Ragtime-Study-Guide.Pdf
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STUDY GUIDE book by Terrence McNally music by Stephen Flaherty lyrics by Lynn Ahrens based on the novel RAGTIME Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow THEATRE AUDIENCE Support for Trinity Rep’s education THEATRE AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE .........................................................................3 programs comes from: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and General Assembly USING THIS STUDY GUIDE IN YOUR CLASSROOM ....................................................4 of Rhode Island; The Norman and Rosalie TITLE PAGE .......................................................................................................5 Fain Family Foundation; Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts UNIT ONE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION in partnership with Arts Midwest; The ABOUT THE AUTHORS .........................................................................................6 Yawkey Foundations; Hasbro Children’s Fund; McAdams Charitable Foundation; RAGTIME CHARACTERS AND SETTING ..................................................................7 Otto H. York Foundation; Textron Inc.; RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES ............................................................................9 Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon Charities PLOT SYNOPSIS .................................................................................................11 for Children; National Grid; Phyllis Kimball Johnstone & H. Earl Kimball Foundation; A CONVERSATION WITH CURT COLUMBUS ............................................................13 Mary Dexter Chafee Fund; Southwest THEMES ............................................................................................................15 Airlines; Victoria Irene Ball Fund for Arts Education; Pell Fund for Education; Many Individual Donors; and gifts to Trinity UNIT TWO: ENTERING THE TEXT Rep’s Annual Fund. EXERCISE ONE: JOURNEY ON ..............................................................................18 Prepared by Trinity Rep’s Education EXERCISE TWO: HERE IN AMERICA ......................................................................18 Department, Fatima Faris, and EXERCISE THREE: STOP THE PRESSES! ................................................................18 Gillian Gurganus Designed by Priscilla Parisa EXERCISE FOUR: RAG OF A TIME ..........................................................................18 EXERCISE FIVE: READ ALOUD SCENES .................................................................19 MORE MUSICALS BY LYNN AHRENS & STEPHEN FLAHERTY .....................................22 MORE WORKS BY TERRENCE MCNALLY .................................................................23 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................24 Cover: Left, Rachael Warren as Mother, Wilkie Ferguson III as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., Charlie Thurston as Tateh. Photos by Mark Turek 02 THEATRE AUDIENCE IN YOUR CLASSSROOM TEACHERS: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS BEFORE SEEING THE SHOW AT TRINITY REP Speaking to your students about theater etiquette What are the differences between live theater and cinema? (Two is ESSENTIAL. Students should be aware that this dimensional vs. three dimensional; larger than life on the screen vs. life- is a live performance and that they should not talk size; recorded vs. live, etc.) Discuss the nature of film as mass produced, during the show. If you do nothing else to prepare versus the one-time only nature of live performances. Talk about original your students to see the play, please take some time artworks versus posters. Which do they feel is more valuable? Why? to talk to them about theater etiquette in an effort to help the students better appreciate their experience. Observation #1: It will enhance their enjoyment of the show and allow When you get into the theater, look around. What do you see? Observe other audience members to enjoy the experience. The the lighting instruments around the room and on the ceiling. Look at the questions below can help guide the discussions. Thank set. Does it look realistic or abstract? Try to guess how the set will be you for your help and enjoy the show! used during the show. ETIQUETTE: Observation #2: What is the role of the audience in a live performance? Discuss the elements that go into producing a live performance: The How is it different from seeing a film? Why can’t lights, set, props, costumes, and stage direction. All the people involved in you chew gum or eat popcorn at a live theater the “behind the scenes” elements of the theater are working backstage as performance? Why can’t you talk? What can happen the play unfolds