(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey continues its 24th Season of operetta and musical theatre with a production of Ragtime the Musical directed by Jeffrey Fiorello with musical direction by Charles Santoro and choreography by Aimee Mitacchione.  This sweeping musical portrait of early-twentieth-century America tells the story of three families in the pursuit of the American Dream. Performances take place July 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2019 at 8:00pm; and July 21 and 28, 2019 at 2:00pm.

Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, noted playwright Terrence McNally, and based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, Ragtime is the winner of the 1998 Tony Awards for Best Score and Book and Orchestrations.

Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together - that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician - united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together, they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair . . . and what it means to live in America.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center is located at 1 SOPAC Way in South Orange, New Jersey. Tickets at www.sopacnow.org or by calling 973-313-2787.