The Tin Pan Alley Rag Roundabout announces full cast

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the full cast for the New York premiere of the new musical The Tin Pan Alley Rag, written by Mark Saltzman, with Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin & Scott Joplin, directed by Stafford Arima.

The cast will feature Randy Aaron, Michael Boatman, Derrick Cobey, Jenny Fellner, Rosena M. Hill, James Judy, Mark Ledbetter, Michael McCormick, Erick Pinnick, Tia Speros, Michael Therriault and Idara Victor.

The Roundabout welcomes Michael Boatman back to their stages following his role in 'Master Harold�and the Boys' (Willie: 2003), Jenny Fellner who starred in 'Pal Joey' (Linda English: 2008)) and Michael McCormick who was featured in the Tony Award winning production of 'The Pajama Game' (Pop/Ganzenlicker: 2006).

The Tin Pan Alley Rag will open at the Laura Pels Theatre on 14 Jul 2009, following previews from 12 Jun, and will play a limited engagement through to 6 Sep 2009. This production marks the first time a musical has been presented at the Laura Pels Theatre.

The musical will feature choreography by Liza Gennaro and musical direction by Michael Patrick Walker. The design team includes: Beowulf Boritt (Sets), Jess Goldstein (Costumes), Howell Binkley (Lights), Walter Trarbach (Sound).

The Tin Pan Alley Rag tells the story of an imagined meeting of two of America�s greatest musicians, composer Scott Joplin and songwriter Irving Berlin. Joplin was a musical prodigy, born the son of a slave, who received a conservatory education and slowly rose to acclaim. Berlin was a Russian Jewish immigrant who couldn't read music, yet catapulted to stardom at the age of 23. Both men changed the landscape of music forever with their contributions to the first American musical genre, ragtime. Beneath Joplin and Berlin's toe-tapping, syncopated rhythms lay stories of fame, love and loss.

The score for The Tin Pan Alley Rag includes such classic songs as Irving Berlin�s 'I Love a Piano', 'Play a Simple Melody', 'Alexander�s Ragtime Band' and Scott Joplin�s 'Maple Leaf Rag' & 'The Entertainer', among others.

The Roundabout Theatre Company production is presented in association with Rodger Hess Productions, Inc.

The Tin Pan Alley Rag was most recently seen in January 2006, at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida.

Bios:

Randy Aarons (Willie, Buddy, Joseph, Porter) Broadway credits: 'Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance' (Testednarone: 2004) and 'CryBaby' (ensemble:Dupree u/s - 2008). Off-Broadway he played (Sheldon) in TheatreworksUSA production of 'Junie B. Jones.'

Michael Boatman (Scott Joplin) made his Broadway debut in 'the Roundabout's production of 'Master Harold�and the Boys' (Willie: 2003). His Tv credits include playing 'Carter Heywood in the ABC comedy, 'Spin City,' for which he was nominated for several awards including the GLAAD award for Best Supporting Actor and the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy. He played 'Stanley Babson' in the long-running HBO series, 'ARLI$$,' for which he was nominated for the NAACP Image Award.

Derrick Cobey (Rev. Alexander, Johnny, Williams, Ned, Driver) has been cast in National Tours of 'Rent' and 'Forever Swing' (replacement for 'Michael Bubl�').

Jenny Fellner's (Dorothy Goetz) Broadway credits are: 'Pal Joey' (Linda English: 2008), 'Mamma Mia' (Sophie - replacement). Off Broadway she played 'Judith Anderson' in The Devil's Disciple for the Irish Repertory Theatre.

Rosena M. Hill's (Monesha, Miss Esther Lee, Librarian) Broadway credits include 'The Color Purple' (Church Lady -replacement: 2005), 'Spamalot' (Lady of the Lake- replacement: 2005), 'Imaginary Friends' (Mrs. Stillman: 2002),'Oklahoma' (Ellen: 2002 revival), 'Riverdance on Broadway' (Amanzi Singer - replacement: 2000), 'Marie Christine' (Ozelia: 1999) and 'Ragtime' (Sarah's Friend - replacement: 1999). Hill also performed the role of �Sarah� on the 1st National tour of Ragtime.

James Judy's (Jimmy Kelly, Alfred Ernst, John Stark, Turkey Plugger) Broadway credits are 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' (Dewhurst: 1997) and 'Into the Woods' (understudy - replacement: 1987). Off-Broadway: 'La Boheme' for the Public and 'Catch Me If I Fall' at thePromenade Theatre. National Tours: ''Big River' and 'South Pacific.' Mark Ledbetter (Mooney Mulligan, Thaddeus, Hopeful Songwriter, Lizzie Plugger). Broadway credits include 'Mary Poppins' (the Policeman: replacement) and 'On the Twentieth Century' (Ensemble: revival 2005). He played 'Robert Martin' in the first national tour of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' and 'Phil Davis' in 'Irving Berlin�s White Christmas' (San Francisco, Detroit and St. Paul companies) and 'Jimmy' inthe first national tour of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' He has appeared in City Encore productioins of 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' and 'Of Thee I Sing.'

