Sandy Creek High School Chorus and Drama will present the Broadway musical, “Ragtime School Edition,” on March 15 and 16 in Patriot Hall Auditorium at Sandy Creek High School, 360 Jenkins Road, Tyrone, Ga.

The show’s book is by Terrance McNally, the music is by Stephen Flaherty and the lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens. “Ragtime” premiered on Broadway in 1998 and was a winner of many Tony awards. Unfortunately for its creators, it was overshadowed by “The Lion King,” which came out the same year.

Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, the show takes place in New Rochelle, New York in 1906 at the end of the Victorian era and the beginning of the new century. The plot revolves around the lives of three groups of people – the white upper class society of New Rochelle, the community of Harlem, and the immigrants coming to America through Ellis Island. The story of the coming together of these segregated societies is set to the ragtime sound popular at the beginning of the 20th century, and the story features serious themes of racism, sexism, segregation, immigration and the challenges of the lives of the workers at the beginning of the industrialization era in America.

The lives of the fictional characters from each group are intertwined with real people in history including Harry Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit, Emma Goldman, J.P.Morgan, Booker T. Washington and Henry Ford.

This cast for this weekend’s showing is comprised of 50 members from the SCHS fine arts department. Auditions were held in December at the end of the fall semester and rehearsals began upon returning to school in January. Millie Turek is the production’s musical director and choral director, Kathy Andersen is the drama director and Olive Ashley is the show’s choreographer.

Interestingly, when the directors began searching for a real Model T to use in the production, they discovered that Fayette County High School principal Dr. Charles Warr, formerly the principal at Sandy Creek, owned one. Warr agreed to the use of his refinished 1915 Model T in the production, and the car will be revealed during the musical number “Henry Ford” as it rolls off the assembly line and into the hands of the lead character, and ragtime musician, Coalhouse Walker, Jr.

The Model T will also represent hope for a limitless future in America during the moving ballad, “Wheels of a Dream,” and will become the focus of the drama played out through the racist actions of the fire chief, Willie Conklin.

“As we began the production, we knew it would be exciting if we could find a real Model T but who knew it would be so close to home?” explained SCHS choral director Turek. “The Model T almost takes on the role of an additional character in the show so we are thrilled to have it in our production.”

Fayette Wrecker transported the vehicle to the theatre for the production.

The evening performance of “Ragtime School Edition” will begin at 7 p.m. on March 15 and the matinee will take place on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $8 per person. Due to the mature themes in the show, attendance is not recommended for young children and elementary age young people. Parents should consider it comparable to a PG-13 rating for a movie.

“Ragtime School Edition” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). No photography or recording of any kind is allowed at the performance.

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