LEA MICHELE TO JOIN THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND’S ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT REUNION CONCERT OF “RAGTIME”
Press Contacts:
Rick Miramontez / Marie Bshara / Kendall Edwards / Bailey Everett
rick@omdkc.com / marie@omdkc.com / kendall@omdkc.com / bailey@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
LEA MICHELE
TO JOIN
THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND’S
ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT REUNION CONCERT OF
“RAGTIME”
WITH ORIGINAL BROADWAY STARS
SIX-TIME TONY AWARD WINNER AUDRA MCDONALD
TWO-TIME TONY AWARD WINNER BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL
SAG AWARD WINNER PETER FRIEDMAN
AND TONY AWARD WINNER
KELLI O’HARA
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023
AT THE MINSKOFF THEATRE
DEDICATED TO MARIN MAZZIE, TERRENCE MCNALLY, FRANK GALATI, E.L. DOCTOROW AND MORE
New York, NY (March 13, 2023) – The Entertainment Community Fund announced today that the one-night-only benefit reunion concert of Ragtime will feature a special appearance by Lea Michele, who originated the role of “Little Girl” on Broadway and currently stars as “Fanny Brice” in the record-breaking first-ever Broadway revival of Funny Girl. As previously announced, the concert will take place on Monday, March 27, 2023 at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th St.). The event will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show’s Broadway opening and will star original cast members including Emmy, Grammy and six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (“Sarah”), two-time Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell (“Coalhouse Walker, Jr.”) and SAG Award winner Peter Friedman (“Tateh”), with Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara (“Mother”) in the role originally performed by the late Marin Mazzie.
In addition to a special appearance by Michele, the role of “Little Boy” will be played by Jack Casey, the role of “Little Girl” will be played by Addyson Evelyn Tabankin and the role of “Little Coalhouse” will be played by Kai Latorre. Jack Emmett Baumrind will be the standby for “Little Boy”.
“At this 25th anniversary celebration, we’re thrilled to welcome and pass the baton to the next generation of our Ragtime family: Jack, Addyson, Kai and Jack. Having Lea join us—just a child herself in the Original Broadway Company—makes this evening all the more poignant,” shared lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty.
To download headshots, click here.
Additional cast members include Mark Aldrich, Shaun Amyot, John D. Baker, Darlene Bel Grayson, Dara Paige Bloomfield, Sandra M. Bonitto, Mark Cassius, Jamie Chandler-Torns, Albert Christmas, Jim Corti, Pierce Cravens, Larry Daggett, Bernard Dotson, Roberta Duchak, Donna Dunmire, Adam Dyer, Duane Martin Foster, Patty Goble, Elisa Heinsohn, David Hess, Adam Hunter, Mark Jacoby, Anne Kanengeiser, Mary Sharon Komarek (Dziedzic), Joe Langworth, Joe Locarro, Dan Manning, Michael X. Martin, Mary McCandless, Allyson Tucker Mitchell, Anne L. Nathan, Lynnette Perry, Orgena Rose, Gordon Stanley, Steven Sutcliffe, Keith Thomas, Todd Thurston, Vanessa Townsell-Crisp, Rema Webb, Leon Williams, Bruce Winant and Eric Jordan Young. All proceeds from this one-night only benefit concert will support the Entertainment Community Fund.
Based on the classic American novel by E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime has a book by Terrence McNally (Master Class, Love! Valour! Compassion!) and a score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Once On This Island, Anastasia, Seussical). The evening will be directed by Stafford Arima, with James Moore as music director and conductor. On the original Broadway production, Mr. Arima served as associate resident director, David Loud as musical director and conductor and Mr. Moore as associate conductor. Additional credits for the one-night-only evening include Wendall K. Harrington and Shawn Boyle as projections designers, Peter Hylenski as sound designer, Don Holder as lighting designer, Tracy Christensen as costume designer and casting by MUNGIOLI THEATRICALS, INC., Arnold J. Mungioli, CSA. This evening is executive produced by Robert Pullen of Nouveau Productions.