before the students’ eyes. Tell them to be aware of this as in live theater that cannot happen in cinema? they watch the show. Observe the lighting cues. How do special effects Reiterate that students may not chew gum, eat, or work? How do the actors change costumes so fast? talk during the performance. Please make sure all cell phones and pagers are turned off. Recording devices Actors in a live performance are very attuned to the audience and are and cameras are strictly prohibited. If there is a interested in the students’ reactions to the play. Ask the students to disturbance, they will be asked to leave and the class write letters to the actors about the characters they played and to ask will not be invited back to the theater. Students may questions of the actors. Send these letters to: not leave the building during intermission. Trinity Repertory Company, c/o Education, 201 Washington St., Providence, RI 02903 or email to: [email protected]. 03 THEATRE AUDIENCE IN YOUR CLASSSROOM Welcome to Trinity Rep and the 51st season of Project Trinity Rep’s Project Discovery student matinees help high school Discovery! The education staff at Trinity Rep had a lot students in the following common core areas (for more information on of fun preparing this study guide, and hope that the the National Core Arts Standards, visit http://nationalartsstandards. activities included will help you incorporate the play org/): into your academic study. It is also structured to help • Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or you to introduce performance into your classroom conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact through the following elements: with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme • Community Building in Your Classroom (CCSS. RL.9-10.3) • Inspiration and Background on the Artist • Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in • Entering and Comprehending Text the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the • Creating Text for Performance cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone • Performing in Your Class (CCSS.RL.9-10.44) • Reflecting on Your Performance • Investigate how cultural perspectives, community ideas, and personal beliefs impact a drama/theater work (TH: Cn10.1.I.) • Analyze and compare artistic choices developed from personal experiences in multiple drama/ theater works (TH: Re8.1.I.) • Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/ theater work to develop criteria for artistic choices (TH: Re7.1.I.) • Evaluate and analyze problems and situations in a drama/ theater work from an audience perspective (TH: Re9.1.I) Enjoy the show! Matt Tibbs, School Partnerships Manager 04 Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty & Terrence McNally TITLE PAGE 05 Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty & Terrence McNally LYNN AHRENS and STEPHEN FLAHERTY TERRENCE McNALLY Lynn Ahrens was born in 1948. She is a lyricist and wrote the lyrics to the Ragtime Terrence McNally was born in 1938. He is songs. Stephen Flaherty was born in 1960. He is the composer of the music in a playwright and screenwriter. He wrote Ragtime. Ahrens and Flaherty are a team that has worked together (and still do!) on the book (meaning the non-sung parts many soundtracks and songs. Amongst their many awards, the duo has won an Tony of a musical) for Ragtime. He has won for Best Original Score for Ragtime! dozens of awards, one being a Tony for Best New Play for Ragtime! BACKGROUND INFORMATION 06 *you can find a short paragraph about this person under, “Ripped From the Headlines” MOTHER FATHER THE LITTLE BOY HARRY HOUDINI Married to FATHER. Part of a well to Married to MOTHER Son to MOTHER and FATHER The famed magician and illusionist* do family in New York. Played by Mauro Hantman Played by Evan Andrew Horwitz Played by Stephen Thorne Played by Rachael Warren MOTHER’S YOUNGER BROTHER EVELYN NESBIT HARRY K. THAW STANFORD WHITE He is in love with Evelyn Nesbit Famous vaudeville star—plagued by Nesbit’s abusive husband* Family friend of the Nesbits, who scandal* took advantage of a young Evelyn* Played by Alexander De Vasconcelos Played by Brian McEleney Matos Played by Rebecca Gibel Played by Fred Sullivan, Jr. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 07 TATEH THE LITTLE GIRL COALHOUSE WALKER, JR. SARAH A Jewish Lithuanian immigrant who Daughter of Tateh Father of the baby found in Mother of the baby found in moves to America with his daughter MOTHER’s garden. In love with MOTHER’s garden. COALHOUSE’s Played by Olivia Miller Sarah love interest Played by Charlie Thurston Played by Wilkie Ferguson III Played by Mia Ellis EMMA GOLDMAN J.P. MORGAN HENRY FORD BOOKER T. WASHINGTON A Jewish Lithuanian political Famous banker* Creator of the first Ford automobile* Successful black man, founder of anarchist* Tuskegee University* Played by Fred Sullivan, Jr. Played by Brian