Rupert (The Happy Time, Falsettos) will play Tateh, the Jewish European immigrant; Lewis (Side Show, A New Brain) will be Coalhouse, the African-American musician who becomes a rebel with a cause; and Murney (Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party) is Mother, the white-bread matron whose eyes are opened at the dawn of the 20th century.

Also in the cast are Montego Glover, Todd Thurston, Michael Hunsacker, Steven Green, Jeremy Leiner, Dana Zihlman.

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Ragtime is based on E.L. Doctorow's novel of the same name and explores America at the turn of the 20th century. Terrence McNally wrote the libretto, Lynn Ahrens the lyrics and Stephen Flaherty the music.

Joe Locarro directs. Antoinette DiPietropolo is choreographer. Designers are Jonathan Parke (sound), Craig Stelzenmuller (lighting), Annie Bruskiewitz (costumer). Music director/conductor is McCrae Hardy. William Jones is executive director of North Carolina Theatre.

For ticket information, contact (919) 831-6950, www.nctheatre.com.

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The North Carolina Theatre (NCT) is a non-profit, professional regional theatre company that has been producing musicals in Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium since 1984. Through NCT productions, "local artists, musicians and theatre professionals are given the opportunity to work alongside the very best actors designers and directors that Broadway has to offer."

At the heart of NCT's mission is a strong dedication to professional youth training and performing that continues with the annual Kids on Broadway production and the opening of the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory for the Performing arts in the fall of 2004.