Ragtime the Musical at South Orange Performing Arts Center

Light Opera of New Jersey continues its 24th Season of operetta and musical theatre with a production of Ragtime the Musical directed by Jeffrey Fiorello with musical direction by Charles Santoro and choreography by Aimee Mitacchione. July 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2019 at 8 pm; and July 21 and 28, 2019 at 2 pm at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079. Tickets at www.sopacnow.org or by calling 973-313-2787.This sweeping musical portrait of early-twentieth-century Americatells the story of three families in the pursuit of the American Dream. Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, noted playwright Terrence McNally, and based on E.L. Doctorows distinguished novel, Ragtime is the winner of the 1998 Tony Awards for Best Score and Book and Orchestrations. Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together, they confront historys timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair . . . and what it means to live in America.LONJ continues to build a strong cast of new and returning talents.Mother played by Christina Ryan, Father played by Keith White, the Younger Brother played by Anthony Crouchelli, Edgar (the Little Boy) played by Justin Roth, Evelyn Nesbit played by Colleen Renee Lis, Tateh played by Daniel Vissers, the Little Girl played by Grace Lustig, Emma Goldman played by Susan Speidel, the Coalhouse Walker played by Dante Sterling, Sarah played by Amber Brown, Sarahs Friend played by Tracey Haskell, Booker T. Washington played by Kevin Johnson, Harry Houdini played by Brandon Conti, Willie Conklin played by Will Carey, Henry Ford played by Reid Powell, JP Morgan played by Gus Ibranyi and the Grandfather played by David Christopher.The New Rochelle Ensemble Members include Meaghan Besse, Kevin Farrelly, Jack Lobley, and Shannon Ludlum.The Harlem Ensemble Members include Gerson Checo, Ericka Davis, Fallon Goskowski, Dana Patrice, Kyle Javon, Branden Mangan, and Daraius Phillips.The Immigrant Ensemble Members include Maria Alessi, TJ Balady, Akash Bhide, Anchal Dhir, Mollie Gash, Zachary Morehouse, and Mia Pafumi. LONJ is a premier operetta, opera, and musical theater company founded in 1995 by William Corson, Executive Director, and Lauran Corson, Artistic Director. To learn more about upcoming productions, visit https://lightoperaofnewjersey.org.