After “Ragtime” received lots of attention in January for the language used in the musical, the cast is hoping to promote a positive message through the show.
“We have different lives and faces, but our hearts have common places.”
This single line can be found in the song, “He Wanted to Say,” performed in the second act of the musical “Ragtime.”
While it is only one of many lines in the show, it encompasses the message the Cherry Hill High School East theater department wants to get across in what many cast members feel may be the most important show they ever perform in.
This year’s Cherry Hill East spring musical, “Ragtime,” captured the attention of the community about two months prior to opening night for the harsh language used in the show. Now, a little more than two weeks prior to the musical’s opening, the cast realizes how important it is to perform the show well.
“You want to break the fourth wall because it’s such an important piece,” said senior Bethelle Jean-Louis, playing Sarah’s friend in the red cast. “You’re not just singing a song. You have to sing to the audience and pull at somebody’s heartstrings.”
“It’s more important in this show than anything we’ve done before,” Jean-Louis added.
“Ragtime” focuses around three groups of characters from different backgrounds — a white, upper class family, an African-American family and a Jewish immigrant family — and depicts their struggles in early 20th century New York. The show highlights various themes, including racism, social justice and equality.
The school musical shifted into the spotlight in January after the Camden County NAACP released a letter expressing its displeasure about the use of the N-word in the musical. Cherry Hill Public Schools responded on Jan. 20, saying derogatory language wouldn’t be used in the show.
Students in the cast and members of the Cherry Hill and theater community rallied the following week to ask the district to re-think its decision to cut out language from the script. The district reversed its decision on Jan. 27, leaving the script uncensored.
Because of the attention the musical received in January, the cast realizes more people will be paying attention, and they hope to use the attention to promote a positive message to the world. The theater department will perform the musical six times, with the red and white cast each taking the stage three times over the course of two weekends.
“You learn from your history and you learn not to repeat what you did in the past,” said freshman Jade Willingham, playing the role of Sarah’s friend in the white cast. “We want to remind people that it’s wrong to minoritize other people, blacks, whites, Irish, anyone. It doesn’t matter.”
Senior Cedric Middleton, playing the role of Harlem musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., talked about how “Ragtime” is so much more than a typical high school musical.
“Even though it’s just a musical, there’s a lot more to it than that,” Middleton said. “When we read history textbooks, we just read it and forget about it the next day. I hope the intellectual impact of the musical will help people remember the messages.”
The heavy themes of the show have resonated with the cast and are inspiring them to put on the theater department’s best performance yet. Because of the show’s serious tone, the cast feels it’s important to portray their characters accurately.
“There’s an expectation,” said senior Leon Pintel, playing the role of Sarah in the white cast. “You want to make sure you’re telling the story right, especially because there’s been so much media attention.“
Harrison Smith, playing the role of Jewish immigrant Tateh in the white cast, said getting across the strong feeling of oppression in the show is key to the story’s message.
“Its very important for the audience to come to this show and feel the oppression and realize it’s there,” Smith said.
Some cast members talked about the language used in the show and how some of the racist words are important to get the message of the musical across.
“People take the subject very lightly,” said freshman Alicia Cosenza, playing a person of Harlem in the show. “I think that, with the language in it, it makes the audience uncomfortable to the point that it makes them look in a mirror and realize we need to change the way we act to other people.”
Senior Jack Breslow is playing the role of Younger Brother in the white cast. In the musical, Younger Brother is an activist who tries to bridge the gap between the show’s groups.
Breslow emphasized the importance of his character on getting the show’s message across to the audience.
“I found that if I portrayed this character right, I will hopefully send out a message that this isn’t just about whites and blacks,” Breslow said.
Despite the added attention Cherry Hill East’s musical has received, the cast is excited for opening night. Smith said being able to have an emotional impact on the audience through the arts is something he and his fellow cast members are excited about.
“To have people come who already know this is an important show with important themes, it gives one more connection to the audience that excites me,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to share the show with the audience.”
“Ragtime” will be performed March 10 through 12 and March 17 through 19. The show will be performed on March 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on March 12 and 19. The red and white cast will alternate performances. Tickets are $14 per person and will go on sale to the public beginning March 6. To purchase tickets, call the box office at (856) 424–2222 ext. 2019. The box office will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to show time.
