Ragtime

Book by Terrence McNally
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Based on the novel "Ragtime" by E.L. Doctorow
Directed by Casey Stangl
Choreographed by Kelly Todd
Music Direction by Robyn Manion

Awards and Recognition

  • CRITIC'S CHOICE LA Times
  • Tony Award Winner
  • Drama Desk Winner
  • Best Production TIMES OC

Reviewer Quotes

“ an overwhelming experience ”

Times OC

“ Stangl's stripped-down version underscores the contemporary resonance ”

OC Weekly

“ vocally blessed cast ”

StageSceneLA

EXTENDED THRU AUGUST 11th!

On the Cripe Stage… 

The Epic Musical About Our Country Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Famous historical characters and a rich score propel Ragtime through a spectacular re-creation of turn-of-the-20th-century New York. Based on E.L. Doctorow’s acclaimed novel, this 13-time Tony-nominated musical paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of three people — a stifled married woman from the upper classes, a determined Jewish immigrant, and a daring young musician from Harlem — whose fates become unexpectedly intertwined. With music and lyrics by the Tony Award-winning team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the show boasts a Tony Award-winning book by Terrence McNally and such memorable songs as “Getting Ready Rag,” “Wheels of a Dream,” “Till We Reach That Day” and “Make Them Hear You.”

Recommendation: Ages 13 and up. Contains mature themes and strong language.

BEST PRODUCTION — Times OC Best of 2019

Better Lemons Critics #LemonMeter Choice Award for 201996% SWEET from 13 critic reviews

BEST ACTOR RUNNER UP: Dony Wright (Coalhouse Walker Jr.) — Times OC Best of 2019

LA Observed Best of 2019

CRITIC’S CHOICE “A Roaring success” – LA Times

“too-many-to mention thumbs ups performances” — OC Register

“A must see” — Showmag

“thrilling” and “inspired” — StageSceneLA

“a uniformly well-voiced cast and killer six-member band” — OC Weekly

“Ragtime” not only serves as a rousing history lesson, but it also connects subtly with today’s social and political climate.” — Times OC

“a glorious, exhilarating production bursting with energy and ingenuity” – The Show Report

“Exceptional cast” – Jordan R. Young

“Compelling, ambitious, impactful, admirable, laudable” — Broadway World

 

Executive Producers
Sophie & Larry Cripe
Rachelle Menaker & Eddie Schuller

Season Producers
Bette & Wylie Aitken

Associate Season Producer Laurie Smits Staude
  • Save $10 by attending Previews.
  • Save $5 by attending Weekdays. Limited availability.
  • Seniors, Students, Educators and Military save $4 per ticket.
  • 2-for-1 Tix on Thu, Jul 11 at 7:30pm... Use online code "MUSICAL762". Limited availability.
  • $25 Rush Tix available 1 hour prior to the performance. Cash only. Subject to availability.
  • 40% off for Groups of 10 or more.

Articles & Reviews

Read More on the Blog

Audience Buzz

    1. Absolutely LOVED this show! The best thing we’ve seen at your theater, and we’ve seen quite a few great shows! The entire cast was OUTSTANDING! They worked together so well and you could sense the love and respect that they had for each other! The choreography was intricate and performed with (in the eyes of the audience) ease! I loved how the show was adapted for the smaller Chance Theater! I saw the show 5 times (mostly because Kristin was in the show) and the final show on Sunday was the most thrilling and emotional time that I have spent at the theater! I miss it already! Congratulations to you all for taking that chance to bring a show that was first presented on a huge stage with a cast of over 40 (?) to your wonderfully intimate theater!

      — Sumi Yata
    2. It was lovely. We attend lots of theater in LA and OC and this was delightful.

      — Anonymous
    3. Ragtime was an outstanding production. We brought two other couples with us and everyone was extremely enthusiastic about the performance. We all plan to come to future programs. Thank you for a wonderful theater experience.

      — Susie Rothfeder
    4. It was such an extraordinary theatrical experience.

      — Anonymous
    5. My husband and I saw your production of Ragtime last weekend and we just want to say how impressed we were – the stagecraft, acting, singing – everything! So incredibly professional. It was also a great story choice given our turbulent times full of racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The story is a pertinent reminder of a grim, but also hopeful past that mirrors what we are experiencing today.

      — Cathy Goldberg
    6. was a very positive experience: the voices, the set, the band and all the music, the dancing, the costumes, the actors playing multiple roles. The leads were all excellent! Thank you – wish the entire troop would come up to Los Angeles and re-run this – I’d tell everyone!

      — Anonymous
    7. I had some trepidation seeing a local theaters production of my second favorite show, as I’d only ever seen it done with the original cast on Broadway and twice with the original Los Angeles cast at the Ahmanson……but I realized I was getting the chills with every song and then I knew you guys had nailed it. Absolutely phenomenal production!

      — Anonymous
    8. Fabulous

      — Anonymous
    9. It is said ‘A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.’ Your dear Ragtime cast gave us a garden of roses.

