Midland Center for the Arts Presents RAGTIME 10/17, 10/18, & 10/24

The Midland Center for the Arts will present RAGTIME October 17, 18, and 24. RAGTIME paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of life at the turn of the twentieth century. Produced by Music Society and Theatre Guild, and featuring a cast of 52 actors, singers and dancers from across the state of Michigan, three distinct stories illustrate history's contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate.

Music Director Jim Hohmeyer notes, "The unique use of a central musical ragtime theme throughout unifies the entire production unlike any other recent Broadway musical. It is a wonderful musical experience for the cast and audience alike!" The regional and diverse cast includes 7 individuals from Saginaw, 5 from Bay City, a student at Wayne State University in Detroit, as well as talent from Auburn, Freeland, Vassar, Clare and Midland. 

This production is directed by Bill Anderson Jr. (Urinetown) of Midland, with musical direction by Jim Hohmeyer, and choreography by Kelli Jolly. "It is my true pleasure to bring a show of such beauty and strength to the audiences of Midland Center for the Arts," says Anderson. "Ragtime is a stunning piece of musical theatre filled with beautiful melodies, rich dramatic elements and huge production numbers that engulf the stage - definitely my type of show. I believe our audience will certainly relate to the themes of this production: optimism, excitement, fear, anticipation and change. These motifs along with a wonderful score and well-written book will keep Ragtime with you long after you've left the theatre."

"Public reaction to this production has been enthusiastic and Theatre Guild is honored to participate in outreach to diverse regional leadership groups including Great Lakes Bay Region Ambassadors, Dow Diversity Network and Tri-City Links," reports Amy Behrens, Business and Operations Manager for Theatre and Choral. "Additionally, Ragtime Music Director Jim Hohmeyer and cast member Emily Anderson will visit Midland High School and Dow High School Humanities classes to conduct a dialogue with the students about the time period and issues presented in the play. We are also offering a special student discount ticket to students in the MPS Humanities classes."

Erin Brooks of Midland plays Mother; Taurean Hogan of Wayne State University in Detroit plays Coalhouse Walker, Jr.; Dagan Stephenson of Midland plays Sarah; and Dominic Zoeller of Midland plays Tateh.

The remainder of the cast is comprised of Adam Gardner of Auburn; David King of Freeland; Lavel Jackson, Jessie Merrill, WenDell Parker, Saira Shariff, Lauralean Sims, Olivia Thompson and Mona Wilson of Saginaw; Paul Viele of Vassar; Parker Bradford, Madeline Lynch, Joel Mindykowski, Anna Urband and Kelsey Woods of Bay City; Andrew Southwell of Clare and these Midland residents: Emily Anderson, Victor Atiemo-Obeng, Diana Ball, Alexis Bearinger, Keyton Bearinger, Marla Bearinger, Nancy Anne Berdasco, Jennifer Breneman, David Clayton, Hypatia Creger, Hannah Dressen, Abby Drumright, Josh Finch, Laurene Franjione, Christina Griggs, StEve Johnson, Luca Jolly, Kevin Kendrick, Monica Kozakiewicz, Evan Mills, Nikita Murry, Gezelle Myers, Valerie Padgett, Susie Polito, Zach Prout, Alex Rapanos, David Ritter, Sonja Roden, Amy Sabourin, Emily Sweeney, Dan Tempas and Paul Yakuber.

Show times are 8 pm October 17 and 24; 3 pm October 18. For tickets call (989) 631-8250 or (800) 523-7649 or visit www.mcfta.org. The production is sponsored by RE/MAX of Midland - Wayne and Karen Crosby, and Feeny Chrysler Dodge of Midland.

Music Society of the Midland Center for the Arts is a volunteer musical arts organization serving mid-Michigan. It utilizes professionals to educate and develop its community-based participants.

Theatre Guild was established in 1929 and is Midland's oldest theatre organization, presenting plays, children's theatre and a continuing program of community service, school residencies, theatre classes and workshops.

Midland Center for the Arts, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation formed under the laws of the State of Michigan incorporating six groups: Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art, MATRIX:MIDLAND, Midland County Historical Society, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Music Society and Theatre Guild. Activities at Midland Center for the Arts are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. For the latest Center news, visit our web site at www.mcfta.org.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.