The upcoming presentation of Ragtime: A Concert Performance promises an uplifting experience that will ignite the Jack Singer Concert Hall with a rollicking score and a top-flight cast of homegrown talent that will have you on the edge of your seat!
Not only does this production mark the first time that Arts Commons, the Calgary Philharmonic, and Theatre Calgary have collaborated, it also introduces a new adaptation of the beloved musical—one which will amplify the rousing melodies and poignant ballads with the power of the Calgary Philharmonic, an undertaking never before seen in this city.
The magnitude of the endeavor is not lost on the cast, especially Tenaj Williams, who plays Coalhouse. “I think people will be completely blown away by the scale, by the beauty of the show, by the messages of the show, and I think the orchestra just enhances all of that,” he says, noting that he has never seen anything like this in Calgary. “I think it’s going to be pretty spectacular.”
The classically-trained Misha Maseka, who plays Sarah, is especially excited to flex her singing skills in front of a live orchestra. “I think to sing this particular arrangement with the orchestra in this city—what a gift,” she says. For Maseka, the orchestra just makes everything—the music, the story, the experience—that much bigger. “There’s so many layers in classical music, so to have that element with this musical theatre work is so great because there’s going to be such a grand and decadent feel to this adaptation.”
Both Williams and Maseka are well-known within the Calgary theatre scene and have made their mark in their own respective ways: Williams through his work in local theatre and, more recently, his break-out role as Trey on CTV’s comedy series Jann, and Maseka through her interdisciplinary career as a filmmaker, singer and artistic curator. Though both of them are no strangers to the world of auditions and cast announcements, being part of Ragtime: A Concert Performance will be a career highlight for both of them.
“The role of Coalhouse on a big stage like this is the first leading Black male role that I’ve seen since I started being a professional actor in Calgary,” says Williams, who describes the iconic role as one which requires both top-notch acting chops as well a keen awareness of the responsibilities of representation. For Williams, like many Black actors, being in the spotlight creates an additional pressure to get everything right and make the most of the opportunity. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the acting. “I'm just going to do the best work I can do, as all the actors on that stage, and know that the impact is so much greater than just the story.”
Maseka echoes Williams’s observations about representation in Ragtime. Having immigrated to Canada as a youth, the stories of personal resilience and cultural adaptation in the musical resonate with her own experiences. “I have these very recent memories of what it's like to come to a new country and choose what to assimilate and choose what to hold on to,” she says, noting that Tateh’s story is especially moving to her. But it’s not just the actors who can relate, having characters like Tateh, Sarah, Coalhouse front-and-centre opens the door for audiences to see themselves on stage in new and exciting ways. “No matter what kind of cultural background you are from, there is a way to relate to every single character because Ragtime does such a beautiful thing of displaying different aspects of what it means to make a home, build a home, transition, and establish yourself,” Maseka says.
Ragtime: A Concert Performance promises to be a once-in-a lifetime experience, one which will uplift the spirit and energize the senses with its sumptuous score and thought-provoking performances that have something for everyone. Don’t miss your chance to experience this historic production. “I think it's going to be something special” Williams says. “I think it’s something that people will be talking about for a while.”
To get your tickets today or to learn more, please visit artscommons.ca/ragtime.