The fantastic Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts production of Ragtime is heading to Broadway! The scaled-back production, with an amazingly large and talented cast, while definitely not as technically superior to the original production which opened at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (in 1998), was critically-acclaimed and absolutely incredible! I had the privilege of seeing the Kennedy production in Washington, DC a little over a month ago and knew that a production of such high lavish quality would definitely be making it to the Great White Way. Here’s the story, which is currently the front-page headline from Playbill:
According to an Actors’ Equity casting notice, the Stephen Flaherty-Lynn Ahrens-Terrence McNally musical will be produced on Broadway by The Kennedy Center, Kevin McCollum, Emanuel Azenberg, Max Cooper, Maberry Theatricals, Jeffrey Sine, Scott Delman, Roy Furman and Roger Berlind. Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who directed and choreographed the D.C. production, will repeat her duties for Broadway as will music director James Moore. Rehearsal dates, preview date and opening date are to be announced, according to the casting notice.
No casting has been announced; in fact, the casting notice reads, “Casting Director states that all roles are currently available.” Based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel, Ragtime features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Ragtime originally opened on Broadway at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 18, 1998, playing 834 performances before closing Jan. 16, 2000. The original company featured Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald and Marin Mazzie.
“At the start of the 20th century,” Ragtime press notes state, “New York City was for many the land of opportunity. Through a poor Jewish immigrant selling wares on the street, a wealthy Victorian couple offering aid to a runaway, and a Harlem jazz pianist out for justice, that unique brand of American hope runs strong. Together, their stories celebrate the