Ragtime: Timely Broadway Revival Resonates

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

E. L. Doctorow's inspired novel Ragtime first came to life on Broadway as a musical in 1997. The production was successful and earned substantial praise. However, ten years later Ragtime's resonance seems even more profound. Themes of class struggle, racism, immigration, celebrity, and the complexity of the American Dream unfold in a brilliant mosaic of rich characters and alluring songs. Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine had the opportunity to experience the new incarnation of Ragtime at a recent press preview, and talk with some of the stars from the production.

Broadway Show: Rag Time

"As a creative team, we got involved because a producer contacted us. He had the rights to E.L. Doctorow's novel, and thought it would make a wonderful musical-and we all agreed. And, here we are today, about 15 years after the beginning, ready to do it all over again," reflects lyricist Lynn Ahrens to Broadway.tv. Ms. Ahrens earned at Tony Award for her work on Ragtime in 1998. Tony Awards for the first run of Ragtime also went to Terrence McNally for his book of the book and Stephen Flaherty for his music. Overall, the original Broadway production netted an impressive 13 Tony Award nominations.

However, even more remarkable is the enthusiasm that has greeted the current revival following its sold-out run in Washington at the Kennedy Center. Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Variety said the musical "couldn't be more timely" and critic Peter Marks from the Washington Post praised the ingenuity of this particular staging. Against our current historical landscape, the themes explored in the musical Ragtime seem wildly relevant.

"The story of Ragtime follows three families as the confluence of events at the turn of the century impact their lives. I play Father, who is the head of the New Rochelle family. There are two other families: an immigrant family and an African American family from Harlem. The story is about how their lives intertwine, impact, and ultimately explode together," succinctly summarizes actor Ron Bohmer.

"I play Tateh. He's a Latvian immigrant who comes to America in search of the American Dream. He wants to make a better life for himself, and mostly for his daughter, a little girl in the show," shares Robert Pekoff as he discusses his character.

At the press preview, the epic cast of 40 of the new revival performed numbers from the production in addition to speaking with the press. The production also features a 28 piece orchestra.

"We sang a son called Wheels Of A Dream," smiles Stephanie Umoh, who plays Sarah in the upcoming revival with co-star Quentin Earl Darringtion, who plays the role of Coalhouse Walker Jr. at her side, "My character Sarah has decided to allow Coalhouse back in to her life."

"This is both of our debuts...It hits me sometimes, but I think it's going to hit us hardest when we are on-stage for opening night," laughs Stephanie, considering the fact that Ragtime will mark her first time on Broadway.

"Probably opening night," nods Quentin with a smile.

With enthusiastic reviews in DC, a timely story, and a Tony Award winning score and book, the cast of the new revival of Ragtime have a lot to smile and be confident about. Previews begin October 23. Watch the full video feature on Ragtime right here on Broadway.tv.