The people call it RAGTIME

L to R: Tyler Bennett (Tateh), Alyssa Sims (Little Girl)
Photo credit: Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler

It's been an emotional ride. Last Thursday Hillbarn Theatre opened it's 72nd season with one of my favorite musicals of all time, Ragtime. Not only do I work for Hillbarn, but I have the unique honor and opportunity to play the role of Tateh, a Jewish immigrant, who with his daughter leave a brutal and scary Latvia to find a better life and the American Dream. This story is not rare, it was/is a common story of people leaving war torn lands to find peace and opportunity for their families in America. This is what our country was based on and why so many of us still beam with pride with thoughts of our country. Ragtime also covers less prideful events in American history, the relationship between white America and black America in the turn of the 20th century. This was not only complex (as it remains today) but very ugly; filled with hate, jealousy, ignorance, and fear.





As ugly as this time was, and there are times in the show where some characters behave in VERY ugly ways, this was also a time of great hope. Coalhouse Walker Jr. who because of his dark skin deals with incredible atrocity sings a song called "Wheels of a Dream" that encapsulates what true hope and desire looks like.

L to R: David Martin (Father), Annmarie Martin (Mother), Tyler Bennett (Tateh)
Photo credit: Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler  

This moment is truly one of the most beautiful examples of how people, even under great duress, can still believe it will get better with the right balance of hope and love. This experience is particularly beautiful through the lens of today, as while he is singing about what life could be like for his son (spoiler alert!) Coalhouse believes that his son could do anything, be anything, have anything he works for. Last weekend while watching the number in the wings, I suddenly started to think about that conversation today between African American Fathers and their sons, now having the example of the President of the United States! I don't reference President Obama for a political statement (I'm an Arts Advocate, not a politician!), but simply to recognize the incredible impact of having a president that looks like you when you are a young child and how that would really make you believe that you could actually do, be or have anything that you set your heart to.

America is hopeful. Americans are capable of great things, at any age (If you don't believe me look what 8 year old Vivienne Harr is doing with Make a Stand Lemonade! (Grab some tissues first)

L to R: Helen Laroche (Emma Goldman, John Rinaldi (JP Morgan), Mark Metzler (Henry Ford)
Photo credit: Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler

Come see Ragtime, don't listen to me, check out the reviews first, By Joanne Engelhardt, for The Daily News or Gregory Alonzo, for StarkInsider.com or an interesting perspective about the younger actors in the show!

If you can't make it to the show, support live theatre, ANY theatre! After all, without art what is our existence, but chaos?!