Photo Flash: Marriott Theatre's RAGTIME Celebrates Opening Night

From the volatile melting pot of New York City at the dawn of a new century, comes the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, RAGTIME, kicking off Marriott Theatre's 2018 Season, January 24 through March 18, 2018 with a press opening yesterday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Featuring a powerful score by the Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and book by four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, RAGTIME is a sweeping musical portrait of America. Seven-time Jeff Award winner Nick Bowling (The Bridges of Madison County, Man of La Mancha, The King and I) returns to Marriott Theatre to direct, with Musical Direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and Choreography by Kenneth L. Roberson.

"RAGTIME is a musical about individual people, but it shows the bigger picture of a struggling country, which is often divided by race, class, and economic standing, working together for American progress," says Director Nick Bowling. "We live in such explosive times, but often, to move forward, it is necessary to endure hardships, and I think that is what makesRAGTIME such an emotional and beautiful musical."

At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing and anything is possible. Based on the distinguished novel by E.L. Doctorow, this musical weaves together three distinctly American tales - that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician - 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, Anastasia, Seussical) and noted playwright Terrence McNally, this acclaimed musical is filled with pageantry, emotion and hope, bursting onto the stage like no other musical.

RAGTIME stars Jeff Award Winner Kathy Voytko as "Mother" (Marriott Theatre: The Bridges of Madison County, Les Misérables; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: Passion; Broadway:Oklahoma!, Nine, The Frogs, The Pirate Queen and Next to Normal); Jeff Award Winner Nathaniel Stampley as "Coalhouse Walker, Jr." (Marriott Theatre: The Bridges of Madison County, Man of La Mancha; Broadway/National Tour: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Broadway: Cats, The Color Purple and The Lion King; London: The Lion King; Apple Tree Theatre: Big River; Milwaukee Rep: Dreamgirls and Man of La Mancha); Benjamin Magnuson as "Tateh" (Broadway/National Tours: Guys and Dolls, Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables),Katherine Thomas as "Sarah" (Griffin Theatre: Ragtime; Porchlight Theatre: Dream Girls), Adam Monley as "Father" (Broadway: Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Tours: Deaf West's Big River, Phantom of the Opera), and Will Mobley as "Younger Brother" (Writers Theatre: Julius Caesar, Days Like Today; Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Short Shakespeare! Twelfth Night). RAGTIME also stars Paula Hlava as "Little Girl," Patrick Scott McDermott as "Little Boy," Jonathan Butler Duplessis as "Booker T. Washington," Christina Hall as "Emma Goldman," Michelle Lauto as "Evelyn Nesbit," Matt Deitchman as "Henry Ford," Alexander Aguilar as "Harry Houdini," Keirsten Hodgens as "Sarah's Friend," Terry Hamilton as "Grandfather," Larry Adams as "J.P. Morgan," and Ken Singleton as "Willie Conklin," with Curtis Bannister, Shea Coffman, Autumn Hlava, Christopher Kale Jones, James Earl Jones II, Ron King, Teressa LaGamba, Blace McGraw, Ben Miller, Zoe Nadal, Khadijah Rolle and Elizabeth Telford.

The production will feature set design by Jeff Kmiec, lighting design by Jesse Klug, sound design by Robert E. Gilmartin, properties design by Sally Weiss, and musical supervision and orchestra conducted by Patti Garwood.

The performance schedule for RAGTIME is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Ticket prices range from $50 to $60, including tax and handling fees. Call for student, senior and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available for purchase through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.

Photo Credit: Amy Boyle Photography

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