Now in His Tenth Year of Performing at the Hale Center Theatre and The Ruth, Theatre Education Major Isaac Moss Shares His Experience Being Part of The Ruth’s Inaugural Show, “Ragtime,” With His Family
For over a decade, theatre education student Isaac Moss has performed at the Hale Center Theatre in Orem. Recently relocated and renamed The Ruth, Moss had the opportunity to be a part of its inaugural performance, “Ragtime.” This show in particular has a new layer of meaning for Moss because it is an experience he shares with his family — his sister is a dresser backstage and both of his parents are part of the cast.
Performing in front of his parents, who are both theatre educators and talented performers themselves, used to make Moss nervous, but as he has sung and acted alongside them in “Ragtime,” that nervousness faded and he’s come to cherish the artistic, collaborative experience with his family that the production has given him.
“Our characters are in very different groups, so very rarely do we share the stage at the same time, but we do have moments backstage where we're able to be together,” said Moss. “Before the show, the three of us will typically say a quick prayer together, which is really special. It feels like having cheerleaders every night; my dad will stand by one of the entrances and he'll always give me a pat on the shoulder before I go onstage.”
Set in the early 20th century, “Ragtime” follows the lives of three groups living in the United States: Eastern European immigrants, African Americans in Harlem and upper class suburbanites. The show makes history come alive by incorporating real historical figures and events such as Booker T. Washington, Harry Houdini, Emma Goldman and the immigration boom at Ellis Island. “It's so wonderful to share a powerful story that my parents and I have connected with and grappled with as we have navigated some of its harder themes throughout the rehearsal process.”
The themes that the show explores — racism, unity, immigration, hope and the American Dream — have stretched Moss as a performer and have resonated with audiences. “It’s a heavy show and it can be easy to just sit in the despair of some of these moments, so one challenge for me has been to find healthy ways to decompress post-show,” Moss said. “It’s also been interesting to see how audience members are reacting. One of the words they are using is ‘bold.’ Considering the political climate and everything going on in the world, it is a bold show, but people are responding really positively.”
Moss’ BYU experience has helped him find Christ in the stories that he tells onstage. “In ‘Ragtime’ especially, there are a lot of places where you can find Christ or the absence of Christ in the story. My BYU theatrical experience has helped me focus on the divine and how it can inform future storytelling.”