Articles Tagged With: Lynn Ahrens

Ragtime at Signature Theatre

Reviews November 5, 2023 Steven Kirkpatrick

Signature Theatre’s latest offering is a stellar production of Ragtime, a musicalization of E. L. Doctorow’s sprawling 1975 novel, in which a variety of real and fictional characters from the turn of the 20th century are woven into an epic American tapestry. Presenting a panoramic view of the dawning of the twentieth century, Ragtime addresses such issues as immigration, racism, socialism, women’s rights, industrialization, and the labor movement. Seeking to identify the forces that have shaped America over the past century,

Ragtime in concert at Maryland Theatre Collective 📷 Matthew Peterson

Ragtime at Maryland Theatre Collective

Reviews November 1, 2023 Mark Briner

At the turn of the 20th century, a new music emanating from African-American urban communities began creeping into mainstream culture for the first of what eventually became many times over the course of the century. But in 1975, E.L. Doctorow used this musical form as a metaphor for not only the infusion of African-American influences into the white musical world, but for the changes in emerging racial presences that forced drastic social and class struggle,

Anastasia at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland

Reviews September 26, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Dancing youths…painted scenes…things I almost remember… then a song— someone sings… once upon a…September… when the Children’s Playhouse of Maryland presented the area premiere of Anastasia, the much-anticipated, full-length musical. A sparkling gem, a radiant endeavor, this delightful and charming show is both beautiful and serene, full of humor and heart, and a spectacular start to the 2023/2024 season at CPM. Directed by Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, with Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans Crowley,

Lila Coogan (center) as Anya in the National Tour of Anastasia

Anastasia at The Kennedy Center

Reviews November 5, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Have you heard? There’s a rumor that St. Petersburg— is coming straight to Washington D.C.! No longer far away or long ago, glowing brighter than an ember, it’s here to see, a breathtaking show, one you will always remember… Anastasia— a wintery wondrous fairytale arriving in time for the Thanksgiving season now on the Eisenhower stage of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Commissioned by Dmitry Bogachev, with Book by Terrence McNally and Music &

The company of Ragtime at Memorial Players in Bolton Hill

Review: Ragtime at Memorial Players

Reviews April 18, 2016 Ashley Gerhardt

“Giving the nation a new syncopation, the people called it Ragtime!” Ragtime at Memorial Players in Baltimore is an outstanding production that takes the audience on a journey of diversity, racial tensions, and an inspiring yet tragic love story. The book, written by Terrance McNally (Music by Stephen Flaherty, and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens) is based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow. Ragtime tells the story of three socially disparate groups set in New York during the early 20th century: African Americans,

Review: Ragtime at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews September 21, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Giving the nation a new syncopation, Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia proudly presents a masterful production of the treasured Ahrens and Flaherty musical Ragtime. Rolling on the wheels of a dream, the production is Directed by house Artistic Director Toby Orenstein and Co-Artistic Director Lawrence B. Munsey. With Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this evocative, soul-searing musical brings forth a hunger for justice and presents to theatergoers all across the Columbia and greater Baltimore and Washington Metropolitan areas a sensationally talented cast with earnest heart and emotional depth.