Michael McCormick (Teddy Snyder). Broadway credits include 'Curtains' (2007), 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' (2006), 'The Pajama Game' (2006), 'Gypsy' (2003 revival), 'Marie Christine' (1999)'Kiss Me, Kate' (1999 revival), 1776 (1997 revival), 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' (1993), 'La B�te' (1991) and 'Oliver' (1965.) He last appeared off-Broadway in 'A Man of No Importance' for the Lincoln Center.

Erick Pinnick (Mr. Peyton, Plugger, Havana MC, Gitlo). Erick Pinnick is excited to be a part of The Tin Pan Alley Rag. He has appeared on Broadway as 'Mr. Smythe' in 'A Christmas Carol' and has toured nationally with 'Sunset Boulevard'.

Tia Speros (Sophie, Wedding Singer, Kate, Ida). Off-Broadway credits 'The Taffetas' at Cherry Lane Theatre and 'Tatterdemalion' at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater.

Michael Therriault (Irving Berlin). On Broadway he has played 'Motel' in 'Fiddler on the Roof' (replacement: 2004 revival). He has played 'Gollum' in both the London West End and Toronto productions of 'Lord Of The Rings' (Dora Award- Best Actor in a Musical) and 'Leo Bloom' in the Toronto production of 'The Producers' (Dora Award- Best Actor in a Musical). Therriault played political leader Tommy Douglas in the television mini-series 'Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story' (Seoul Drama Award- Best Actor; Accolade Award- Best Actor; Gemini Award Nomination- Best Actor; ACTRA Award Nomination-Best Actor); and Harry Vincent in the Mini Series 'The Englishman's Boy'.

Idara Victor (Freddie Alexander, Treemonisha, Hattie Mae) recently appeared this season in Lincoln Center Theater's production of 'Happiness,' helmed by Susan Stroman. Other NY credits include the Carnegie Hall concert of 'Show Boat', the New York Philharmonic's production of 'Camelot', and the Broadway revival of 'Les Mis�rables, 'where she understudied the role of 'Cosette' and was the first African-American to ever perform the role in the show's 20-year history.

Mark Saltzman (Author) began his career in N.Y. with Jim Henson, writing for the Muppets. His Sesame Street (including Caribbean Amphibian) earned him seven Emmy Awards. At this time he also wrote sketches and songs for cabaret shows and musicals that played at The Ballroom, Soho Rep, 13th Street Theater, and the Village Gate, where he co-wrote the long-running revue 'A, My Name is Alice.' For CBS television, Mark wrote 'Mrs. Santa Claus,' the holiday musical starring Angela Lansbury with songs by Jerry Herman. For the movies, he wrote 'The Adventures of Milo and Otis' and 'Three Ninjas Kick Back' and has written screenplays for SONY, Universal, and Disney.

Irving Berlin (Music & Lyrics). Born Israel Beilin in a Russian Jewish shtetl in 1888, he died as Irving Berlin in his adopted homeland of New York, New York, U.S.A. in 1989. Songwriter, performer, theatre owner, music publisher and soldier, he defined Jerome Kern�s famous maxim: "Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He IS American music.� Berlin wrote over 1200 songs, including 'White Christmas,' �Puttin� on the Ritz,� �Easter Parade,� �Always,� �Blue Skies,� �Cheek to Cheek,� �There�s No Business Like Show Business,� �Alexander�s Ragtime Band� and �God Bless America.� He wrote the scores to more than a dozen Broadway musicals, including "Annie Get Your Gun," and provided songs for dozens of Hollywood movie musicals.

Scott Joplin (Music & Lyrics), the 'King of Ragtime' music, was born near Linden, Texas on 24 Nov 1868. Joplin demonstrated his extraordinary talent for music at an early age. Encouraged by his parents, he was already proficient on the banjo, and was beginning to play the piano as a young child. After several years as an itinerant pianist playing in saloons and brothels throughout the Midwest, he settled in St. Louis about 1890. There he studied and led in the development of a music genre now known as ragtime--a unique blend of European classical styles combined with African American harmony and rhythm. Joplin died on 1 Apr 1917 in Manhattan State Hospital. Although Joplin's music was popular and he received modest royalties during his lifetime, he did not receive recognition as a serious composer for more than fifty years after his death.

Stafford Arima (Director) directed 'Altar Boyz,' which received the Best Musical Outer Critics Circle Award, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Musical, and is currently running in its 5th year Off-Broadway. He directed the West End premiere of a reconceived production of 'Ragtime,' which was recognized with 8 Olivier Award nominations including Best Director and Best Musical.