It's His Time for Ragtime Star Quentin Earl Darrington

Age: 31

Hometown: Lakeland, Florida

Currently: Making his Broadway debut as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a honky-tonk pianist from Harlem whose unbending response to bigotry creates dramatic fireworks in the Broadway revival of Ragtime.

Yes, He Can: There’s nothing jaded about this Broadway newcomer, whose conversation bubbles with thankfulness and joy. Yet Darrington admits that his career path has had its share of bumps, beginning in childhood. His first drama class, in seventh grade, “totally connected with my spirit,” he recalls, and teachers urged him to apply to the local performing arts high school. “I said, ‘No, no, no, no, no’—my big brother was a huge high school football star, getting ready to become an even bigger star at Florida State, and I wanted to do the same thing.” Deciding to audition just for the experience, young “Q” was accepted and defied his unsupportive parents and friends who “thought I was crazy” to enroll. Fifteen years later, his Ragtime bio includes a shout-out to drama teacher Paul Hughes, who’ll fly up for opening night: “When I was going through the worst rejection, Mr. Hughes was always there. Theater became my haven.”

Service with a Smile: After graduating from the University of South Florida, Darrington moved first to Indianapolis and later to Chicago while touring in shows such as The Color Purple (as Pa) and The Lion King (understudying Mufasa). To keep himself grounded, the actor sought ways to volunteer in every city he visited. “Young people ask me, ‘What’s the key to success?’ and I always say, 'Serve others,’” he declares. "Wherever I go, I look for a way to connect to people, whether at nursing homes, children’s centers, shelters, whatever. So many people I’ve worked with, from Mr. Hughes on, have had hearts of service, and all of them instilled that in me. Volunteering gives purpose to what we do.”

Ragtime Times Three: Darrington has had three opportunities to consider how the complicated role of Coalhouse Walker, Jr., should be played. He headlined Ragtime’s first non-Equity tour in 2001, starred in a 2005 re-creation of the London production at Paper Mill Playhouse, then took the lead in Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s Kennedy Center mounting last spring, which transferred to Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre. And yes, it was worth waiting a decade to play the part in New York. “It’s actually perfect timing,” he says, “not only with my age but the experiences I’ve had in my life. I have children of my own now, so that totally informs what I do onstage. I’ve had to go through the same kind of struggles in my personal life—being an artist and trying to maintain a home and family—that Coalhouse has to deal with.”

Daddy’s Son(s): Just as Coalhouse sings of his dreams for his newborn son, Darrington speaks lovingly of shuttling back and forth to Champaign, Illinois, to see his three little boys, who are six, almost four and almost two. “Broadway is a dream come true, but it can’t come before my children,” he says. "We Skype every day on the computer, and I try to see them at least every two weeks.” Fatherhood has helped add an element of playfulness to his Ragtime performance, Darrington adds: “Coalhouse is a man of hopes and dreams, and it’s fun to bring the sense of optimism I have with my kids into my performance.”

Gettin’ Ready Rag: Asked to sum up his Broadway experience thus far, Darrington says, “It’s definitely emotionally draining. I give 10,000 percent when I’m out there, but I love the challenge of that journey.” The rising star got a boost when he met the man who created his role, Brian Stokes Mitchell, at the recent Broadway Flea Market. “He was so nice and so loving,” Darrington says warmly. “You know, you can have all the talent in the world, but what really matters is your heart. Do you love people? I had heard that about him, and when we were introduced, he smiled and said, ‘How you doin’ Coalhouse?’ That was surreal!”