‘Ragtime’ comes to life through direction by Rod Lansberry

Today I was finally able to connect  with Rod Lansberry for an advance on Ragtime, which will play through Oct. 2 at the Arvada Center. Lansberry is directing this colossal project and has been working day and night on it for a very long time.

As a result, it was a daunting task to find a time when we were able to connect for this interview. When I called at the appointed time this morning I had to get in line again. One of the veteran technical workers at Arvada had a family emergency and had to leave town. Now Lansberry would have the additional responsibility of creating more of the artistic design for the huge production. The director asked to reschedule our interview until 4:30 p.m., which I quickly agreed upon.

At the scheduled time we reconnected by phone and were off to the races.

Lansberry began by discussing the casting process and background for the musical. “The cast was chosen not only for their strong vocal talents but also for their abilities as strong character actors as well,” he said. “This is an extremely complex show that requires the actors to portray a large number of historical figures as well as multiple ethnic and social representations of the time. It’s the true beginning of the ‘melting pot’ as America enters the turn of the new century, with many hopes, dreams and challenges we still face today.”

The director auditioned 2,400 people for this production. Auditions were held in New York, Denver and Los Angeles. “It’s kind of like rolling the dice,” he said. “I do rely a lot on my gut.”

When asked if he had been getting any rest during production, Lansberry replied, “Minimal! But, it’s OK. No. I can’t turn it off. I just wake up every morning thinking of some aspect of the show I have yet to address.”

He admitted that, “Tequila helps in the evening.”

The cast also makes it worth it for the busy director. “When I brought on the three little boys who will alternate playing the role of Coalhouse III, things really lightened up. Half the cast was in tears just staging it,” he said. And according to Lansberry, even if you’ve seen the production elsewhere, it isn’t the same as this unique rendition.

The director gushed about the principals he cast for the show. “Their acting styles onstage, as well as their interaction, will make the audience connect easily,” he said. “[The audience will] fall in love with them.”

Lansberry even admits to having some fun with his cast. Leading lady Megan Van de Hey celebrated her birthday during production. The director poked fun at her when he said, “I think you’re getting too old for this role. I may have to recast.” Yet it was quickly followed with a, “just kidding! Happy Birthday!”

According to the director, Van De Hey has the vocal strength, style and acting skill to make her character, Mother, truly memorable. Yet, there was direction to help the actress understand women’s roles during the beginning of the 20th century, namely acting more submissive.

“Similarly I had to remind Craig (Lundquist) that Father would have a lot more dominant edge,” Lansberry said. “Men were providers then. Father was able to go away for a year on an adventure and expected Mother to be there when he got back. I just tell him he’s not Ward Cleaver (laughs).”

On the Web at http://arvadacenter.org or call 720-898-7200.

Did you know?
The musical Ragtime is the adaptation of E. L. Doctorow’s novel. Terrence McNally received the Tony for Best Book for a Musical Award in 1998. The show also received awards for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Audra McDonald) and Best Original Score and orchestrations.

About the Director
Rod Lansberry is an acclaimed director who has been working at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities for the past twenty years. He has produced countless musicals including the hugely successful Les Miserables. The traits that make Lansberry such a great director include: being able to cast a show superbly, his ability to elicit lucid performances from his actors and his aptitude for communicating a clear story to the audience.