theatre
RAGTIME MAGIC
DEFINING DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
PAUL DAVID BRYANT
by lisa lipsey
Last season at San Diego Musical Theatre, I remember enthusiastically completing a survey during intermission. It asked audiences to check off the three shows they would like to see as part of their 2016 season. It is fair to conclude that a majority of the audience was in my corner, checking off Ragtime The Musical. It’s a show we haven’t seen much of here in San Diego. And, why not? This is an epic, award-winning story. In 1998, the show won five Drama Desk Awards and six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score. I did a scroll-by on iTunes... Playing clips of the songs. It is a powerhouse musical, with threads of classic George and Ira Gershwin tunes, like the 1918 song “The Real American Folk Song is a Rag,” an AmericanLes Misérables, if you will. It reminded me here and there, of the beauty and tragedy of Porgy and Bess and also has the feel of Thornton Wilder’s non-musical playOur Town. There is history to it—a snapshot of America’s East Coast—prior to World War I.
Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow,
with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime follows the story of three different families: an upper middle class white, protestant family, an African American family from Harlem and a newly immigrated Eastern European Jewish family. All three families call New York home, their lives intertwined by coincidence, or by the celebrities of the day: includ- ing Booker T. Washington, Harry Houdini, Emma Goldman and Henry Ford. The storyline includes tragedy and triumph, simple joy and complex unrest, seemingly the stuff of life today. At San Diego Musical Theatre, a cast of 41 is
being directed and choreographed by Paul David Bryant while Don LeMaster, the music director, is
overseeing a 22-piece orchestra. This cast, crew and pit is all leading up to their largest undertaking to date.
Most exciting, is having Bryant
THIS IS ULTIMATELY A DISPLAY OF HUMAN- ITY AND AN OUTCRY FOR RESPECT. WE
MUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND
LEARN HOW TO LIVE TOGETHER
WITH DIGNITY.”
here to guide the show. In addition to performing, he served as Dance Captain. Bryant comes with a wealth of experience, having been a choreographer most of his life and a member of Ragtime’s original national tour in 1998. Since then, he has worked on 12 different productions of Ragtime, his self-proclaimed, favorite musical. Bryant says, “I truly have so
much passion for Ragtime, I love teaching the cast about the show. Getting them to see what it is about and the true intentions behind things. It is not just a dance step—it’s a human right’s issue—every note
is deliberate. I love stories that are family oriented and where people dream of having a better life.” Bryant also works for Disney as choreographer, trotting the globe, from California to Hong Kong. Fortunately, Disney is very understanding and Bryant manages to direct/choreograph about three non-Disney shows a year. He keeps himself on his toes too, by performing in one or two additional productions each year. “I love being on stage and being behind the scenes, seeing my work come to life. The first rehearsal here was with the Harlem Ensemble. I can see the bits and pieces, the scenes coming to life. We have the revival set with the original choreography. After teaching the routines, it becomes important to step back, watch closely and clean things up, or clarify intent.” When reflecting on his desire to share the story,
music and dance of Ragtime, Bryant says, “The show is very poignant and timely, with the upcom- ing elections, campaigns like “Black Lives Matter” and the conversations around immigration rights. This is ultimately a display of humanity and an outcry for respect. We must keep moving forward and learn how to live together with dignity.” Take note of Bryant’s passion, it is the key to theatre magic. I’ll place my bets... It’s sure to resonate through the entire production of Ragtime.
San Diego Musical Theatre’sRagtime runsFriday, February 5 through Sunday, February 21 at the Spreckels Theatre downtown. For tickets and more information, call 858.560.5740 or go
tosdmt.org.
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RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2016 RAGE monthly
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