‘Ragtime, the Musical’ opens tonight at USM

“Ragtime, the Musical” opens tonight at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center.

The show features a full-scale replica of a Ford Model T and historical figures such as Harry Houdini, Booker T. Washington and Henry Ford.

As part of this year’s centennial celebration, the show, which has been in rehearsal since November, is a collaborative effort by USM’s Music and Theater Departments.

The play tells the story of three very different families– one white upper-class family, one black family and one immigrant family from western Europe. Their paths

intertwine, as they all strive to live out the American dream, explained the show’s stage manager, junior Michelle Taylor.

A theatre major from Slidell, La., Taylor said “Ragtime” is the biggest production she has seen Southern Miss put on.

“I think it’s a really good choice of show for the centennial celebration,” said Taylor. “It shows how much America has evolved in the past 100 years in terms of racism. And it’s just a massive show.”

Sophomore Darren Hayes, who plays Henry Ford, said the story conveys a powerful, appropriate message that complements the centennial celebration.

“The show is about turning points in life set around the turn of the 20th century,” said the New Orleans native. “I hope that the audience leaves the theatre with an assurance that change is okay.”

The show’s musical director, graduate student Jennifer Hart, said she thinks audiences will gain an appreciation for the talent at USM.

“I think they’ll be blown away that something of this scale was done at a university,” she said. “But beyond that, there’s really a very poignant message, and I think it kind of causes us to reflect on what we’ve learned over the course of 100 years.”

Graduate student Kimberly Morgan will play the role of Sarah.

Morgan came to USM after teaching music at a school in Quitman, Miss., and after being crowned Miss Mississippi in 2007.

She was the second black woman to win the title, and she made it to the semi-finals in the Miss America pageant.  Morgan has not stopped chasing her dreams.

She would like to be on Broadway someday, she said, so she is here at USM earning a degree in theatre performance. Morgan said she is ready and excited for Thursday’s audience.

“To be able to incorporate the theatre and methodologies I’ve been learning, and to incorporate what I know musically…. To put it together in this production is such a fulfilling and awesome experience,” she said. “This is totally my element. I feel like this is where I belong.”

Morgan said the message of the show’s message has a special significance to her.

“To me it kind of relates to Miss Mississippi and how historical it was for the African American during that time,” she said. “‘Ragtime’ relates to historical events in the early 1900s and how not just African Americans but immigrants have a hope for the American dream.”

The show will run March 4-6 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for faculty, staff, seniors, military; and $10 for students. For more information, visit www.usm.edu/arts. For tickets, visit www.southernmisstickets.com or call 601-266-5418.