Past Musical:
Kentwood Players presents
 Ragtime

Ragtime
Book by Terrence McNally
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Based on the novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
Directed by Susan Goldman Weisbarth
Musical Direction by Bill Wolfe
Choreographed by Victoria Miller
Produced by Margie Bates and Gail Bernardi
March 15 – April 20, 2013
at the Westchester Playhouse
RAGTIME is the quintessential American musical that won several Tony Awards in 1998. It 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 historical figures including Harry Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit, Harry K. Thaw, Stanford White, Emma Goldman, Henry Ford, Booker T. Washington, and J.P. Morgan.

Watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyMlU7hGca8" target="video">video highlights.
Character

CAST

 Played by
Henry Ford/Ensemble ············ Greg Abbott
Sob Sister/Ensemble ············ Jeannine Barba
Chorine/Ensemble ············ Heather Barnett
Sob Sister/Ensemble ············ Erika Brauer
Sarah ············ Johanna Rose Burwell
Sob Sister/Ensemble ············ Jackie Carr
Emma Goldman ············ Joanna Churgin
Vice Presidential Candidate/Ensemble ············ Jim Crawford
Brigit/Ensemble ············ Sheridan Cole Crawford
Sob Sister/Ensemble ············ Jacqueline Crist-Franzen
Policeman/Ensemble ············ Terry Delegeane
Sarah's Friend/Ensemble ············ Ruth Andrea Featherstone
J.P. Morgan/Ensemble ············ Martin Feldman
Chorine/Ensemble ············ Jackie Fiske
Houdini/Ensemble ············ Drew Fitzsimmons
Ensemble ············ Shamika Franklin
Samuel Goldman
Little Boy ············ Logan Gould
Ensemble ············ Justin P. James
Willie Conklin/Ensemble ············ Spencer Johnson
Little Girl ············ Karen E. Kolkey
Grandfather ············ George Kondreck
Evelyn Nesbitt ············ Amanda Majkrzak
Tateh ············ Bradley Miller
Father ············ Rocky Miller
Henson/Ensemble ············ J. Paul Myers
Newsboy/Ensemble ············ Fiona Okida
Ensemble ············ Roy T. Okida
James Olivas
Chorine/Ensemble ············ Michelle M. Pedersen
Booker T. Washington ············ Darryl Maximilian Robinson
Houdini's Mother/Ensemble ············ Judy Rosenfeld
Younger Brother ············ Slater Ross
Chorine/Ensemble ············ Megan Ruble
Admiral Peary/Judge/Ensemble ············ Bruce Schroffel
Coalhouse Walker, Jr. ············ Deus Xavier Scott
Mother ············ Jennifer Sperry
Newsboy/Ensemble ············ Hollister Starrett
Ensemble/understudy for Younger Brother ············ Christopher Stefanic
Kathleen/Ensemble ············ Jessica D. Stone
Young Coalhouse ············ Hezekiah Suber
Ensemble ············ Courtney L. Williams
Ja’von Willis
Marcus Alan Wynn

CAST PICTURES

Mother, Father, and Little Boy enjoy their life in New Rochelle.
Mother told herself how fortunate she was to be so protected and provided for by her husband.
Father assures Mother, “I'll only be gone a year. Nothing much happens in a year!”
Mother wishes Father a safe journey as he prepares to leave for the North Pole.
Grandfather was thoroughly irritated by everything!
“I promised you America and little one we’re there!”
Emma Goldman tells Tateh, “Work is politics!”
“I told you Mrs Goldman, no politics. My daughter needs to eat.”

Booker T Washington was the most famous negro in the country and
counseled friendship between the races and spoke of the promise of the future.

Booker T. Washington counsels Coalhouse,
“We must exhibit patience, self-control, forbearance, and dwell above hatred and acts of cruelty.”
The good Lord looked down and saw me sad and lonely and he thought,
enough is enough. I'm putting Sarah into Coalhouse's life. And he did!
Coalhouse assures Sarah, “Yes, the wheels are turning for us girl and the times are starting to roll.”
Our son will travel with head held high, just as far as his heart can go!

In Harlem, men and women listened to the music of Coalhouse Walker, Jr.
This was a music that was theirs and no one else’s!

Evelyn Nesbit was the most beautiful woman in America.
When she wore her hair in curls, every woman wore her hair in curls.

The citizens of New Rochelle lead privileged lives.
Tateh and his Little Girl (Bradley Miller, Karen E. Kolkey) arrive in New York along with immigrants from all over the world.
In Harlem, Coalhouse Walker (Deus Xavier Scott) creates the music known as Ragtime.
Emma Goldman (Joanna Churgin) speaks at Union Square.
Harry Houdini (Drew Fitzsimmons) wows audiences.
Evelyn Nesbit (Amanda Majkrzak) delights in telling her “Crime of the Century” tale.
Photos by Shari Barrett
KENTWOOD PLAYERS

Westchester Playhouse
8301 Hindry Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(Click here for map)

310-645-5156
Box Office Questions: boxoffice@kentwoodplayers.org
Rental Questions: rentals@kentwoodplayers.org