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The Woman in Black Brings Actor William Ragsdale Home

Posted on September 6, 2012

El Dorado Festivals & Events and Southern Theatre Festival announce an exciting collaboration with actor William Ragsdale. Ragsdale will be starring in STF?s upcoming production of The Woman in Black.

In his first post-graduate film role, Ragsdale played Laura Dern?s boyfriend in the American Playhouse Production of Smooth Talk. He later played the lead role of Charley Brewster in Columbia Pictures? Fright Night and Fright Night II with Roddy McDowall and Chris Sarandon. He then made a return to the theatre world by replacing Matthew Broderick in the Broadway production of Neil Simon?s Biloxi Blues. Many other theatrical productions followed, including the sequel to Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound as well as Stephen Sondheim?s Getting Away with Murder. Ragsdale?s television credits include the starring role of Herman in Fox television?s Herman?s Head as well as many recurring roles on the shows: Ellen, Judging Amy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Desperate Housewives, The Mentalist and most recently on FX?s Justified.

Ragsdale is an El Dorado native who made his first stage appearance in the West Woods Elementary School third-grade production of Charlotte?s Web. At the age of 10, he began to study with the children?s theatre group at the South Arkansas Arts Center and later went on to be in many SAAC main-stage productions. He is a graduate of El Dorado High School, where he performed in several productions and received the Best Thespian Award. While in high school, he was also selected to be the Arkansas state representative for the prestigious National Society of Arts and Letters Drama competition held in Chicago, IL. He is also a graduate of Hendrix College with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. El Dorado Festivals & Events and Southern Theatre Festival welcome Ragsdale back to his hometown and back to the stage.

The Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt, based on the book by Susan Hill, will be performed at the Rialto Theatre from October 18- November 11, 2012. It is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

For more information on The Woman in Black, visit www.eldofest.com.

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