Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre seeks racially diverse cast for ‘Ragtime’ production

Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre has staged everything from Cats to Annie Get Your Gun.

But it’s never tackled a production of the acclaimed musical Ragtime.

Until now.

The story of a Harlem musician, an upper-crust suburban family and Eastern European immigrants in early 20th-century New York will come to the local stage in November.

The show is a true ensemble, and it’ll require a racially and ethnically diverse cast.

Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre leaders are doing their best to spread the word about auditions, set for Aug. 14-15.

“As soon as we picked the show and announced it, we started doing outreach,” said Robbie Heegel, who’s directing.

Ragtime touches on important topics including racism, classism, feminism and police brutality.

Leaders chose it last August or September, and announced it in October. And its themes have become even more timely since, Heegel said.

“This is the right time for us to do the show for the Mid-Columbia region,” he said. “That’s what theater is about — experiencing and starting conversations about topics that can be difficult, and kind of pushing it forward.”

Leading parts in the musical include Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Sarah, who live in Harlem. Coalhouse is a “proud and talented pianist” with “a romantic demeanor and gentle heart,” and Sarah is the beautiful, strong-willed washwoman who falls for him, their character breakdowns said. Both are black.

Tateh is a Latvian-American in his 30s or 40s, a “haggard artist and father” who “wears the trials and tribulations of his past on his sleeve but remains optimistic,” the character breakdown said.

And Mother is the matriarch of an upper-class family in New Rochelle. She’s described as “the consummate wife and mother,” who’s moral, graceful and refined.

Several historical figures also appear, from Booker T. Washington to Harry Houdini.

Ragtime is based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow. It debuted on Broadway in 1998, winning four Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Audra McDonald’s turn as Sarah.

Auditions are at 6 p.m. Aug. 14-15 at the Battelle Auditorium, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m.

Performers should be prepared to sing for 60 to 90 seconds, and possibly dance. Audition forms are available at tinyurl.com/mcmtRagtime.

Ragtime will run Nov. 11-12 and 18-20.

This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre seeks racially diverse cast for ‘Ragtime’ production."