CenterStage: Jewish Community Center Presents RAGTIME, 10/25-11/11

Ragtime, The Musical sweeps into CenterStage at the Jewish Community Center, running October 25 - November 11, 2012. For tickets, call (502) 459-0660 or go online at www.CenterStageJCC.org.

Ragtime, the Tony Award-winning musical, tells a story of American triumph and tragedy at the dawn of the 20th century. Based on the acclaimed novel by E.L. Doctorow, and with a book by Terrence McNally (Kiss of the Spider Woman) and music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on this Island, Seussical) Ragtime tells the saga of three distinctly American families whose lives intersect as they are swept along by the currents of history. Rich and poor, black and white, established citizens and brand new immigrants, all thrill to the possibilities and tremble at the challenges of a nation on the brink of a new era.

Set in New York in 1906, the story weaves together fictional characters and historical figures such as Booker T. Washington, Emma Goldman, J.P. Morgan, Harry Houdini and Henry Ford. Front and center are the issues that continue to test and tantalize us today - wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, the silly and the sublime.

Ahrens and Flaherty’s gorgeous Tony-winning score ranges from foot-tapping ragtime and soul-touching klezmer to soaring, heartrending ballads, Tin Pan Alley melodies and rousing anthems. After opening on Broadway, the musical went on to win the 1998 Tony Awards for Best Score, Book and Orchestration and Best Featured Actress for Audra McDonald, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical and Best Show.

Directed by CenterStage Artistic Director John Leffert, with musical direction by Jay Schwandt and choreography by Kate Reedy, Ragtime features a cast of 35 including CenterStage veterans Alonzo Richmond and Tymika Prince as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and Sarah, Jeremy Moon and Emily Fields as Father and Mother, and Monty Fields as Tateh.

Production designer Michael Hottois of the University of Louisville Theatre Arts Department, whose work has been seen at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in New York, is doing the scenic design.

Leffert notes, “Ragtime has one of the most powerful and beautiful scores in all of musical theater. It is rich in history and cleverly weaves together the threads of the story of America from many different points of view. I am very excited to bring the musical to CenterStage.”

Performances are October 25, 27, November 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., and October 28, November 4 and 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18 in advance or $20 at the door and are on sale now. Call 459-0660 or visit www.CenterStageJCC.org to reserve tickets for this beautiful and thrilling musical.