![]() ![]() She surprises herself when she immediately makes the decision to take in the child as well as his mother, Sarah (Bryce Charles), a choice she knows her husband would not approve of. Along with the lives of Grandfather (Gregory North), Mother’s Younger Brother (Dylan Saunders), and her son (Luké Barbato Smith), Mother’s life is turned upside down when she discovers an abandoned African American baby in her garden. ![]() The story begins with Mother (Shannon Warne), a wealthy suburbanite who is left to manage her household alone when Father (Zachary Ford) sets off on a sailing expedition to the North Pole. But ultimately, the magic of this beautiful score and story are able to mostly mask any difficulties. There are moments when the limitations of a somewhat smaller space show-some scenes feel crowded, and necessary use of not only the width of the stage but the height of it leads to some awkward sightlines. The first major production of the musical in Los Angeles in over twenty years, it is one of the most ambitious efforts the Pasadena Playhouse has ever put forth. This version features a cast of 21, which is in fact pared down as many of the actors play multiple roles, and a 16-piece orchestra. The cast is large, a Model T automobile is critical to the plot and basically has to appear on stage, and the general scope of the show is big, spanning many different locations and storylines. Photo Credit: Nick Agroĭirected here by David Lee, Ragtime has always been notorious for being an ambitious, sprawling show to produce. Over the course of several years, the lives of the people in these three groups intersect in unexpected and sometimes tragic ways, resulting in a sweeping tale that, much like life itself, manages to be both heartbreaking and uplifting. ![]() Set in the New York City area in the early 20th century, it follows three groups of people searching for their version of the American Dream-an upper-class white family, an African American Harlem musician and his girlfriend and son, and Eastern European immigrants. With lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, and a book by Terrence McNally, Ragtime is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by E.L. “Make them hear you” is one of the most well-known refrains in Ragtime, and the current production at the Pasadena Playhouse is in fact demanding to be heard-and it is well worth listening to. ![]()
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