Run to 'RAGTIME' at the Kennedy Center

The Baltimore/Washington theater public has been the recipient of great musicals recently. The Arena Stage presented Next to Normal which could conceivably win the Tony Award for Best Musical, the Signature Theatre (which IS receiving the 2009 Tony Award for Best Regional Theater) had Les Miserables, Center Stage featured E. Faye Butler in Caroline or Change, Metro Stage had success with Doors (which made it to Off-Broadway), and now the Kennedy Center is presenting its very own production of the masterpiece Ragtime through May 17.

Thanks to the generosity of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Series for Artistic Excellence, the Kennedy Center is presenting one of the most beautiful musicals ever to hit the Broadway stage. One of my favorite songs by lyricist Lynn Ahrens is called "Back to Before". Sung by Mother (the impeccable Chistiane Noll), she sings "You Can Never go Back to Before".  I thought of that lyric relating to going back in time to the Broadway season in 1998 when Ragtime opened the beautifully restored Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

I also recall watching the Tony Awards that year and saw Ragtime win the Tony for Best Book, Score and Orchestration. . Then Audra McDonald (who played Sarah) got the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Non-singer Alan Cumming (Cabaret) won for Best Actor in a Musical over the incredible Brian Stokes Mitchell. Even so, I still was convinced Ragtime would get the Tony but as we all know The Lion King prevailed.

Had Ragtime prevailed, I'm confident it would have run for more than the 834 performances it presented. For those unable to have seen that production, we can "go back to before" and witness a gem of a musical thanks to this wonderful Kennedy Center production which I predict will eventually make its way to Broadway 

You can see the wonderful rave reviews in the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun.  Even the national publication "The Week" just gave it "Four Stars".

Director/Choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge (remember that name) has assembled a top-rate cast and thankfully, there is a lush sound emanating from a 28 piece orchestra under the capable hands of music director Jams Moore  so Stephen Flaherty's music can heard loud and clear.

Leading the cast in the pivotal role of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. is Quentin Earl Darrington whose powerful yet sensuous voice is fit for the task.  I thoroughly enjoyed Jennlee Shallow as Sarah. The Caribbean born actress coincidentally has played the role of Nala in The Lion King.

Playing the tough role of Tateh, the Jewish immigrant, is Manoel Felciano, who is best known for his Tony-nominated role of Toby in Sweeney Todd. Felciano shines in this challenging part.  Playing Tateh's young daughter is Sarah Rosenthal. The Baltimore native, 13, is making her professional debut and what a way to start.

Ron Bohmer tackles the obnoxious role of Father.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bobby Steggert as Mother's Younger Brother. He reminds me of a young Robert Morse and look for him in a revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He has that cute charisma about him.

Other standouts are Eric Jordan Young, who plays a powerful Booker T. Washington, Jonathan Hammond as Harry Houdini, David Garry as J.P. Morgan, and Donna Migliaccio as Emma Goldman.  (You can see the original Emma Goldman, Judy Kaye, starring in the hilarious Souvenir at Center Stage through May 24.)

A local favorite of mine Dan Manning (I've seen him at the Round House, Everyman,,  and Center Stage) is terrific as Grandfather, Judge, and in The Ensemble.

This $4.4 million revival features a cast of 37 and an 8 ton steel erector set-style design by Derek McLane, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm and the original costume design by Santo Loquasto. It also helps that the production is performed in the more intimate Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater than the larger Opera House

The writers of Ragtime certainly seem prescient in the anthem "The Wheels of a Dream".  Living a few short blocks away from the theater in the White House is President Barack Obama. Coalhouse sings to Sarah holding his baby son "...Any man can get where he wants to if he's got some fire in his soul". They later both sing: 

"Beyond that road,

 Beyond this lifetime

 That care full of hope

 Will always gleam!

 With the promise of happiness

 And the freedom he'll live to know.

 He'll travel with head held high,

 Just as far as his heart can go

 And he will ride-

 Our son will ride-

 On the wheels of a dream."

Visit this dream of a musical at the Kennedy Center until May 17. Call 800-444-1324 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

For a nice interview with Christiane Noll and Bobby Steffart, see my good friend Joel Markowitz' interview at http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/05/07/ragtimes-christiane-noll-and-bobby-steggart/

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus