Ragtime, With Brian Stokes Mitchell and Brandon Victor Dixon, Sets Sail on Ellis Island
(© Joan Marcus)
Ragtime heads to Ellis Island tonight for a star-studded site-specific production of the American musical. Directed by Sammi Cannold, the developmental concert will be performed in anticipation of a full production in 2017. Madeline Smith serves as music director.
The company will feature Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland) as Mother, Tony and Grammy nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Hamilton) as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Emmy winner Michael Park (Dear Evan Hansen) as Father, Robert Petkoff (reprising his 2009 Ragtime Broadway revival role of Tateh), Shaina Taub (Hadestown) as Emma Goldman, Cooper Grodin (Phantom of the Opera: 25th Anniversary Tour) as Harry K. Thaw, Aisha Jackson (Waitress) as Sarah, Jeremy Morse (Waitress) as Harry Houdini, Rod Singleton as Booker T. Washington, Annie Sherman as Evelyn Nesbit, Andy Mientus (Spring Awakening) as Younger Brother, Bradley Gibson as Matthew Henson, Joe Harkins as Grandfather, Philip Paul Kelly as Admiral Peary, Hudson Loverro as Little Boy, Paul Slade Smith as J.P. Morgan, Aviva Winick as Little Girl, and Georgia Engel (John) making a special appearance as Houdini's mother.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, who led the cast of the show's original Broadway production, will serve as the evening's narrator. Ragtime original cast members Larry Daggett and Allyson Tucker will also take part.
Completing the ensemble are David Andre, Kyra Atekwana, Douglas Baldeo, Matt DaSilva, Dwelvan David, Tess Davison, Vincent D'Elia, Alison England, Louis Lagalante, Drew Martin, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Christopher Michael McLamb, Monet, Chelsea Moss, Marilyn O'Connell, Robert Poole, Sam Simahk, Melina Soberg, Nadia Soberg, Ali Stoner, Franca Vercelloni, Aurelia Williams, Jessica Tyler Wright, Katherine Wright, Jaden Waldman, and Carly Waldman.
With music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally, Ragtime follows three families in pursuit of the American dream at the start of the 20th century. Based on the novel by E. L. Doctorow, the show first opened on Broadway in 1998.
The concert will be held in Ellis Island's historic Registry Room, through which 12 million immigrants passed between 1892 and 1954, and will feature a selection of songs that highlight Ragtime's discussion of American identity. Following the performance, audience members will explore Ellis Island's exhibits and Family Immigration Center.