      — Arthur Auerbach
    10. We had the pleasure of seeing your production of ‘RAGTIME’ last night we were blown away. The acting, voices, sets, lighting and the 6 piece orchestra were spot on! From the first minute the voices came together we knew we were in for a incredible evening of theater. We’d seen the original production at the Shubert Theater in Century City back in 1996 prior to it’s Broadway run and loved it. We didn’t expect what we experienced last night! This production as equal to or betters than the original production. Mind you the sets were larger but the set at the Chance was perfect for the space. I’d encourage all to see this production before it closes on Aug. 11th
      Thank you to the Chance Theatre for such a memorable evening!
      I’d give this production a 10 plus.

      — Rich Anderson
    11. It was fabulous and how can you improve on perfection?

      — Anonymous
    12. It was a terrific production!!! Loved it!!!!!

      — Anonymous
    13. Bryce Hamilton was fantastic.

      — Anonymous
    14. Outstanding show. Amazing cast. Overall 10.

      — Michael Daniel Neben
    15. Dancing, singing, all the musical numbers were outstanding!
      All the actors/actresses were amazing!
      A lot to watch and take in.
      Need to see it again!

      — Marty Shepard
    16. Fantastic production. Loved every minute.

      — Anonymous
    17. Wonderful show. Made me cry.

      — Beth Abbott
    18. I really liked the intimate setting of the show and the contemporary approach to it. I thought the cast did a fabulous job!

      — Anonymous
    19. Unbelievable performance by ALL. We are coming back in 2 weeks

      — Maureen
    20. The show exceeded our expectations! The performance was powerful and relevant.

      — Lezlie Schreiber
    21. Everything was just perfect. We had a great first time experience

      — Anonymous
    22. Ragtime was an outstanding production. It moved me to tears and I wish everyone I know who loves theatre could have seen this production.

      — Linda Sutera
    23. Your Ragtime should be on Broadway.

      — Patrick Thomson
    24. The show was excellent – staging, performance, music were all amazing!! I was so impressed. I have told many friends who are now going to purchase tickets! Kudos to the cast, crew and musicians. This was equivalent to a Broadway production.

      — Cheryl K Altman
    25. Loved Ragtime so much we are seeing it again!

      — Pamela Lorenz
    26. Ragtime was a spectacular show. You should feel SO proud of this production!

      — Anonymous
    27. We are seeing it for the 2nd time this Friday! I LOVED EVERYONE IN THE SHOW!!!!! It hits on all emotions

      — Mardi Tiffany Hutchings
    28. Ragtime was amazing. The talented cast and musicians blew us away!

      — Stephanie List
    29. This musical was so timely and the staging was creative and impressively simple. The voices were wonderful, the ensemble multi-talented, and hearing the music for the 1st time, I was emotionally wrapped up in the story. The orchestra, especially the keyboardist was amazing! Wonderful production!

      — Susan White
    30. It was an amazing production for any theater company, let alone a 99 seat house. Kudos to the Chance Theater company for raising the bar with incredibly talented actors who sang, danced and acted their way through Rag Time, a show that is as current today as it was when written. It brought me to tears!

      — Anonymous
    31. Well done. Beautifully portrayed and sung. Very thought provoking.

      — Myrna Barron
    32. Great product and wonderful staff

      — Anonymous
    33. It was outstanding. Could not be better.

      — Anonymous
    34. Lovely experience all around.

      — Stuart Wolman
    35. I am recommending everyone see it! I love Chance Theater! The plays chosen, the actors and the productions are invariably so good! Being a Subscriber is very affordable and the benefits are many. I encourage everyone to support you by subscribing.

      — Bobi Keenan
    36. I love having a quality theater in my neighborhood. Kudos to choosing great productions, putting together talented casts and hiring creative set designers.

      — Flora M. Brown
    37. Chance is doing an outstanding job of selecting and producing shows that not only entertain us, but also educate us, encourage us to think, and inspire us to open our minds and our hearts. Everyone involved has much of which to be very proud.

      — Diane Arnold
    38. Absolutely STELLAR Performances by this outstanding cast. They were all AMAZING!

      — Anonymous
    39. I was SO impressed with the performance and the lessons it portrayed!

      — Lynette M. Smith
    40. It was great. Lots of talent, an interesting story. We loved it

      — Anonymous
    41. Everything was amazing. Spectacular

      — Anonymous
    42. My family had the privilege of attending a preview performance of Ragtime, and, although we live in West L.A. and fought traffic for an hour to get to the Chance Theater, it was such a wonderful experience that we are encouraging everyone we know to see it. From beginning to end it was extraordinary. The cast was superlative and their talents were gloriously displayed through the amazing choreography, staging, and directing. Their voices were perfect and combined with skillful acting to bring this poignant and stunningly timely and relevant E.L. Doctorow masterpiece to life.

      — Mira Wolman
    43. Best theater we have seen recently!

      — Anonymous
    44. We loved this production of Ragtime. It’s a very talented cast and band. Plus, the added “warehouse” aspect and the thoughtful presentation of songs and scenes so as to tie them into our current times, was amazing and effective. Kudos to the director and her team!

      — Cynthia Hamilton
    45. We appreciated the relevance of the production to today’s times. We found the Q&A session especially interesting

      — Anonymous
    46. It was tremendous

      — Anonymous

Venue Bette Aitken theater arts Center

Bette Aitken theater arts Center
5522 E. La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA  92807
More Information Get Directions
Venue Amenities
  • Full-Service Bar
  • Free Parking
  • Conveniently Located

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At a Glance

Approximate Running Time:
2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission
Special Notes: