RAGTIME THE MUSICAL

Book by Terrence McNally
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Directed by Jonathan Mulberg

Produced by Kimberly Fry

Based on the novel, Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

July 29-31, August 5-7, & August 12-14, 2022

See our casting call for a few more actors to round out our cast. Deadline is May 20.

This musical contains words of a racially sensitive nature and may not be appropriate for all audiences.

This sweeping musical portrait of early-twentieth-century America tells the story of three families in pursuit of the American Dream.

Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island, Seussical and Lucky Stiff), noted playwright Terrence McNally, and based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, Ragtime is the winner of the 1998 Tony Awards for Best Score, Book and Orchestrations, and both the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical and Best Score. Called by TIME Magazine "A triumph for the stage," and by the International Herald Tribune "the best musical in twenty years," this acclaimed musical is filled with pageantry, emotion and hope, bursting onto the stage like no other musical.

At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing… and anything is possible. Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together – that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician – united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together, they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America.

The Tony-winning score is just as diverse as the melting pot of America itself, drawing upon many musical styles, from the ragtime rhythms of Harlem and Tin Pan Alley to the klezmer of the Lower East Side, from bold brass band marches to delicate waltzes, from up-tempo banjo tunes to period parlor songs and expansive anthems. A truly unique and powerful portrait of America, Ragtime is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike!

Meet the Cast

Kareem Taylor Kareem Taylor (Coalhouse Walker Jr.) is a Computer Engineer from South Carolina currently residing in Sterling, VA. Some of his previous credits include Curtis Jackson in Sister Act (PWLT), George in Godspell (SP), J.B. Biggley in How To Succeed... (SP), ensemble in Sweeney Todd (SP), and ensemble in Beauty and The Beast (SP).	Abbie Mulberg Abbie is thrilled to be joining Sterling Playmakers to bring this amazing story to life. Some favorite past roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (CRT), Laurey Williams in Oklahoma! (PWLT), Abigail Adams in 1776 (PTP), and Marian Paroo in The Music Man (CRT).	Jim Bowen-Collinson Jim Bowen-Collinson (Tateh) is thrilled to be a part of this incredible show. A South Jersey native, Jim has been performing in various operas and musicals in the NOVA area. Favorite credits: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere; SP), How to Succeed… (Bud Frump; SP), Sister Act (Joey; PWLT).
Chris Gray Chris is a long time performer in the region and is thrilled to be working with Sterling Playmakers again! Some favorite roles include Harold Hill in The Music Man, Caractacus in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cornelius in Hello Dolly, Tommy in Brigadoon and Bobby in Company.	Christian Rodgers	Ahryel Tinker
Dana Roberts Dana Roberts is thrilled to be a part of Ragtime in one of her dream roles, Emma Goldman. Favorite roles include Oliver! as Widow Corney (SP). and Sweeney Todd as Ensemble/Mrs. Lovett understudy (RP). She lives in Leesburg with her husband, Brian, and two beagles, Riley and Paisley.	Carson Hopkins	Maggie Watts Maggie is thrilled to be returning to the stage in her first production with the incredible Sterling Playmakers as Miss Evelyn Nesbit! With many stage credits, Ragtime has to be the most exciting one yet! Sterling Playmakers has made the transition back to the theater seamless, welcoming actors old and new with open arms.
Douglas A. Horton	Rene Kieth Flores Rene “Kieth” Flores (JP Morgan/Ensemble), last seen earlier this season in Catch Me If You Can as Roger Strong, is super excited to be part of Ragtime. Other roles of note include, Gomez Addams The Addams Family (TCP), Che Evita (SMP), the King King & I (SP) as well as ensemble in Cinderella (SS), Bright Star (LTA) and The Drowsy Chaperone (MCP).	Bob Rosenberg He can sing (and loves it)! He can dance (if necessary)! He can act (so they say)! And he's an actual grandfather! This is Bob's fifth musical venture with Sterling Playmakers (The Sound of Music, Oliver, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd) and promises to be the best yet!
Mark W. Gray-Mendes Mark is thrilled to return to the stage after a ten-year hiatus. He was last seen in MCP's Legally Blonde: The Musical (Warner Huntington III). When not on stage, Mark serves as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.	Marguerite Driessen	Lisa Alford Lisa is excited to be a part of Ragtime's cast. She's had a lot of fun stepping out of her comfort zone recently with Dirty Work Afoot (SP) and Jack and Jill and the Witching Well (SCTC).
Vanessa Bliss Vanessa is thrilled to finally be part of a musical again! This is her second show with Sterling Playmakers; her first being The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Hilda). BA in Theatre Arts, McDaniel College. She wants to thank her mentors, teachers, and parents for all their support over the years.	Kyle Chua This is Kyle’s first Sterling Playmakers Production! He is excited to be returning to the theatre world after two years, and he is especially excited to be inviting the world of Ragtime into his life.	Keri Church
Shelby Cody	Becky Copper Coming from MinnesOHta, I’ve been getting used to life in the DMV area these past several months. I’m currently delaying my entry into “real adult world” and enjoying life as a graduate student in Public Health Nutrition at George Washington University. This is my first experience in a musical!	Claire De Angioletti
Sarah Driessen	Sally Ann Flores Sally Ann Flores (Ensemble) is excited to be back with the Playmakers after appearing as Mrs. Peters in last Fall's The Social Secretary (SP). Recent ensemble roles include Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (SS) and Bright Star (LTA). Favorite roles include Miss Hannigan, Annie (ZS), Bloody Mary, South Pacific, Irene Molloy, Hello Dolly (CRT), and the Queen of Hearts, Alix in Wonderland (CT).	Juliette Marsh
Katie Marsh	Victoria Alicia Milbourne Victoria is elated to make her theatre debut in ‘Ragtime’ with Sterling Playmakers. She grew up in Salisbury, MD, performing at her hometown church and high school. Victoria is excited to return to the stage for such an important and poignant show.	D'Andre Stewart

