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There's no easy way to sum up the 20th century in this country, with all its technological innovations and social changes, but the musical Ragtime comes close. Foothill Music Theatre presents the epic American musical starting July 23 in Los Altos.
Based on the 1975 E.L. Doctorow book of the same name, Ragtime takes a look at the tumultuous times at the turn of the last century and, through the intertwined tales of three families, explores some issues that would define the next 100 years: racism, immigrant experience, women's rights.
An African American family, a white family and a Jewish immigrant family each face very different challenges living in New York City around the year 1900, but all find their lives brought together at some point by the rapidly changing times. Throughout the tales of these three families, luminaries of the time, from Booker T. Washington to Harry Houdini to the anarchist Emma Goldman, often figure in the lives of family members.
Ragtime debuted on Broadway in 1998 and garnered four Tony awards that year, including wins for writer Terrence McNally for best book for a musical and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty for best original score.
Foothill Music Theatre presents "Ragtime" July 23–Aug. 25 at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets are $10–$24. For more information, visit www.foothill.edu/fa/ragtime/index.html or call 650.949.7360.
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