New York Actor Bret Shuford Seizes High-Society In RAGTIME At Asolo Rep

New York-based actor Bret Shuford seizes audiences an icon of American high-society starring in the celebrated musical, RAGTIME. The show is part of the 2017-18 Asolo Repertory Theatre season and is currently running through May 27 in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

RAGTIME chronicles three different societal groups at the dawn of the 20th century in New York - an affluent white family, an African American family and an immigrant Jewish family - whose lives are forever changed when their very different worlds collide. Shuford steps into the storyline as the historical symbol of wealth and power, Father / fancier J.P. Morgan, as this stirring epic showcases the diversity of the American experience.

Directed by Peter Rothstein and featuring one of the most revered scores of all time, this artfully stripped down version reveals a surprisingly intimate core. Shuford was thrilled at the opportunity to help share this American melting pot story, adding "I saw the original cast of Ragtime on Broadway, and it was an unforgettable experience. Now, to get to do this show in such a time that America is struggling with its identity, it feels more important than ever."

Most recently, Shuford appeared in an episode of NBC's long-running fan-favorite, LAW & ORDER: SVU; and coming soon he stars in a fresh episode of the digital YouTube series Underground!, as New York subway riders get an special show as Broadway performers unveil their underground version of the famed American musical, RENT.

A Texas native now based in New York, Shuford has been building a solid career on stage and screen for years. In 2017, after starring as Robbie in Cirque du Soleil's Paramour on Broadway, he reprised the role of Bert in Mary Poppins at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. This was followed opportunity to sing for Richard Sherman at OCSA in Orange County California, a huge honor for the self-proclaimed Disney nerd who years earlier made his Broadway debut in The Sherman Brothers show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He has been cast in several other Disney shows on Broadway, including Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid; and performed around the country in shows like Next to Normal, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Anything Goes (Carbonell Nomination), Hairspray and many more.

In addition, Shuford has starred in numerous films on every scale, from the critically-acclaimed Martin Scorsese feature film, The Wolf of Wall Street, to the successful indie short Bedfellows. Presently, Shuford has turned his passion for performing into a thriving career coaching practice, Broadway Life Coach, helping other artists to follow their dreams.

For more about Bret Shuford visit: www.BretShuford.com