Musical gains new meaning with threats
Gathered on the stage were people of all races, religions, colors and ethnicities. They stood together, having grown close over the past months as they acted out scenes of heartbreak, anti-Semitism and death.
In a few moments, they would emerge from behind the curtain and tell a story to the audience. But first, they were telling how the musical affected them personally.
They’re the cast of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus’ performance of “Ragtime,” gathered before the musical opened last weekend. Planned two years ago, the production originally wasn’t intended to make a political statement. That changed in the aftermath of bomb threats to Jewish community centers across the country, including one phoned in to the Columbus center Jan. 18.
“I think it’s a really good and positive story that there is hope,” said Mike Levison, marketing director at the local Suspect in Jewish center threats blamed exgirlfriend /
community center, in Berwick.
The musical, a production of Gallery Players, the JCC’s community theater, will run through March 12. Set at the turn of the 20th century, it depicts a Jewish immigrant, an upper-class white woman and an African-American musician as they struggle in tumultuous times with anti-Semitism, prejudice and racism.
The storyline includes the characters coming together, which symbolizes the work of the JCC, as well, said Allan Finkelstein, musical director for the performance and former head of the national JCC Association and the Columbus JCC.
“I want it to represent that JCCs are about communities and bringing communities together,” Finkelstein said. “It’s just amazing and it’s a reflection of what we all wish would happen in American society right now.”
The threat to the Columbus center scared Joan Fishel, a Bexley attorney and JCC member who attended last Saturday’s performance. She said she had mixed feelings after the show.
“You can feel the concern of the audience, but also the optimism,” Fishel said. “The timeliness right now is just incredible.
“Not just in the fact that it was telling very emotional stories some time at the turn of the 20th century, but heartbreaking in the sense that it’s so many issues we’re dealing with today.”
Jared Saltman, artistic
and managing director for the Gallery Players, said just putting on the production was important.
“Terrorists win when
they disrupt our way of lives,” he said. “They didn’t.”