RAGTIME Plays Strand Theatre, 9/28-10/7; Terrence McNally Accepts ACLU's Beacon of Liberty Award at Boston Gala, 9/15

Fiddlehead Theatre Company, in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union, with the support of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, City of Boston, announce an exciting new production of the Tony Award-winning musical RAGTIME. The production runs September 28-October 7, 2012 at Boston's Historic Strand Theatre, and aims to celebrate the work of the ACLU, and in particular keep issues of personal liberty at the forefront of people's minds during the upcoming elections.

On September 15, 2012, at a special gala in Boston, RAGTIME creator Terrence McNally will accept the ACLU's Beacon of Liberty Award on behalf of himself and fellow creators Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

"I am delighted that Fiddlehead's production of Ragtime will open its 2012–13 season," states Mayor Menino, applauding the new production and the significance of its staging at the historic venue. "The City invests in The Strand because we recognize that it is an irreplaceable part of Dorchester's community and culture."

According to Fiddlehead Theatre's Artistic Director Meg Fofonoff, "We are very excited about the opportunity to share this incredible musical and give back, both at the national level with the ACLU, and locally, while building a community through performance at The Strand, and work with Mayor Menino to do this in Uphams Corner."

This production features a 42 member professional cast, (from New York, Boston and beyond), a 16 piece orchestra and a prestigious management, design and production team, including: Executive Producer/Director, Meg Fofonoff; Associate Producers Meghan Kenny and Marco Zanelli; Music Director, Matthew Stern; Choreographer, Anne McAlexander; Set Designer, Janie Howland; Lighting Designer Zach Blane; and Costume Designer, Jennifer Tremblay (whose work was recently featured in movies for HBO and Lifetime).

RAGTIME won Tony Awards for Best Score, Book, and Orchestrations in 1998. Based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families confronting timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America in the 20th Century. RAGTIME features show-stopping songs such as "Getting Ready Rag," "Your Daddy's Son," "Wheels of a Dream," "Till We Reach That Day," "Back to Before" and "Make Them Hear You."

Fiddlehead Theatre Company is dedicated to bringing quality theater and theater education to the Greater Boston area. We choose classic and new plays and musicals that can enrich people's lives with the beauty of music and story. At the same time we strive to find theater that can touch on the issues of today and help us all in making the world the better place. We also aim to challenge the thinking of our actors and audiences alike. Most of all we want our audiences to leave uplifted, touched, energized and renewed.

The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

The mission of the Strand Theatre is to serve as a cultural and educational resource to artists and audiences regardless of race or cultural background, age, ability, gender, economic level, or sexual orientation. Central to the Strand's mission is the development and implementation of youth arts educations programs. The Strand Theatre has a special commitment to the surrounding communities of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan.

RAGTIME will perform at Dorchester's historic Strand Theater, 543 Columbia Rd. in Boston, from September 28 (press performance and talkback)- October 7th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm and Thursday, October 4th at 7:30pm. Ticket prices $45-Orchestra, $39-Mezzanine, $35-Balcony, $32 seniors and children, $25-Student. For tickets or more information, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.fiddleheadtheatre.com. For more information and group sales (10 or more) call Show of The Month at 617-338-1111.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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