Ragtime, The Musical, at Thrasher-Horne Center Theater

7:30 p.m. on Thursday,  January 7^th, and Friday, January 8^th.

AT THE DAWN OF A NEW CENTURY, everything is changing, anything is possible. Ragtime returns to North America in a striking, all-new touring production from the producing team that most recently brought you The Color Purple and Spamalot. The stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold - set in turn-of-the-century New York - all three united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. Their compelling stories are set to theatre's richest and most glorious Tony Award®-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

“A triumph for the stage.” Time Magazine

Winning Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Musical Score, this 13 time Tony Award nominated musical is a timeless celebration of life - what it could and should be! Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century: African Americans, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician; upper-class suburbanites, represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; and Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia.

"Ragtime makes a deep emotional connection with the audience." Backstage

The original production of Ragtime, The Musical, premiered in Toronto on December 8, 1996. The US Premier was in Los Angeles in 1997 and the opening on Broadway was on January 18, 1998. Ragtime ran for two years, closing after 834 performances. It led the 1998 Tony Awards with thirteen Tony Award nominations. The musical won awards for Best Featured Actress, Original Score, Book, and Orchestrations.

“One of the best musicals in recent decades.” Hollywood Reporter

There have been several revivals of Ragtime, including a Broadway Revival in 2009 with direction and choreography by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The production received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of Musical, Best Direction, Best Actress in Musical, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

"Surely there are not many opening numbers better than the intoxicating first moments of Ragtime!" Associated Press

“This is big-brain, bold-strokes musical-theater storytelling at its most vibrant.” Variety

“Ragtime is a sweeping, powerful musical about a restless period in our history. But it is also an intimate story about love, loss, and growing up.” NY1

“Explosive and thrilling! Theater-shaking intensity... a vibrant production.” Bloomburg News

Buy Tickets for Ragtime, The Musical 

Coming Soon to the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater

Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Saturday, January 23^rd, at 8:00 p.m.

Stu Cook and Doug "Cosmo" Clifford were members of the legendary group Creedence Clearwater Revival. In 1995 they  launched the Creedence Clearwater Revisited project. The band performs Creedence Clearwater Revival hits live for audiences who love that music all over the world. Although they may not have intended it, their band Creedence Clearwater Revisited has taken on a startling life of its own. Their shows are vibrant and exhilarating.

Thodos Dance Chicago
A Light in the Dark: The Story of Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan
Thursday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m.

For over two decades, Thodos Dance Chicago (TDC) has performed with captivating style described as "breathtakingly athletic" and "powerfully beautiful." The company's dedication to the American voice in contemporary dance has established TDC as an innovative presence in the modern dance landscape. A Light in the Dark is a story ballet choreographed by Melissa Thodos and Tony Award winner Ann Reinking. It is based on the book The Miracle Worker by William Gibson and Anne Sullivan's autobiography.
This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Gladius Flamenco Guitar in Thrasher-Horne Center Cabaret Theater
Sunday, January 31 at 4:00 p.m.

In an era when expertise and originality are often overlooked in lieu of fleeting flash and flare, Gladius defines innovation as a composer and mastery as an instrumentalist—perpetually pushing the boundaries of his Baroque-Ethnic-Metal fusion: on both the classical and electric guitar.

More than a fabulous performer and AWARD-WINNING composer, listeners have called Gladius a miracle in the making. The renowned guitarist has prevailed over a crippling case of nerve damage which greatly hindered the dexterity of both hands, and could have easily ended a musician's career.

Inspired by the great composers, Spanish guitar maestros, and much more, this musical mad scientist fuses the elements into a refreshing formula—evoking the Spanish spirit, yet distinctly unorthodox, mixing influences ranging from classical to rock and beyond. 

Melissa Etheridge: This is M.E. Solo
Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Melissa Ethridege has won an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards. On February 17^th, she will take the stage at Thrasher-Horne Center to perform songs from her new album, This is M.E., as well as some of her greatest hits like "Come to My Window", "I'm The Only One", and "I Want To Come Over." Known for her iconic voice, profound lyrics, and riveting stage presence, Melissa will share personal stories about her remarkable journey through life and the inspiration behind some of her most beloved songs.

Moscow Festival Ballet: Sleeping Beauty
Sunday, February 21 at 3:00 p.m.

The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 by Sergei Radchenko, the legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet. On February 21^st, the company will perform The Sleeping Beauty  at the Thrasher-Horne Center. The Sleeping Beauty is often considered the finest achievement of the Classical ballet. Tchaikovsky was delighted with the invitation to write the music for a ballet based on Charles Perrault's well-known fairy tale. A baby princess, condemned at her christening by an evil fairy to prick her finger and die on her 16th birthday, is saved by the gift of the good Lilac Fairy, who declares the princess will only sleep until awakened by the kiss of a prince. Characters in the tale include a king and queen, fairies, a beautiful princess, and a dream prince. This production features magical stage effects and courtly splendor.

