SYNOPSIS of "RAGTIME" This epic new musical by the award-winning composer/lyricist
team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year,
Once On This Island, Seussical) paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait
of life in turn of the century America. 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 prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate. PERSONAL
NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR Ragtime is the story of America. It is the story
of the American Dream. It reminds each of us where we came from, and of
the aspirations of our ancestors who came here seeking a better life for
all of us who have come after, and received the benefits of their sacrifices.
Ragtime also deals with the most pivotal issue of American life:
race. Can we all, in this great melting pot of ours, actually coexist,
thrive and come to appreciate each other? I love this show because it
speaks to the heart of a "best" America. More important, as
theatre, it speaks to the hearts of audience members, bringing them, alternately,
to laughter, tears and cheers. This is epic theatre in the style of Show
Boat, casting a long shadow across the great landscape of the American
Musical Theatre, and justly earning Time Magazine's critical appraisal
following it's 1996 Broadway opening, "The last great musical of
the 20th Century." |
17³Ô¹Ï Music
Theatre welcomes back James Monroe Iglehart, Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle winner for 17³Ô¹Ï's 2001 production of Show Boat, as the
very memorable Joe, singing Old Man River.
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Get a peek at what's going on behind-the-scenes, as we bring this classic American musical to life this summer. Our show blog will give you that peek, plus lots of other news and information about the show: |