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Called by Time Magazine "A triumph for the stage," and by the International Herald Tribune "the best musical in twenty years," this acclaimed musical won 1998 Tony Awards for Best Score, Book and Orchestrations, and won both the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical and Best Score. RAGTIME is not only a powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America, but a relevant tale for today. Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ("Once On This Island," "Seussical," "Lucky Stiff"), noted playwright Terrence McNally, ("Kiss of the Spider Woman", "Master Class"), and based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families, as they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. The Tony-winning score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty is just as diverse as the melting pot of America itself. It draws upon many musical styles from the ragtime rhythms of Harlem and Tin Pan Alley to the klezmer of the Lower East Side, from bold brass band marches to delicate waltzes, from up-tempo banjo tunes to period parlor songs and expansive anthems.
Featured are 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." This thrilling musical is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike! Book by Terrence McNally; music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Presented by Mesa Encore Theatre at the Farnsworth Studio.
Tony Awards and Nominations for RAGTIME
| Year | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Best Musical | |
| 2010 | Best Revival of a Musical |
News About RAGTIME at PENNSYLVANIA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Presents An Emotional Journey of Resilience and Love in THE COLOR PURPLE
February 14, 2024The musical adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple, featuring a book by Marsha Norman and music & lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, directed by Amina Robinson running July 17 to August 4 on the Main Stage.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Unveils 2024 Summer Season
October 19, 2023Discover the upcoming season of Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, featuring Shakespeare plays, musicals, and children's theatre. Explore the theme of 'Persistence of Love' and experience engaging performances that celebrate love in all its forms. Get ready for an exciting summer of theater!
Full Casts & Complete Lineup Set for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
May 08, 2023Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has announced the complete principal casts, creative teams, and events planned for the previously announced summer season.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING to Open Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival This Month
July 07, 2022William Shakespeare's joyous and popular comedy Much Ado About Nothing will open at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the professional theatre on the campus of DeSales University. The show previews July 13 and 14, opens July 15, and runs through August 7 in the Schubert Theatre at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.
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