Kentwood Players presents the 1998 Tony Award-winning musical "RAGTIME" with book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty from Friday, March 15 to Saturday, April 20 at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Susan Goldman Weisbarth, with Musical Director Bill Wolfe, Choreographer Victoria Miller, and produced by Margie Bates and Gail Bernardi by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at photos from the production below!
"Ragtime" is the quintessential American musical that paints a powerful portrait of life at the turn of the century. Three stories are woven together that poignantly illustrate the struggle Americans faced dealing with class, race, money and justice in a country still struggling to find balance as they moved from the 19th to the 20th century. It was a tumultuous time when immigrants were looking to find hope in America, when former slaves and their children, now freed, were trying to establish their hold on the American dream, and the white upper middle class society struggled to maintain their lifestyle and expectations. Intertwined with the fictional characters are many historical figures including Emma Goldman, Harry Houdini, Henry Ford, Admiral Perry, Stanford White, Harry K. Thaw, Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T. Washington, and J.P. Morgan.
Featured in the cast are Greg Abbott, Jeannine Barba, Heather Barnett, Erika Brauer, JohAnna Rose Burwell, Jacquelyn Carr, Joanna Churgin, Jim Crawford, Sheridan Cole Crawford, Jacqueline Crist- Franzen, Terry Delegeane, Ruth Andrea Featherstone, Martin Feldman, Jackie Fiske, Drew Fitzsimmons, Shamika Franklin, Samuel Goldman, Logan Gould, Justin P. James, Spencer Johnson, Karen E. Kolkey, George Kondreck, Amanda Majkrzak, Bradley Miller, Patricia Miller, Rocky Miller, J. Paul Myers, Kolaiah Newkirk, Xavier Newkirk, Fiona Okida, Roy T. Okida, James Olivas, Michelle M. Pedersen, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Judy Rosenfeld, Slater Ross, Megan Ruble, Bruce Schroffel, Deus Xavier Scott, Jennifer Sperry, Hollister Starrett, Christopher Stefanic, Jessica D. Stone, Courtney L. Williams, Ja'von Willis, Marcus Alan Wynn.Photo Credit: Shari Barrett
Mother, Father, and their Little Boy enjoy life in New Rochelle. (Jennifer Sperry, Rocky Miller, Logan Gould)
Like so many Eastern European immigrants, Tateh tells his Little Girl, "I promised you a better life in America - and we're there!" (Karen E. Kolkey, Bradley Miller)
Emma Goldman insists that "Work is politics!" (Joanna Churgin, Karen E. Kolkey, Bradley Miller)
Booker T. Washington counsels Coalhouse, "We must exhibit patience, self-control, forbearance, and dwell above hatred and acts of cruelty." (Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Deus Xavier Scott)
Our son will travel with head held high, just as far as his heart can go! (Deus Xavier Scott, JohAnna Rose Burwell)
Grandfather was thoroughly irritated by everything! (George Kondreck, Jennifer Sperry)
Evelyn Nesbit (Amanda Majkrzak) was the most beautiful woman in America. When she wore her hair in curls, every woman wore her hair in curls.
Videos