James Stovall, a Broadway performer who performed in the original production of "Ragtime," died on Sep. 26 at a Manhattan hospital. The cause of death has not been confirmed but the actor had been suffering from heart ailments.
Stovall had been scheduled to appear in the New York Theatre Company's developmental lab staging of "Woulda, Coulda, Should: A Jazz Musical Comedy" on Sep. 23rd. His most recent performance was as a preacher and a Begat singer in the 2009 Broadway revival of "Finian's Rainbow."
He was the executive director of Ministry of the Arts & Culture at the United Palace Theatre in Harlem, where the original production of "Nativity: A Life Story" was performed. Stovall had directed, produced and co-written the musical with Hattie Winston. The play has since been produced annually at the Schomburg Center in Manhattan.
His other writing credit was "Black Nativity," which he co-produced and co-directed with Winston. It won five Audelco Awards.
Stovall made his Broadway debut as a standby for three roles in Bob Fosse's 1986 musical "Big Deal." He worked with Fosse again in the 1986 musical revival "Sweet Charity" where he eventually played Big Daddy.
Stovall's other Broadway credits included assuming lead roles on "Once on This Island," "The Life," and "The Rocky Horror Show."
No information on survivors is immediately available.