things have changed over the last century and
how little has been learned, which spurs them
on to hone and focus the material.
“So in each production we continue to
find more specificity,” he said. “As well as
in engaging with new artists, who bring
their own life experiences to the work. It all
inspires new conversations — specifically in
regard to racial tensions, police violence and
gender — in each new community, which is
what I hope will happen in Sarasota as well.”
Rothstein added what he loves so much
about this musical is that there is hope —
as seen in the transformations the primary
characters undergo.
“So change is possible,” he said. “Compassion
can instigate change. Empathy can build a
better world. That’s at the heart of this piece
and what it builds to is hope for the future
— that our children, our youth, are given a
voice, a platform, if provided access. What
change might they create and what world
might they build? Florida is in the global
spotlight right now, with its youth in position
to initiate significant change.”
Sarasota Scene is a sponsor of Ragtime,
which opens May 1 at Asolo Rep’s Mertz
Theatre, located at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
in Sarasota. It plays through May 27. Ticket
prices range from $16-$98, depending upon
seat location, day and performance time. For
more information or to order tickets, call the
box office at 941-351-8000 or 800-361-8388
or log on to asolorep.org.
Jared Joseph and Danyel Fulton in Asolo Rep’s
production of RAGTIME. Photo by John Revisky
MAY 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 69
Jade Turner and Alfie Parker Jr. in Asolo Rep’s production
of RAGTIME. Photo by John Revisky
This particular version of Ragtime, which runs at Asolo Rep
from May 1-27, is something of a revival of Rothstein’s scaled
down, intimate and elegant 2016 production at Theater Latté Da
in the Twin Cities, of which he is the founding artistic director.
“Also the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, where I’ve worked quite
a bit, asked me to recreate it for them last year,” Rothstein said.
“Then (Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director) Michael Edwards
got wind of it and said it sounded like a good piece for Asolo
Rep. This version of Ragtime is the Theater Latté Da production
of it done in partnership with the 5th Avenue Theatre. We’re
sharing some of the costumes and props with them. The cast
is a combination of one-third from the Twin Cities production,
one-third from the Seattle production and the other third will
be actors coming in from New York.”
Rothstein added he has never before worked at Asolo Rep,
but his resume boasts successful productions of Other Desert
Cities, M. Butterfly and Private Lives for the prestigious Guthrie
Theatre, record-breaking productions of Annie, The Wizard of
Oz and the world premiere of Disney’s High School Musical,
among many others.
“As for this upcoming production of Ragtime, it’s such a lovely
thing as a director to revisit a show with the same team and
continue to learn and finesse what works,” Rothstein said. “It’s
been a success in the Twin Cities and Seattle and I think it’s
important that we try to understand in these communities —
as well as in others — what the conversation is that we’re all
having around these issues. And how that informs the work.
Because as much as this piece speaks to hope, the issues at
the heart of it have been part of our national challenges since
the beginning.”
Rothstein added the most common comment he and his
colleagues get in post-show conversations is how woefully little
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