An American story about immigration, identity and social change takes the stage in downtown Phoenix April 24-26 as Arizona Musicfest closes its season with “Ragtime: A Theatrical Concert Experience” at the Herberger Theater Center.
Allan Naplan
Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest
Based on the 1975 novel by Jewish author E.L. Doctorow, “Ragtime” explores the intersection of three communities at the turn of the 20th century: Black, Eastern European Jewish immigrants and upper-class white residents of New Rochelle, New York. Despite being set more than a century ago, its themes remain strikingly relevant today.
“It’s unfortunately a very timely story of immigration, antisemitism and racism,” said Allan Naplan, executive and producing director and CEO of Arizona Musicfest. “But despite the drama and tragedy, it’s still uplifting and, at times, humorous, which is the sign of any good musical.”
The production marks the finale of Arizona Musicfest’s 35th anniversary season and features five Broadway guest artists alongside performers from across the Valley and the Musicfest Pops Ensemble, a full 40-piece orchestra performing onstage with the cast.
“It’s rare around here for a musical to get a full orchestration,” Naplan said. “Most of the presenters in town just use small, reduced pit orchestras.”
Unlike a traditional staged concert, the performance will include costumes, lighting, scenic elements and full theatrical staging — with the orchestra visible behind the performers.
“That’s why we call it a theatrical concert experience,” Naplan said. “It’s a fully theatricalized production.”
While “Ragtime” centers on multiple communities, Jewish immigration plays a key role in the narrative through the character Tateh, a Latvian Jewish immigrant artist building a new life in America with his daughter. Historical figures, including political activist Emma Goldman and illusionist Harry Houdini, also appear in the story.
Beyond the characters themselves, Jewish culture is embedded in the score.
“You immediately hear a klezmer clarinet playing when Tateh comes on stage,” Naplan said. “That modality grounds us in the Eastern European klezmer sound.”
For Naplan, who is Jewish, the musical holds deep personal meaning, similar to “Fiddler on the Roof” and many other classic musicals with Jewish themes.
“’Ragtime’ is one of those pieces I’ve always felt a connection to,” he said. “It immediately resonated with me thematically and also musically.”
Composed by Stephen Flaherty with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, who is Jewish, the score blends classical Broadway traditions with sweeping ensemble writing reminiscent of Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim.
“When I saw the current Broadway production, there were three times when the audience, in the middle of the performance, leaped to their feet with standing ovations because some of these musical numbers are just so riveting and powerful,” Naplan said. “The ensemble writing is really spectacular.”
The production also features Ta’Nika Gibson, currently appearing in the Broadway revival, who will travel to Phoenix to play Sarah. Additional guest artists include Metropolitan Opera performer Justin Austin as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and Broadway veteran David Gordon as Tateh.
Sam Primack
Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest
Among the cast members is Scottsdale native Sam Primack, who plays Younger Brother, a character whose journey reflects the show’s themes of empathy and social awakening.
Primack, now based in New York, began performing in Valley youth theater programs before making his Broadway debut at age 17 in “Dear Evan Hansen.”
“There was a crazy three- or four-month period where I was learning the Broadway show, finishing high school online and learning to live in New York,” Primack said. “It was a big growing-up experience.”
He later became the final actor to play the title role on Broadway before the show closed in 2022.
Returning to perform at the Herberger Theater Center carries special meaning.
“I performed on that stage from the time I was 9 or 10 years old,” Primack said. “Being back there is going to be quite emotional.”
Primack became a bar mitzvah at Temple Solel in Scottsdale and credits Valley youth theater organizations such as Desert Stages Theatre, Valley Youth Theatre, Spotlight Youth Theatre and Greasepaint Youtheatre with shaping his career.
“Those people became family,” he said.
In “Ragtime,” his character begins the story sheltered by privilege but gradually becomes involved in activism and social justice work.
“He goes through a really interesting journey of reaching out to the other side and learning about different cultures and identities,” Primack said.
Both Naplan and Primack say the musical’s continued relevance is one reason it remains so powerful nearly three decades after its Broadway debut.
“That’s why it’s been so powerful over the years,” Primack said. “If you turn on the news, you’ll see stories that happen in ‘Ragtime.’ It keeps having parallels to our lives today.”
Naplan agreed.
“The storylines of many news stories right now are about how important this show is for our time,” he said.
The production also reflects Arizona Musicfest’s expanding presence in downtown Phoenix. Last year marked the organization’s first full musical theater production at the Herberger with “Carousel,” following more than three decades of concerts in North Scottsdale.
The move opened performances to new audiences across the Valley.
“It made it more convenient for a large percentage of our audience,” Naplan said. “And it opened up the doors to even more people who perhaps didn’t know about our concerts in North Scottsdale.”
With “Ragtime” closing the season, the organization hopes to continue building momentum for large-scale musical theater productions.
For Primack, returning home to perform in a show with such timely themes makes the experience especially meaningful.
“I think it’s going to be really powerful for people to see all three of these groups, which make up a lot of Arizona, on stage doing this powerful and emotional piece of theater,” he said. JN
For more information, visit azmusicfest.org.
Photos to come
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