“Ragtime: The Musical,” based on the novel “Ragtime” by Terrence McNally, debuted at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (TPAC) from Aug. 8–24. The production marked TPAC’s second self-produced show since “Fiddler on the Roof” in 2024.
Set in the turbulent melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York City, “Ragtime” intertwines three distinctly American stories: that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant, and a bold Black musician from Harlem. United by courage, compassion, and faith in the promise of the future, they confront timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and explore what it truly means to live in America.
With its Tony Award-winning score and emotionally charged storytelling, “Ragtime” bursts onto the stage with pageantry, power, and hope. The production featured a stellar cast of local talent, including Majesty Pearson, daughter of the late Bishop Carlton Pearson and a Tulsa-based recording artist who once toured with Stevie Wonder, as Sarah, and Michael Andreas as Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Broadway veteran whose credits include “The Michael Jackson Musical.”
Other cast members included Sam Briggs as Tateh, Claire Sbanotto as Mother, Joshua Terrones as Younger Brother, Austin Rauschuber as Father, Philip Alexander as Grandfather, Jordan M. Andrews as Booker T. Washington, Jesse-Lushanya Battice as Harry Houdini, and Peter Youtsey as Henry Ford.
The ensemble represented early 1900s American social groups, including immigrants, the upper class of New Rochelle, and African Americans in Harlem. Many cast members are college-educated or currently studying theater and performing arts. Rehearsals began in June, leading to 11 performances in August.
Performers trained extensively in choreography and vocal performance, from soprano to bass, and rehearsed with a live orchestra and pianist. TPAC invested heavily in production design, including costumes, props, and marketing. The show was featured in “Tulsa World” and a local TV commercial, with wardrobe pieces sourced from vintage and thrift boutiques to authentically depict early 20th-century fashion for the 40-member cast. TPAC even secured a vintage Model T Ford for the stage.
“Ragtime,” the musical genre that inspired the production, is known for its syncopated, jazz-infused piano rhythms, popularized by Black composers such as Scott Joplin. The show’s themes include racism and injustice, the American Dream, class conflict, gender roles, transformation, and the use of music as resistance and expression.
The story ultimately asks: What is America, and who gets to belong? Staging “Ragtime” in Tulsa adds layers of emotional and historical resonance, echoing the spirit and struggles of Black Wall Street, even if Greenwood is not directly referenced in the play.
Supporting the arts in Tulsa is vital. Beyond entertainment, the arts strengthen the economy, promote cultural understanding, and foster community connection. With “Ragtime” earning critical and local acclaim, audiences are already looking forward to TPAC’s next production, a promising sign for the city’s growing theater scene.