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In this article, I’ve written about the upcoming performance of Ragtime, The Musical, at the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater on January 7th and 8th. I’ve also noted other upcoming performances including Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Gladius Flamenco Guitar, Melissa Ethridge, and The Moscow Festival Ballet. 

Tickets for these events and others are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center! 
Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets! Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will appreciate learning about what they have been missing.

We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.

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Happy Holidays from the Thrasher-Horne Center

Thanks to our many friends and supporters, 2015 was a wonderful year at Thrasher-Horne Center! We continued in our commitment to developing and nurturing the artistic potential and growth of the students, residents and visitors of the community by offering the very best of professional theater, dance, music performances, and visual art exhibits.

• Over 7,500 students and teachers from schools throughout Northeast Florida participated in field trips where they learned about the visual and performing arts.
• The School Time Series enriched the lives of students with many entertaining, educational, and engaging performances such as Charlotte’s Web, Dinosaur Train Live!, The BFG, and Miss Nelson is Missing.
• Thrasher-Horne Center just kicked off its inaugural season of Broadway Orange Park with a stunning production of the beloved classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The next show in the season will be Ragtime on January 7^th and 8^th. Annie will be presented in early February, followed over the next several months by Always… Patsy Cline, Saturday Night Fever, and the Northeast Florida Premiere of Once.  

2015 also marked the beginning of Executive Director, Denton Yockey’s, new programming efforts.  
In addition to our School Time Series and Broadway Orange Park, Thrasher-Horne Center presented concerts by some of the finest recording artists around. Those included Lyle Lovett, America, Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald. Other memorable events included the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra conducted by Courtney Lewis and the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China: Peking Dreams. The hilarious performance by comedian Bill Engvall nearly sold out and broke all of our standing box office records.

With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, our Conference Center is one of the best meeting places in the region.  
From workshops to weddings, Thrasher-Horne Center has meeting places that are appropriate, accessible, and affordable. The Clay County Senior Expo, Pink Ribbon Symposium Community Education Event, Clay County Safe Animal Shelter Fundraising Event, Clay Chamber of Commerce Military Appreciation Luncheon, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Banquet, Reinhold Corporation’s Celebrate Clay Awards Breakfast, and the monthly Orange Park Medical Center “Health to You” sessions were just some of the most successful and well-received events in the past year.

We’re looking forward to another great year in 2016!
Creedence Clearwater Revisited will perform on January 23^rd and Melissa Etheridge will join us on February 17^th. On January 28^th, Thodos Dance Chicago will present its critically-acclaimed modern ballet, A Light in the Dark: the Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. The Moscow Festival Ballet will present Sleeping Beauty on February 21^st.  Keep an eye out! We’re continually adding new and exciting events to the calendar throughout the year.

Whether you’ve attended an event, participated in a conference, or volunteered to help in some way, the staff of the Thrasher-Horne Center is grateful for each and every one of you. We’re especially thankful for our many financial contributors who make it possible for the Thrasher-Horne Center to continue in its efforts to shine a light on the arts in Northeast Florida.

As we come to the end of the year, many people are making decisions on how to distribute their charitable contributions. Providing for the Thrasher-Horne Center Endowment is a unique opportunity to support the arts and show your dedication to the community. Your generous donation will be used to bring national quality performances and art exhibits. An endowment contribution is a gift for future generations which will promise the same access to quality, educational programming that Thrasher-Horne Center offers today.

TO DONATE ONLINE - Click Here

Memberships to Thrasher-Horne Center are also available for as little as $75.00. Member benefits include priority ticket ordering, discounts, VIP parking, and more. Take a look at the membership page for details.

As the year draws to a close, we wish you the happiest of holidays and good health and prosperity in the New Year.

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Magician Mike Super, December 26th

The holiday magic isn’t over yet. Magician Mike Super will perform on the main stage on December 26^th.  Snow flurries are in the forecast and some lucky member of the audience may have an opportunity to drive home a new vehicle from Garber Automall.

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Coming Soon: Ragtime, The Musical.  Thursday, January 7^th and Friday, January 8^th. 7:30 p.m. both nights.

AT THE DAWN OF A NEW CENTURY, everything is changing…and anything is possible. RAGTIME returns to North America in a striking, all-new touring production from the producing team that most recently brought you THE COLOR PURPLE and SPAMALOT. The stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold - set in turn-of-the-century New York - all three united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. Their compelling stories are set to theatre's richest and most glorious Tony Award®-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

Winning Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Musical Score, this 13 time Tony Award nominated musical is a timeless celebration of life - what it could and should be! Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early 20th century: African Americans, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician; upper-class suburbanites, represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; and Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia.

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If you liked this article, please share it. The Google Plus button and other social media sharing buttons are below.

In this article, I’ve written about the great year the Thrasher-Horne has had in 2015, and the year we’re looking forward to in 2016. I’ve also mentioned the upcoming performance of magician Mike Super, a finalist on America’s Got Talent.  He will perform at the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater on December 26.    

Tickets for events are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center!

Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets! Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will appreciate learning about what they have been missing.

We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.