larkin: from the film to Broadway
Broadway compared with the 1992 Disney film
The name changed between versions: Ann-Margret played Medda Larkson in the 1992 film, a sympathetic performer with a venue on the Bowery, while the stage musical renamed her Medda Larkin. Capathia Jenkins originated the stage role on Broadway in 2012. On stage she runs a vaudeville theatre that shelters the newsies and hosts their climactic rally, and Jack paints her scenery.
Her music changed as well. On screen Ann-Margret sings My Lovey-Dovey Baby and joins High Times, Hard Times. The musical replaced both film songs with a single new number for Medda, That's Rich.
Who is Medda Larkin?
Medda runs a theater that serves as a gathering place for Jack Kelly and his friends, offering them both entertainment and refuge from the pressures of the street. She is a maternal, generous figure in the newsboys' lives, someone who believes in Jack's dreams and supports the boys even when the odds are against them.
Her theater setting also gives the show an opportunity to showcase a different kind of stagecraft within the story, contrasting the glitz of vaudeville performance with the grit of the newsboys' daily hustle.
Medda's role in Newsies
Medda is a supporting role that calls for a performer with a big, confident voice and real stage charisma, since she is meant to command a theater within the world of the show. The part also requires warmth and generosity of spirit, since Medda's function in the story is to be a source of comfort and encouragement for the younger characters.
Though her stage time is limited compared to the leads, Medda tends to leave a strong impression, thanks to the combination of vocal power and genuine affection the character brings to her scenes.
Why Medda resonates with audiences
Medda resonates because she represents kindness and stability in a story full of upheaval. She asks nothing of the newsboys in return for her generosity, and that unconditional support makes her a comforting presence for both the characters and the audience, especially during the show's more tense or uncertain stretches.
Medda Larkin: frequently asked questions
What show is Medda Larkin from?
Medda Larkin appears in Newsies, the musical with music by Alan Menken.
Is Medda Larkin a lead or supporting role?
Medda is a supporting role, known for her strong vocal moments and warm presence.
What is Medda's connection to the newsboys?
Medda runs a theater that serves as a refuge and gathering spot for Jack Kelly and the other newsboys throughout the show.
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