In the next two weekends, costumers have the opportunity to wear their Ragtime costumes to a show called “Vocal Gems of the Ragtime Era,” which will be making its rounds to three locations around the San Francisco Bay Area. Cara Arellano of Free Range Opera, the non-profit organization that is producing the show, encourages people to come in costume as “in the past, costume groups have come to our shows in costume.”
“Vocal Gems of the Ragtime Era” will present a historic sampler of songs from the Ragtime era including enduring hits of the day, novelty songs and works from stage luminaries including selections from Scott Joplin’s opera “Treemonisha” and songs from the 1919 Broadway hit “Irene.” Arellano adds that “we step back in time to take a musical view of relationships, entertainment icons, technology, and the influence of classic and popular culture.” So that “by experiencing the popular music of the day, the audience learns what life was like 100 years ago.”
Performances and ticket information are as follows (seats for all performances are $25):
*The Empire Fire House at History Park in San Jose
635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose, Calif.
Saturday and Sunday, January 19–20 at 2:00 p.m.
www.brownpapertickets.org (search for “ragtime”) or 1-800-838-3006
*Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo
300 East Santa Inez Avenue, San Mateo, Calif.
Saturday, January 26 at 2:00 p.m.
www.brownpapertickets.org (search for “ragtime”) or 1-800-838-3006
*Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek
1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Sunday, January 27 at 2:15 p.m.
www.lesherartscenter.org or 1-925-943-SHOW
Ticket sales from these performances will raise the funds to book a theater for Free Range Opera’s production of “Irene” in November. All profits from “Irene” will be donated to a local charity, which according to Arellano is in line with the organization’s mission “to research, revive and preserve our historic musical heritage including operetta, music hall, vaudeville and musical theater … for a cause!”
Copyright 2013, Jean Martin.
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