The original Broadway production of Ragtime opened on January 18, 1998, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now the Lyric Theatre) and played for 834 performances. The show received 14 Tony Award nominations and won for Best Book of a Musical (Terrence McNally), Best Original Score (Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Audra McDonald) and Best Orchestrations (William David Brohn).
The Fund is grateful to the following sponsors for their support of this one-night-only concert reunion: The Nederlander Organization, Ford Foundation, Art Lab, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Iris Smith, Adrienne Arsht, Bloomberg Philanthropies and ExxonMobil.
The performance is currently sold out. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Douglas Ramirez at dramirez@entertainmentcommunity.org or 917.281.5921. For ticket holders who have retained tickets originally purchased in 2020, visit entertainmentcommunity.org/Ragtime for more information.
ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, is a national human services organization that addresses the unique needs of people who work in performing arts and entertainment with services focused on health and wellness, career and life, and housing. Since 1882, the Fund has sought to ensure stability, encourage resiliency and be a safety net for those who shape our country’s cultural vibrancy. Learn more at entertainmentcommunity.org.
BIOGRAPHIES
LEA MICHELE is an award-winning actress, singer and New York Times bestselling author. She is best known for her role as “Rachel Berry” on Ryan Murphy’s critically acclaimed, Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning series “Glee.” In 2010, Michele was honored with an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Actress – Comedy. In 2012 and 2013, Michele won the TEEN CHOICE Award for Choice TV Actress: Comedy. In 2013, she also won a People’s Choice Award for Best TV Comedic Actress. In September of 2022, Michele took on her dream role of Fanny Brice in the Broadway production of Funny Girl. The performance has been met to rave reviews and the show has broken box office records.
JACK CASEY Born in Hoboken, NJ, Jack Casey has been singing, dancing and acting at his family-owned school for the arts since age 4. Jack originated the role of “Rufus Follett” in the world premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Knoxville, directed and book by Frank Galati. (Asolo Rep, Original Cast Album). Regional credits include: Cats, Suessical, Matilda and Into the Woods. Jack is starring in the new Amazon Original Series Harlan Coben’s Shelter. TV and Film Credits: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Law and Order: SVU, Give Or Take and Paw Patrol. Jack would like to thank his brother Finn Douglas and his Mom for making this possible. Jack is honored to be a part of such a historical musical theater moment, and gives all of his love and thanks to Lynn and Stephen for believing in him, and to the entire Ragtime Family. Jack dedicates this performance to Frank Galati, whom he loves and misses dearly. Instagram: @jackcaseyactor
ADDYSON EVELYN TABANKIN is thrilled to make her debut into professional theater. Addyson has appeared in Hulu’s Crush as Young Paige opposite Megan Mullally. Training: The Professional Performance Prep, Second City and Stella Adler. Thank you to Arnold Mungioli, Bonnie Shumofsky Bloom, Lucius Robinson, Elana Safer, Anne Brummel and all Addyson’s family and friends who helped her get this far on her journey. Instagram: @addyson.evelyn
KAI LATORRE is thrilled to make his theater debut in Ragtime! When he’s not on stage, he enjoys jamming to his favorite Michael Jackson songs, eating his favorite foods and hanging with his family! Kai is grateful to the cast and creative team for the opportunity to showcase his talent and is very excited for his future!
JACK EMMETT BAUMRIND is beyond excited for this opportunity to be amidst the original cast and crew of Ragtime! His favorite past roles include Ralphie Parker, Michael Banks, Tiny Tim, Gavroche, Chip (the teacup), Woodstock and Olaf. He is a returning student at New York City’s Broadway Artists Alliance. Special thanks to his manager Lisa Calli for getting him to Broadway and to his friends and family for being his cheering section. Instagram: @jackbaumrind
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