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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MUSICAL THEATRE WEST CONTINUES 52ND SEASON WITH RAGTIME

January 18, 2005 Musical Theatre West continues its 52nd season with RAGTIME, playing at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center February 19 - March 6, 2005. The production stars David Jennings (Coalhouse Walker, Jr.) and Victoria Strong (Mother) reprising their roles from the National Tour and Eric Anderson (Tateh), in a role he has performed throughout Southern California.

This epic musical with a cast of 50 will be one of the largest show ever produced by Musical Theatre West. The music by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, SEUSSICAL) paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of America in the early 1900's. Based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, RAGTIME intertwines three distinct stories that poignantly illustrate history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and justice, hope and despair, and love and hate. Flaherty's diverse score draws upon traditional Jewish folk sounds, vaudeville and jazz, and won the Tony Award for Best Score in 1998.

RAGTIME is being Directed and Choreographed by Paul David Bryant, Musical Direction by Darryl Archibald and the Lighting Designer is Steven Young. The lavish sets and costumes are coming to Long Beach from the National Tour.

TICKET INFORMATION Tickets prices for RAGTIME at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center range from $20.00 to $47.00. Children under 12 are $20.00 to any performance. RUSH TICKETS are available for $20.00 one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. Group Discounts for parties of 12 or more are available by calling the Group Sales Department at 562-856-1999 ex 4. All tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 562-856-1999 ex 4, at the Box Office in person at 4350 E 7th Street, Long Beach (cross street is Ximeno) or online at www.musical.org.

SCHEDULE/CALENDAR LISTING RAGTIME show times are
Thurs., Fri. and Sat., 8 p.m.;
Sat. and Sun., 2 p.m.
(no matinee Sat., 2/19 and added performance on Sun., 2/27 at 7 p.m.).
The performance on February 27, 2005 at 7:00 PM will be interpreted for the Hearing Impaired.

LOCATION The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located at 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.
For information and tickets call the Musical Theatre West Box Office at
562-856-1999 ex 4.
The Musical Theatre West Box Office is located at
4350 E 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804.
Box Office hours: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday through Friday.

PLEASE NOTE - TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD AT THE CARPENTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

PRESS NIGHT: Saturday, February 19, 2005. Call 562-856-1999 ex 6 to RSVP for Press tickets (Ronn Goswick) or email

Editors: This release and pre-production photos will be available on the RAGTIME page at . Musical Theatre West is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation # # # # #