Theater Preview: RAGTIME (Chance Theater)

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by Eve Meadows on July 22, 2019

in Theater-Los Angeles,Theater-Regional

CHANCE THEATER’S RAGTIME
EXTENDS TO AUGUST 11

This critically-acclaimed intimate reimagining of the epic musical will be adding ten performances over the course of a two-week extension. Chance Theater, Orange County’s best small theater oufit, will be extending its sold-out run of Ragtime: The Musical. Based on the novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow, the musical — Terrence McNally (book), Stephen Flaherty (music), Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) — is produced often, but never like this. Presented with startlingly powerful intimacy, the direction by Casey Stangl, choreography by Kelly Todd, and music direction by Robyn Manion brings the show closer to you — and your heart — than ever before. This hit will now run for an additional two weeks through August 11th on the Cripe Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Ragtime paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of life in turn of the century America, intertwining three distinct stories — and famous historical characters — that poignantly illustrate history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate. The score is just as diverse as the Melting Pot of America that it seeks to recreate. It draws upon traditional Jewish folk sounds to color the haunting music and yearning lyrics of the immigrants, Vaudeville’s outrageous style to capture the spectacle of Evelyn Nesbit, and Joplin and Jazz to invoke the enlivened spirit of Harlem. This 1998 Tony award winning show features such show stopping songs as “Getting Ready Rag,” “Your Daddy’s Son,” “Wheels of a Dream,” “Till We Reach That Day,” “Back To Before,” and “Make Them Hear You.” It is a momentous and inspiring musical.

“The play has so much resonance in our world today,” said director Casey Stangl. “The immigrant experience, the decaying of the American Dream, the intense divisions between groups, races, genders — all these themes are explored in a piece with a glorious score and fascinating characters.”

photos by Doug Catiller, True Image Studio

Ragtime The Musical
Chance Theater
Cripe Stage @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center
5522 E. La Palma in Anaheim
Thurs at 7:30; Fri at 8; Sat at 3 & 8;
Sun at 3 & 7:30 (check for exceptions)
ends on July 28, 2019
EXTENDED to August 11, 2019
for tickets, call 888.455.4212 or visit Chance

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