Ragtime national tour to perform at OCCC

Oklahoma City – Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) will host its first ever Broadway musical production when the national tour of Ragtime ‘cakewalks’ into town for two shows in December in the new Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater (VPAC).

Ragtime is a 13-time Tony Award-nominated musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s best-selling 1975 novel. Set in turn-of-the-century New York, Ragtime tells the stories of Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a daring young Harlem musician, Mother, the matriarch of a white, upper-class family in New Rochelle, NY, and Tateh, a determined Jewish immigrant from Latvia. All three are united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. 

The musical debuted on Broadway in 1998 and ran for 834 performances, winning Tony Awards for Book of a Musical (by Terrence McNally), Original Musical Score (music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens), Orchestrations (William David Brohn) and Actress in a Featured Role (Audra McDonald).  

Director/Choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge was nominated for a Tony Award in 2010 for her revival version of the musical which is currently touring.

In the OCCC production, Oklahoma City native Jeff Johnson will play the role of Booker T. Washington.

Other starring roles: Chris Sams as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., Kate Turner as Mother and Matthew Curiano as Tateh. Other historical figures appearing in the story include: Harry Houdini, J. P. Morgan and Henry Ford.

“This musical is a timeless celebration of life, with story themes of immigration and racial relations that makes it as relevant today as it ever was,” Dodge said. 

The 2015/2016 national tour of Ragtime – produced by Phoenix Entertainment – kicked-off its 91-city run on Oct. 22 at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Gainesville, Florida. The tour concludes June 12 at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia.  

The tour makes two stops in eastern Oklahoma before arriving in Oklahoma City: Dec. 7 at the Bartlesville Community Center and Dec. 8 at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. 

The soundtrack includes marches, cakewalks, gospel and ragtime, all of which will be enjoyed in the new theater, considered by some to be the best acoustic hall in Oklahoma.

The scenic design is by Kevin Depinet, lighting design by Mike Baldassari and sound design by Craig Cassidy.

The Venue: OCCC students contributed toward the construction of the new $20 million, 1,049-seat Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, which opened in Feb. 2014. 

Designed as a multi-use theater space capable of accommodating Broadway musicals as well as choirs, orchestras, dance troupes, bands and movie screenings, the stage has already been graced by Francis Ford Coppola, Sandi Patty, Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  

“The smaller size of our gorgeous new theater will offer a Broadway experience that feels a little more intimate, reminiscent of classic New York and London concert halls,” said Lemuel Bardeguez, Acting Vice President for Community Development for OCCC. “Our theater is modern, comfortable and conveniently located. Every seat in the house is a great seat, the sound is incredible and parking is always free and plentiful.”

Ragtime is a family-friendly show for all ages. Ragtime will be in OKC for two shows on Sunday, Dec. 13 and Monday, Dec. 14 in the VPAC, 7777 S. May Ave. Ticket prices range from $33.50 to $65.50, available online at www.tickets.occc.edu or at the OCCC box office on the night of the show.

For more information about Ragtime, visit www.ragtimeontour.com.

The Gayly - 12/12/2015 @ 9:02 a.m. CST