Saint Paul, Minn. (Dec. 5, 2011) - Journey back to turn-of-the-century America, where Scott Joplins ragtime music fills the air with an infectious beat. Ragtime: the Musical, weaves a spellbinding story of three families whose lives collide against the backdrop of New York in the American Centurya white family living the privileged life in New Rochelle, a disillusioned Jewish immigrant bent on achieving success, and a handsome young black piano man courting the woman he loves.

Based on the novel by E. L Doctorow, who found a fresh way to orchestrate the themes of American innocence, energy and ambition (Newsweek), Ragtime won four Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Score. The book is by Terrence McNally (who also wrote the book for Spider Woman as well as the award-winning plays Master Class and Love!Valour!Compassion!both of which have been presented by Park Square), with music by the composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Seussical). Gary Gisselman will direct this lavish production, working with musical director Denise Prosek.

Harry Waters, Jr., is Coalhouse Walker, Jr., the ragtime musician, joined by Dieter Bierbrauer (Tateh), Christina Baldwin (Mother), Brittany Bradford (Sarah) and Lee Mark Nelson (Father). Noah Coon, who just finished the run of Oliver Twist at Park Square, returns in the role of the Little Boy. Aleks Knezevich is Younger Brother and Fred Mackaman is in the role of Grandfather. Megan Fischer is Tatehs daughter (Little Girl).

Real-life characters of the period are wrapped into the fictional story: The radical Emma Goldman is played by Kersten Rodau; Caroline Innerbichler is vaudeville star Evelyn Nesbit; John Hegge is the entrepreneur Henry Ford; Sasha Andreev is escape artist Harry Houdini, Shawn Hamilton is the African American reformer/educator Booker T. Washington and Jay Hornbacher is the financier J. P. Morgan.

The ensemble includes Traci Allen, Dan Beckmann, Adara Bryan, Paul R. Coate, Robert C. Droddy, Ben Goodlund, James Grigsby, Suzie Juul, Timotha Lanae, Celena Morgan, Brittany Parker, Suzanne Reyburn, Whitney Rhodes, James Rodriguez, John Rynders, Carl Schoenborn, Andrea Shoals, Emily Rose Skinner, Joshua Walker and Jamaka Young. Note: casting as of November 30.

The artistic staff, under the direction of Gisselman and Prosek, includes Michael Matthew Ferrell (choreographer), Rick Polenek (scenic designer), Andrea M. Gross (costume designer), Michael P. Kittel (lighting designer), Kirby Moore (properties designer), Thomas Sandelands (sound designer),Cindy Milow Harloff (assistant choreographer), Terry Lynn Carlson (stage manager) and Jamie J. Kranz (assistant stage manager).

Performance Schedule: Previews begin January 20 and run through January 26. Opening night is January 27. The show runs Wednesday through Sunday for four weeks, closing on February 19. All performances are at 7:30 p.m., except for Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: Previews: $35. Regular run: $48 & $68. Discounts are available for seniors, those under age 30, and groups. Tickets on sale at the Park Square box office, 20 West Seventh Place, or by phone: 651.291.7005, (12 noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday), or online at www.parksquaretheatre.org.

Ragtime, the Musical

Book by Terrence McNally

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Music by Stephen Flaherty

Based on the novel by E. L. Doctorow

Directed by Gary Gisselman, Musical Director Denise Prosek

Previews: January 20-26, 2012

Regular Run: January 27 February 19, 2012

The largest production ever presented on Park Squares stage!

The time is 1906 and the air is filled with syncopated new music. A story of three familiesa white family living the privileged life in New Rochelle, a disillusioned Jewish immigrant bent on achieving success and a handsome black piano man courting the woman he loveswho find their lives colliding against the backdrop of the American Century.

Ticket prices: Previews: $35. Regular run: $48 & $68. Discounts available for those under age 30, seniors and groups.

PARK SQUARE THEATRE

20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul

Box office: 651.291.7005 or www.parksquaretheatre.org

MEDIA CONTACTS

Connie Shaver, 612.308.5785

connieshaver@charter.net

Susan Berdahl, 651.767.8492

berdahl@parksquaretheatre.org