Rachel York Joins Cast of Paper Mill’s Ragtime

It has just been announced that Rachel York has joined the cast of the upcoming production of Ragtime at the Paper Mill Playhouse, in the role of Mother. Jayne Paterson, originally cast in the role, had to withdraw from the production due to a family emergency.

York comes to Ragtime directly from her critically acclaimed performance in another Stephen Flaherty-Lynn Ahrens musical, Dessa Rose, which will end its limited engagement at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi Newhouse Theater on May 29.

Ragtime has music by Flaherty, lyrics by Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally, based on the E.L. Doctorow novel of the same title. Set at the beginning of the 20th century, the musical tells the stories of three remarkable families — one upper-middle class WASP, one socialist immigrant Jewish, and one black — as their lives become intertwined.

Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz) is directing the Paper Mill production, which will feature choreography by Liza Gennaro and musical direction by David Loud. The cast also includes Neal Benari as Tateh, Quentin Earl Darrington as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., David Hess as Father, Kenita Miller as Sarah, and Shonn Wiley as Younger Brother.

Performances of Ragtime will begin on Wednesday, June 8, with the official opening set for June 12. The show will run through Sunday, July 17.