Photos: First Look At RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL At Bergen County Players

Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, opened its 90th season to raves with one of the most ambitious productions ever mounted by BCP - Ragtime: The Musical. Performances run through October 15 with shows on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sunday afternoons at 2pm. Tickets to Ragtime: The Musical, priced at $29.00, can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours.

Nominated for 13 Tony Awards, and winning for Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations, Ragtime: The Musical was called by Time Magazine "A triumph for the stage," and by the International Herald Tribune "the best musical in twenty years."

Based on the best-selling novel by E.L. Doctorow, this acclaimed sweeping musical tapestry is filled with pageantry, emotion, and hope, bursting onto the stage like no other musical. Ragtime: The Musical tells the story of three families trying to find their way during the turn of the twentieth century in New York City; each struggling with the changing cultural climate in America and each facing the promise of hope and new beginnings in the midst of prejudice and bigotry. A stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician are each united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together, they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair... and what it means to live in America.

Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island, Seussical and Anastasia), noted playwright Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Catch Me If You Can), Ragtime: The Musical will bring together a multi-ethnic cast of characters, portrayed by both BCP veterans and newcomers alike who together will bring the show to life with enthusiasm and ardor.

Ragtime: The Musical is directed by BCP Life Member Larry Landsman of Wyckoff. Larry has directorial credits ranging from musicals (The Music Man, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Into the Woods, The Full Monty), to plays (A Few Good Men, Lost in Yonkers, Accomplice), as well as numerous live radio broadcasts. BCP audiences have enjoyed his performances in Art (Perry Award, Outstanding Actor in a Play), Oliver!, Lend Me a Tenor, and Laughter on the 23rd Floor, to name a few. Larry is the president of AEP Media, a full-service television production company.

The talented cast includes Ari Mack of New City, NY as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Rich Ardito of Ramsey as Tateh, Kay Koch of Haledon as Mother, Owen Sheridan of Leonia as Father, Peter Stoffan of Hoboken as Little Brother, Jacob Beser of Ridgewood as Edgar/Little Boy, Josephine Martin of New York, NY as Little Girl, Miranda Holliday of Columbus as Sarah, Nick Butler of Thompson Ridge, NY as Booker T. Washington, Michael Serpe of Yonkers, NY as Harry Houdini, Bill Cantor of Woodcliff Lake as Grandfather, Larry Wilbur of Mahwah as J.P. Morgan/Admiral Peary, John Rathgeb of Verona as Henry Ford, Alyson Cohn of Wyckoff as Emma Goldman, Melissa Miller of River Vale as Evelyn Nesbit, Brendan Garnett of Maplewood as Matthew Henson, Robert G. Ouellette of Westwood as Stanford White/Charles S. Whitman, Dan Loverro of Paterson as Harry K. Thaw, Debbie Zika of Hillsdale as Kathleen, Chelsea-Ann Jones as Sarah's Friend, Daniel Giordano of Leonia as Willie Conklin, Janica Carpenter of Old Tappan as Brigit, and Ethan Cherubin-Johnson of Midland Park as Coalhouse Walker III.

Rounding out the cast is Elisabeth Julia of Paterson, Angelina Aragona of Township of Washington, Yaritza Liz of New Milford, Lori Feiler-Fluger of River Edge, Eric Holzer of Bloomfield, Daisha Davis of Newark, Pauline Quinones of Elmsford, NY, Reginald Bennett Jr. of Teaneck, Nasir Roper of Newark, and Duane Banks of Union.

The production team is comprised of Larry Landsman (Director), Michele Roth (Co-Producer), Nancy Feldman (Co-Producer), Matt D'Elia (Producer Mentee), Steve Bell (Musical Director), Geri Berhain (Assistant to the Director), Mark Rinis (Dramaturge), Joycela Evans (Stage Manager), Beatrice Howell and Diana Baer (Co-Choreographer), Elisabeth Julia (Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain), Samantha DiBari (Production Intern), Gerard Bourcier (Set Design/Set Construction), Jody Laufer (Set Construction), Marci K. Weinstein (Décor), Lauren Zenreich (Décor), Alan Zenreich (Special Photography/Projection Design), Rob DeScherer (Sound Design), Allan Seward (Lighting Design), Kathleen Ruland (Lighttp://www.bcplayers.orghting Operation), Barry Reed (Sound Operation), Edie Orlando (Make-up), Bunny Mateosian, Katie Lupfer and Lynne Lupfer (Costumes), Christine Francois (Armorer), Ron Siclari (Crew Chief), Rob Kopil (Crew), Eric Holzer (Publicity), Staci Beth Block (Team Building Coach), Lynne Lupfer, Geri Berhain and Sharon Podsada (Ragtime Study Guide), Paula Cantor (Special Marketing), Marci K. Weinstein (Special Marketing), Megan Larsen and Theresa Taylor (Hair/Wigs), Barbra Murtha, Joellen Tierney, Laura Dinoia and Richard Ciero (Properties), Michael Serpe (Fight Choreographer), Richard Ciero and Debbie Buchsbaum (COVID Captains), Katie Lupfer (Member-at-Large), Marci K. Weinstein (Program Bios), and Jennifer Cottone (Website/ Publicity).

Acting on its desire to keep its members and patrons safe, new and upgraded MERV filters have been installed on all HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units, as well as UV lights on all HVAC units to help eradicate airborne pathogens. Bergen County Players strongly encourages its patrons to be vaccinated for Covid-19 but will not require proof of vaccination in order to enter the building. The use of face coverings/masks is also very strongly recommended. Reminders of that recommendation will be visible throughout the facility and stated by our Front-of-House staff before each event.

All performances take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home to the Bergen County Players since 1949. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.

Tickets for Ragtime: The Musical are $29 for all performances. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.

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