The “Ragtime” benefit reunion concert originally scheduled to take place in 2020 has set a new date for the one-night-only event.
The Entertainment Community Fund announced that the sold-out show will now be held on March 27 at the Minskoff Theatre.
All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund, which offers programs to entertainment professionals including emergency financial assistance, workshops, support groups, mental health resources and more.
Principal cast members of the original Broadway production of “Ragtime” Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Peter Friedman will reunite as Sarah, Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Tateh, respectively. Kelli O’Hara will take on the role of Mother, originally performed by the late Marin Mazzie.
They are joined by Mark Aldrich, Shaun Amyot, John D. Baker, Dara Paige Bloomfield, Sondra M. Bonitto, Mark Cassius, Jamie Chandler-Torns, Albert Christmas, Dioni Michelle Collins, Jim Corti, Pierce Cravens, Larry Daggett, Bernard Dotson, Roberta Duchak, Donna Dunmire, Adam Dyer, Duane Martin Foster, Patty Goble, Darlene Bel Grayson, Elisa Heinsohn, David Hess, Rosena M. Hill Jackson, Adam Hunter, Mark Jacoby, Anne Kanengeiser, Judy Kaye, Mary Sharon Komarek (Dziedzic), Joe Langworth, Joe Locarro, Dan Manning, Michael X. Martin, Mary McCandless, Allyson Tucker Mitchell, Anne L. Nathan, Monica L. Patton (Richards), Lynnette Perry, Orgena Rose, Gordon Stanley, Steven Sutcliffe, Todd Thurston, Vanessa Townsell, Rema Webb, Leon Williams, Bruce Winant and Eric Jordan Young. All of these cast members performed as part of the original 1998 Broadway production with the exception of Hess (1998 touring company), Martin (2009 revival) and McCandless (world-premiere production), rending the concert a true reunion.
“Our Ragtime family, the Broadway community and so many others were devastated by the passing of our beloved playwright, Terrance McNally,” said Mitchell, who is also the chair of the Fund, in a statement. “We also mourn the recent loss of our original Broadway director, Frank Galati, and of course our dear Marin Mazzie. We dedicate this grand reunion to their memory, and honor all those in the ‘Ragtime’ family who are no longer with us.”
Sponsors for the event include Art Lab, Ford Foundation, Iris Smith, Adrienne Arsht, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