RAGTIME is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Meet The Production Team

Jonathan Mulberg

Director

Kimberly Fry

Producer

Lauren Baker

Assistant Director

RAGTIME THE MUSICAL

See our casting call for a few more actors to round out our cast. Deadline is May 20.

Meet the Cast

Kareem Taylor

Abbie Mulberg

Abbie is thrilled to be joining Sterling Playmakers to bring this amazing story to life. Some favorite past roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (CRT), Laurey Williams in Oklahoma! (PWLT), Abigail Adams in 1776 (PTP), and Marian Paroo in The Music Man (CRT).

Jim Bowen-Collinson

Jim Bowen-Collinson (Tateh) is thrilled to be a part of this incredible show. A South Jersey native, Jim has been performing in various operas and musicals in the NOVA area. Favorite credits: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere; SP), How to Succeed… (Bud Frump; SP), Sister Act (Joey; PWLT).

Chris Gray

Chris is a long time performer in the region and is thrilled to be working with Sterling Playmakers again! Some favorite roles include Harold Hill in The Music Man, Caractacus in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cornelius in Hello Dolly, Tommy in Brigadoon and Bobby in Company.

Christian Rodgers

Ahryel Tinker

Dana Roberts

Dana Roberts is thrilled to be a part of Ragtime in one of her dream roles, Emma Goldman. Favorite roles include Oliver! as Widow Corney (SP). and Sweeney Todd as Ensemble/Mrs. Lovett understudy (RP). She lives in Leesburg with her husband, Brian, and two beagles, Riley and Paisley.

Carson Hopkins

Maggie Watts

Douglas A. Horton

Rene Kieth Flores

Bob Rosenberg

He can sing (and loves it)! He can dance (if necessary)! He can act (so they say)! And he's an actual grandfather! This is Bob's fifth musical venture with Sterling Playmakers (The Sound of Music, Oliver, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd) and promises to be the best yet!

Mark W. Gray-Mendes

Mark is thrilled to return to the stage after a ten-year hiatus. He was last seen in MCP's Legally Blonde: The Musical (Warner Huntington III). When not on stage, Mark serves as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Marguerite Driessen

Lisa Alford

Lisa is excited to be a part of Ragtime's cast. She's had a lot of fun stepping out of her comfort zone recently with Dirty Work Afoot (SP) and Jack and Jill and the Witching Well (SCTC).

Vanessa Bliss

Vanessa is thrilled to finally be part of a musical again! This is her second show with Sterling Playmakers; her first being The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Hilda). BA in Theatre Arts, McDaniel College. She wants to thank her mentors, teachers, and parents for all their support over the years.

Kyle Chua

This is Kyle’s first Sterling Playmakers Production! He is excited to be returning to the theatre world after two years, and he is especially excited to be inviting the world of Ragtime into his life.

Keri Church

Shelby Cody

Becky Copper

Claire De Angioletti

Sarah Driessen

Sally Ann Flores

Juliette Marsh

Katie Marsh

Victoria Alicia Milbourne

Victoria is elated to make her theatre debut in ‘Ragtime’ with Sterling Playmakers. She grew up in Salisbury, MD, performing at her hometown church and high school. Victoria is excited to return to the stage for such an important and poignant show.

D'Andre Stewart

Meet The Production Team

Jonathan Mulberg

Kimberly Fry

Lauren Baker

Community Theatre for the Entire Community