Bristol Riverside Theatre Launches 'Ragtime'

Bristol Riverside Theatre explores what it means to be an American with its production of "Ragtime" on March 17-April 12.

Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, "Ragtime" tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century: African Americans, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician; upper-class suburbanites, represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; and Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia.

Historical figures including Harry Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T. Washington, J. P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Stanford White, Harry Kendall Thaw, Admiral Peary, Matthew Henson, and Emma Goldman are represented in the stories. "Ragtime" is a powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century life confronting exploring America's timeless contradictions of freedom and prejudice, wealth and poverty, hope and despair.

"Ragtime" premiered in Toronto in 1996 before moving to a year-long run in Los Angeles. On Broadway, where it played for two years, it was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, winning for Best Featured Actress, Best Original Score, Best Book, and Best Orchestrations. It also received thirteen Drama Desk nominations, winning for Outstanding Musical, Book, Music, Lyrics, and Orchestrations. It had a brief revival in 2009 which earned it six Tony Award nominations and seven Drama Desk nominations.

The Tony Award-winning musical with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens is directed by Keith Baker and features Leslie Becker, Derrick Cobey, David Edwards, Tamar Greene, Michael Thomas Holmes, Matt Leisy and Ciji Prosser.

Supporting roles will be played by Ciaran Barlow as Edgar, Will Connell as Houdini, Jim Conte as Grandfather, Stephen Dagrosa as Willie Conklin, Sarah J. Gafgen as Emma Goldman, and Chelsey Jean as Evelyn Nesbitt. The ensemble includes Rajeer Alford, Amy L. Armstrong, Charles Michael Bendas, Daniel Bontempo, Elena Camp, John DiFerdinando, Jessica Gruver, Brian Michael Henry, Adam Hoyak, Angelica Jackson, Jessica M. Johnson, Walter E. Tucker, Dwayne Washington and Paul Weagraff.

"Ragtime" runs March 17-April 12 at Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA. Tickets start at $42, with discounts for students, groups and military personnel. For tickets or information, call the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100 or visit brtstage.org.