Arts Collective @ Howard Community College presents the Monumental Tony Award-Winning Musical RAGTIME
May 8 – 18th
This spring, Howard Community College’s (HCC) Arts Collective (AC) proudly presents the Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime, based on the distinguished novel by E.L. Doctorow, directed by David Gregory with musical direction by Mayumi B. Griffie and choreography by Aysha Upchurch.
Ragtime is a turn-of-the-century historical musical which intertwines the lives of three families with different social and cultural backgrounds. Each view America through contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair…their pathways into the future are altered forever when desperate choices are made and haunting truths revealed. This emotionally charged journey bursts with passion, tragedy, joy and love; a tapestry focused on social upheaval which speaks directly to the pulse of America today.
The diverse score (book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens) and cast mirrors the melting pot of America itself, drawing upon many musical styles, from the ragtime rhythms of Harlem and Tin Pan Alley to the klezmer of the Lower East Side; bold brass band marches to delicate waltzes; and up-tempo banjo tunes to period parlor songs and expansive anthems are sure to have the audience tapping toes in the aisles!
Ragtime runs May 8 – 18 in HCC’s Smith Theatre, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
Individual tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors (60+) and military, and $10 for all students with identification.
Tickets may be purchased through the Box Office at 443-518-1500 or online.
Venue:
Howard Community College, Horowitz Center, 20901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044.
Directions:
Visit HCC’s Horowitz Center’s website.
Parental guidance suggested.
THE CAST:
Booker T. Washington: Raymond Chapman
Coalhouse Walker, Jr.: Jamar Brown
Emma Goldman: Lauren Blake Williams
Evelyn Nesbit: Katie Tyler
Father: Cory Jones
Grandfather: Dave Guy
Little Boy: Theodore Yu
Little Girl: Gwendolyn Lowell
Mother: Santina Maiolatesi
Sarah: Shayla Lowe
Sarah’s Friend: Caelyn Sommerville
Tateh: Jacob Stuart
Younger Brother: Brian Nabors
The Ensemble:
Meghan Abdo, Gabrielle Amaro, Valerie Attoh-Arman, Rachel Bailey, Erin Branigan, Cheryl J. Campo, Jonathan Cort, Diego Esmolo, Gary Grabau, Brandon Love, Erin MacDonald, Emily Morgan, Susan Porter, Alexandria Richards, Torin Ross, and Todd Joseph Zachwieja.
THE CREATIVES:
Director: David Gregory
Music Director: Mayumi B. Griffie
Choreographer: Aysha Upchurch
Light Design: Lynn Joslin
Set Design: Jeff Harrison
Projection Design: Riki K.
Props Design: Vicki Sussman
Costume Design: Shannon Maddox
Sound Design: Jeff Schabdach
Props Artisan, Poster Illustration: Emma K. McDonnell
Stage Manager: Toni Goldberg
Assistant Stage Manager: Kelli Jones
Production Assistant: Derek Anderson
About the Director
David Gregory makes his Arts Collective debut with Ragtime. Originally from Spain, David has performed and directed in the Baltimore area for almost 15 years. Directing credits include Brooklyn: The Musical, Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Side Show, Café (Premiere at University of Maryland), For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls, A New Brain, Dreamgirls (Toby’s Dinner Theatre), and Songs For A New World. While completing his MFA at Towson, he translated and co-directed the first English production and U.S. premier of Los Engranajes (The Gears) by Rául Hernández Garrido; he also directed the world-premiere of 7:32 The Musical, which was honored as a Kennedy Center Theatre Region II Finalist.Choreography credits include Bernarda Alba, Bare, Falsettos, and A New Brain. As founder and artistic director of Teatro101, David has produced critically acclaimed productions of The Little Dog Laughed, Side Show(City Paper Top Ten), Violet (DC Theatre Scene Top Ten by Joel Markowitz- (DC MetroTheaterArts), The Wild Party (Broadwayworld’s Not To Miss), and Brooklyn (Joel Markowitz and Amanda Gunther on Maryland Theatre Guide’s Top List). Also a performer, David appeared in the regional premiere of In The Heights as Usnavi, for which he received a Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Actor in A Musical and in The Olney Theatre Center’s King and I. David also teaches various theatre courses at Towson University and the University of Maryland, where he is completing his PhD. He also holds a MFA in Theatre Arts from Towson University and a MA in Arts Administration from Goucher College.
About HCC’s Arts Collective
Now in its 19th Season, Arts Collective (AC) is a creative force, entirely committed to offering diverse, awe-inspiring works across several genres, including plays, musicals, improvisation, dance and more! Established in 1994, AC is a professionally run organization all about supporting, nurturing and fusing collaborative relationships between all artists, from students to professionals, on and off the stage, to Howard County and beyond.
View AC’s 19th Season line-up online.
This article is by Susan G. Kramer, Producing Artistic Director of Arts Collective@HCC.
