Casting is set for the Goodspeed Musicals production of the Tony-nominated musical Ragtime, which will play the East Haddam, Connecticut, venue April 25–June 15.
Christopher Betts will direct the first production of Goodspeed's 2025 season with choreography by Sara Edwards and music direction by Adam Souza.
The cast will be led by Mamie Parris (Cats, School of Rock) as Mother, Michael Wordly (Spamilton) as Coalhouse Walker, David R. Gordon as Tateh, Brennyn Lark (Les Misérables) as Sarah, Edward Watts (Scandalous) as Father, Behr Marshall as Younger Brother, Sawyer Delaney as Little Boy, and Sofie Nesanelis as Little Girl.
The ensemble will feature Jordan Alexander, Shaunice Maudlyn Alexander, Mia Bergstrom, Tommy Betz, Jodi Bluestein, Yophi Adia Bost, Jonathan Cobrda, Jalyn Crosby, Joseph Fierberg, Mia Gerachis, Blair Goldberg, Nathan Haltiwanger, Benjamin H. Moore, Jeremiah Valentino Porter, Rory Shirley, Stephen Tewksbury, and Matt Wall. Swings Henry H. Miller and Xavier Turner plus understudy Robin Louise Miller will complete the company. Casting is by Paul Hardt of Hardt Casting.
This sweeping, powerful adaptation of E.L. Doctorow’s novel features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally.
Ragtime mixes fictional characters and historical ones in telling the story of Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Black man who buys a Model T Ford, setting off a chain of events that involve all levels of New York City society—along with magician Harry Houdini, industrialist Henry Ford, celebrity Evelyn Nesbit, Black leader Booker T. Washington, architect Sanford White, revolutionary Emma Goldman, Admiral Peary, a Latvian immigrant who becomes a movie director, and a not-so-quiet family in suburban New Rochelle, New York.
The original Broadway production featured Audra McDonald as Sarah, Mitchell as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Marin Mazzie as Mother, Mark Jacoby as Father, Steven Sutcliffe as Mother's Younger Brother, Peter Friedman as Tateh, Judy Kaye as Emma Goldman, Jim Corti as Harry Houdini, Lynette Perry as Evelyn Nesbit, Tommy Hollis as Booker T. Washington, and Larry Daggett as Henry Ford.
The musical was nominated for 12 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It took home four awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for McDonald, and Best Orchestrations for William David Brohn.
The Goodspeed creative team will also include scenic designer Emmie Finckel, costume designer Stephanie Bahniuk, lighting designer Charlie Morrison, sound designer Jay Hilton, and makeup designer Tenel Dorsey.
Chris Zaccardi will be the production stage manager.
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