Reeling in “Ragtime”: What Goes Behind the Making of a Musical
The annual Salesianum musical is setting the stage. Starting from February 28th to March 8th, the Salesianum production of Ragtime is going to knock your socks off!

Ragtime tells the story of the underdog, showing the perspective of a Jewish immigrant, a white suffragette, and an African-American woman among others. The worlds of all of these cultures combine together and show the “American Dream” during the early 1900s.

Jake Poppiti, a senior at Salesianum high school, is playing the role of Tateh. He describes his character and how important the show’s message is. “He’s a poor immigrant Jew from Latvia who is coming to America with his daughter. He expects the American Dream but finds out that no one really cares about him. He has no money, his daughter is sick, and he feels that there is no justice for poor immigrants.”

Audrey Embly, a senior at Padua, is playing the role of Mother. She explains why this show is meaningful today. “It’s important because we are giving a voice to those who don’t feel they have one in terms of social injustice both in the past and today.”

Poppiti also expands on Embly’s point of the meaning of the show. “It is still relevant today because you have many groups mingling with other groups. Nowadays we have white Catholics, African-American people being incarcerated and with poor living conditions, and immigrants looking for hope and opportunity, but being denied it. We have made progress, but the story is still the same for some,” says Poppiti.

Although it takes a village to perform this musical, it takes a town to make sure everything runs smoothly. For example, Marina Pilger, a senior at Padua describes her important role as stage manager for this important musical. “I facilitate communication between the performers, the music directors, the crew, and the musicians. I make sure that each department knows what the other department is working on so we can get organized. When the crew works through tech, I guide them through that process based on what we have been doing at rehearsals and tailor that into the show.”

Pilger describes what seeing the progress of this show has been like. “I really like watching the process and putting the show together…I really like watching the process and putting the show together.”

Not only is watching the show being put together a great experience, but the environment of the show is great as well. Pilger says that “Hanging out with the people here is great. I enjoy the people and the environment around me.”

Ragtime is being performed to showcase the performers of the students in the theatre company and by giving the audience a message that they might not be open to seeing.

Aaron Bogad, the director of the Salesianum shows, explains the message of the show and the reaction of the audience. “We live in a culture that is really gritty, grainy, and specific. We have a fantasized vision of what we were historically. This show presents that fantasized vision but contrasts with some dark truth as well.”

Bogad explains that “Sallies’ student council theme for the year is humility. In order for us to humbly approach our analysis of the culture and community, you have to take a hard look. This show gives us a chance at that.”

“As a cis-gendered straight white man, I feel a moral obligation to disrupt the dominant narrative. This show packages that disruption in a palatable way,” Bogad elaborates.

Poppiti expresses this point as well. “Through the use of hate crimes and vulgar language we show a reflection of what is occurring and show what people don’t want to see.”

Ragtime showcases the talent of performers and a harsh look at an important part of our past. Bogad explains this by saying, “Another part that I think is important is the diverse stories told in the show, giving us the chance to provide for performers that have not previously performed before.”

This performance of Ragtime is sure to be one of the most important and showstopping productions yet! Make sure to buy tickets at https://www.onthestage.com/show/salesianum-school-theatre/ragtime-19851/tickets. Prices are $10 for students and seniors and $15 for adults.