In The Company in conjunction with The Grove Community Church is pleased to announce auditions for its upcoming production of Ragtime, directed by Bill Risinger and choreographed by Randy Ingram.  Auditions will be held on Sunday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. and Monday, May 21, at 6:00 p.m. Callbacks will be the evening of May 22.   Ragtime is produced by In The Company, in conjunction with The Grove Community Church, and will be presented at the end of July 2007.

Auditions will be held at The Grove Community Church, located at 19900 Grove Community Drive in Riverside.

Rehearsals:
Rehearsals begin June 18, 2007.  A schedule will be posted at the audition.

Performance Dates:
July 27-29 and August 3-5, 2007

Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, RAGTIME paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of American life through three remarkable families, represented respectively by Coalhouse Walker, a Harlem musician; Mother, the matriarch of a WASP family in New Rochelle; and Tateh, a Latvian Jewish immigrant. As they embark on their own personal voyages of self-discovery, their lives become dramatically and irreversibly intertwined. Hailed as “the last great musical of the 20th Century” by TIME Magazine, the script also featured appearances by such historical figures as Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T. Washington, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Emma Goldman, and others. With a compelling book by award-winning author Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty, RAGTIME was nominated for Best Musical in 1998, and was the winner of 4 Tony awards, including Best Original Score, Best Book, and Best Orchestrations. 

SEEKING PERFORMERS OF ALL ETHNICITIES TO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING ROLES: 

• COALHOUSE WALKER, JR. — [Black Male, Age 23-35, Baritone-Tenor 2 (Ab2 to E4)] — Star pianist and the father of Sarah’s child. Proud, confident, stubborn. Becomes militant and violent for his cause. 
• SARAH — [Black Female, Age 18-30, Alto (G3-F5)] — Coalhouse’s love interest and mother of Coalhouse’s child. Often despondent, discouraged. 
• MOTHER — [White Female, Age 27-40, Alto (G3-F5)] — Upper middle-class New Rochelle housewife. Gentle, compassionate, optimistic. 
• FATHER — [White Male, Age 28-45, Baritone (up to F4)] — Upper middle-class businessman and explorer. He wants to do the right thing, but is traditional, cautious, and resistant to change. 
• LITTLE BOY (EDGAR) — [White Male, Age 7-13, Tenor] — Son of Mother and Father. Precocious, observant, and always curious. 
• GRANDFATHER — [White Male, Age 45-85, Baritone] — Little Boy’s Grandfather. Very outspoken. 
• YOUNGER BROTHER — [White Male, Age 19-28, Tenor (up to F#4)] — Mother’s younger brother, a bit withdrawn and an anarchist, in love with Evelyn Nesbitt. 
• TATEH — [Male, Age 24-35, Tenor (up to F#4)] — Jewish immigrant and father in search of the American Dream. Intelligent, compassionate, creative. 
• LITTLE GIRL — [Female, Age 8-13, Soprano] — Tateh’s daughter. She is quiet and shy. 
• WILLIE CONKLIN — [White Male, Age 21-35, Tenor] — New Rochelle’s fire chief who represents prejudice of the time. Obnoxious and cruel. 
• EVELYN NESBITT — [Female, Age 20-30, Soprano (Bb3 to D5)] — Lovely Vaudeville showgirl. Sexy starlet loved by all men. 
• EMMA GOLDMAN — [Female, Age 30-45, Alto (A3 to D5)] — Feminist and radical anarchist. 
• HARRY HOUDINI — [Male, Age 21-35, Tenor (up to G4)] — World-famous magician and escape artist. 
• HENRY FORD — [Male, Age 28-55, Baritone (up to D4)] — Founder of the Ford Motor Company and inventor of the Model T. 
• J.P. MORGAN — [Male, Age 40-65, Baritone] — Banking mogul and millionaire. 
• BOOKER T. WASHINGTON — [Black Male, Age 35-55] — Harlem educator and black leader. Founder of the Tuskeegee Institute. 
• COALHOUSE III — {Black Male, Very Young, Nonsinging] — Sarah and Coalhouse’s Son, very young, who appears at the end of Act II 
• ENSEMBLE — [All Ethnicities, All Ages, All Vocal Ranges] — Needed to play a variety of additional roles, including Sarah’s Friend, Admiral Peary, Matthew Henson, Judge, Jury Foreman, Charles S. Whitman, Harlem Dancers, and others. 
• Total Cast Size will be 35-40, depending on doubling. All roles are available. Performers of all ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to audition.   

Preparation:
Please prepare a vocal selection from a Broadway show. Your vocal selection should demonstrate vocal range, belting ability and personality. Please bring sheet music – an accompanist will be provided. A CD player will also be provided if you only have taped accompaniment, although sheet music is preferred. Please dress comfortably, as you will be asked to learn a routine.   Headshot and Resume are additionally requested, but not required. 
 
For additional information, send e-mail to brisinger@thegrove.cc.