Canceled suburban 'Ragtime' shows will go on
The once-silenced sounds of the musical "Ragtime" will be heard in Wilmette after all-albeit indoors. Cast and crew members of a canceled Wilmette Park District production of "Ragtime" rallied together and teamed up with Wilmette's community members to stage the 1998 Tony Award-winning musical on their own. The "Ragtime" cast formed Wheels of a Dream Productions (taking their name from a song in the show) and are working with the nonprofit Wilmette Theatre Education Project.
Two concert performances of "Ragtime" are slated July 10 and 11 in the 198-seat Wilmette Theatre, while the fully staged production with full orchestra will be seen at Regina Dominican High School for four more performances July 18-19 and July 25-26.
That's three fewer performances then were originally planned for the free Starlight Theatre "Ragtime" production that was to have played in July at the outdoor Wallace Bowl in Wilmette's Gillson Park.
The Wilmette Park District garnered national media attention when it controversially canceled "Ragtime" in mid-rehearsal last week. Park district officials cited concerns of park visitors overhearing racial slurs in the show's script out of context.
Wilmette Theatre co-owners Sam Samuelson and Carole Dibo immediately offered their help as soon as they heard the news.
"It was my obligation as a citizen to get the word out, to step up to the plate and help," Samuelson said. "We're just offering a platform for their voice to be heard."
Coincidentally, Samuelson has a deep personal "Ragtime" connection. He played the role of Mother's Younger Brother professionally in Chicago and "Ragtime's" national tour.
"If the officials were to have looked within the piece, they would have realized that all the problems that just came up by the cancellation are actually answered in it," he said.
Tickets to "Ragtime" at the Wilmette Theatre are $5. Call (847) 251-7424 or visit wilmettetheatre.com. Ticketing arrangements for "Ragtime" at Regina Dominican High School are still being worked out.