Ragtime Extends For One Week; Revival to Close January 10

The Broadway revival of Ragtime will now close on January 10, 2010. The show had posted a closing date of January 3 earlier this week but, due to ticket demand, will now play an additional week of performances.

Based on the epic novel by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime features a score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, a book by Terrence McNally and direction and choreography by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The musical turns back the clock to the dawn of the 20th century—a time when anything was possible and ragtime music filled the air. New York City was the land of opportunity. A poor Jewish immigrant sells his “moving picture” books on the street. A wealthy Victorian couple welcomes a runaway into their home. A Harlem jazz pianist turns an issue of justice into a revolution. Their personal journeys come alive as historic figures (among them escape artist Harry Houdini, auto tycoon Henry Ford, educator Booker T. Washington, and infamous entertainer Evelyn Nesbit) offer guidance and diversion. Together, their stories celebrate the struggle between tradition and independence all in pursuit of the American dream.

Ragtime’s cast of 40 (plus 28 musicians) includes Ron Bohmer (Father), Quentin Earl Darrington (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), Christiane Noll (Mother), Robert Petkoff (Tateh), Bobby Steggert (Mother’s Younger Brother), Stephanie Umoh (Sarah), Christopher Cox (The Little Boy), Sarah Rosenthal (The Little Girl), Mark Aldrich (Willie Conklin), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Henry Ford), Jonathan Hammond (Harry Houdini), Dan Manning (Grandfather), Michael X. Martin (J.P. Morgan), Mike McGowan (Stanford White), Donna Migliaccio (Emma Goldman), Josh Walden (Harry K. Thaw), Savannah Wise (Evelyn Nesbit) and Eric Jordan Young (Booker T. Washington).

The revival of Ragtime started previews at the Neil Simon Theatre on October 23 and opened on November 15. At the time of its closing, it will have played 28 previews and 65 regular performances.