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Ragtime, the Musical, is an epic tale of a young America played out in song and dance. It paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of life at the turn of the twentieth century. The musical melds three distinct stories that poignantly illustrate history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate.
The Tony Award-winning score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Seussical) is just as diverse as the “Melting Pot of America” that it seeks to recreate, drawing upon traditional Jewish folk sounds, Vaudeville’s outrageous style, and Scott Joplin to invoke the enlivened spirit of Harlem.
Ragtime plays the Marian Theatre from July 10 through the 26th then the Festival Theater from August 1 through the 24th. (Contains coarse language)
Featured is Equity Guest Artist David St. Louis whose credits include Broadway productions of Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar and Harlem Song, numerous regional theatre credits, and film and TV appearances on Law and Order, One Life to Live, and Trigger Effect. Mr. St. Louis will be playing Coalhouse Walker Jr.
The production also features Resident Artists Elizabeth Stuart as Mother, Michael Jenkinson as Younger Brother, Andrew Philpot as Tateh, Corey Jones as Booker T. Washington and Peter S. Hadres as Henry Ford.
The design team headed by Director Mark Booher includes Choreographer Michael Jenkinson, Musical Director Callum Morris, Scenic Designer Heidi Hoffer, Costume Designer Misti Bradford, Lighting Designer Jen ‘Z’ Zornow, Sound Designer Matt Carpenter and Stage Manager Christine Collins.
According to Mark Booher, Ragtime is a classic American story that puts into a powerful musical form the great forces of American culture, the grandeur of the American spirit, and the epic scale of the human struggle.
"The story, Ragtime, like the musical form, is full of surprises - unexpected rhythms, unexpected sensibilities, and unexpected connections."
American novelist E.L. Doctorow created his unique novel, "Ragtime," in 1975. Blending three American fictional families with various historical figures between 1902 and 1917 into an epic narrative, Doctorow explored the American industrial machine, the mythology of the American Dream and the rising tensions of race, immigration, World War I, and the future of the American family and national identity.
The musical drama debuted in Toronto, Ontario (1996) and travelled to Los Angeles (1997) and finally opened on Broadway in January 1998 where it was acknowledged as one of the most ambitious musicals ever produced. From the range of musical styles to the size of cast (originally 59 - PCPA’s production includes 45!) to the complexity of three major storylines (a businessman-explorer and his dissatisfied wife, an African-American composer Coalhouse Walker and his love, Sarah, and a Jewish immigrant Tateh and his daughter) the production was nothing short of epic.
The PCPA 2008 Summer Season includes:
Godspell, now playing through July 27 in Solvang.
The Heart’s Desire plays in Santa Maria through June 28 then performs in rotating rep with Godspell in Solvang through July 26.
Ragtime plays in Santa Maria July 10 through the 26th, then August 1 through the 24 in Solvang.
The Imaginary Invalid plays August 7 through the 23rd in Santa Maria, then August 28 through September 7 in Solvang.
Hot Mikado plays the Marian Theatre August 29 through September 7 then Solvang’s Festival Theater September 12 through the 28th.
The Weir plays only in the Severson Theatre on the Allan Hancock College Campus in Santa Maria, September 12 through October 5.
(The Heart’s Desire and The Weir contain adult language)
For tickets call the box office at 805-922-8313 between 1 and 7pm Wednesday through Sunday, or purchase tickets online anytime at www.pcpa.org. Information about Group Sales for 12 or more patrons may be obtained by contacting groups@pcpa.org or by calling 1-800-PCPA-123.
Now in its 44th season, PCPA Theaterfest is the Central Coast’s Resident Professional Theatre Company, and has infused the national theatre scene with thousands of trained actors and theatrical technicians over the years in its conservatory.
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Just the facts:
Ragtime plays in Santa Maria July 10 through the 26th, then August 1 through the 24 in Solvang.
Marian Theater performance times are 2pm, Wed., Sat., Sun. and 7pm, Thur., Fri., Sat.
Location: 800 S. College Dr.
Festival Theater performances are all 8pm, Tues. through Sunday.
Location: 420 2nd St., Solvang
Box Office – 922-8313, hours from 1 to 7pm. Online ticket sales – www.pcpa.org
Ticket prices range from $16.25 to$30.50 for adults with discounts for children, students, seniors.
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