RAGTIME Comes to Christchurch this September
The opening number of Ragtime sets the scene for an incredible evening of heart-warming stories and award winning music. The performance is the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art’s (at Ara Institute of Canterbury) musical extravaganza for 2016.
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f you haven’t seen a NASDA show yet, you are in for a treat. Over just five shows from 1 to 4 September, the students will show off talents honed during three years of intensive training with leading theatre practitioners such as Ragtime’s director, NASDA Senior Tutor Dr Soseh Yekanians. Soseh has 20 years’ experience as a
director, acting lecturer and private acting consultant for performing arts institutions and elite talent agencies both in Australia and overseas. She moved to Christchurch from Sydney to work with NASDA at the beginning of 2016 and made an impressive start directing second year students in a sophisticated production of well-known
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dramatic play Mad Forest in June. Ragtime’s themes of immigrants striving for a better tomorrow for themselves and their families has struck a chord with Soseh and her cast. Two lead performers are first generation New Zealanders – Albany Peseta came to Christchurch with his family from Samoa and Emiliano Pereyra is studying in Christchurch but hails from Uruguay. Soseh explored cultural identity and theatre directing for her PhD work and is herself an Australian of Armenian origin now living in Christchurch. The central themes of Ragtime make this vibrant musical as relevant now as when it was first produced in 1996. The narrative follows an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant, and a daring young Harlem musician in early 20th century New York. Ragtime is based on a book by Terrence McNally, with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty. The Tony Award winning musical includes marches, cakewalks, gospel and ragtime. Don’t miss Ragtime at the Christchurch Arts Centre Gym, 1, 2 and 3 September at 7.30pm, 3 September at 1pm and 4 September at 4pm. Tickets are $30/$45 on sale now from www.ara.ac.nz/nasda