Welcome to Ragtime

...and to the inaugural production at The Ruth at dōTERRA - a place built to inspire, connect, and celebrate the transformative power of storytelling. 

The opening of this beautiful new theater represents a bold step forward, much like the characters in the story we bring to life this evening. Just as The Ruth embodies hope, innovation, and community, so too does Ragtime, a story that invites us to reflect on where we’ve been and dream about where we’re headed.

From the moment the first chords of this musical echo through the theater, we are drawn into a world brimming with hope, conflict, and change. This story, set at the dawn of the 20th century, feels like a mirror reflecting the struggles and triumphs of our own time. It is a story about dreams — how they unite us, how they divide us, and how they shape the world we create together.

The music is the soul of this show. Stephen Flaherty’s score and Lyn Ahrens’ lyrics are nothing short of genius, creating a soundscape that captures the heartbeat of America at a crossroads. The syncopated rhythms of ragtime symbolize the push for progress, the spirituals carry weight and resilience, and the sweeping melodies give voice to the unshakable dreams.

We made deliberate choices to ensure the music feels as alive as the characters themselves. For example “The Wheels of a Dream,” where Coalhouse and Sarah imagine a future for their child that feels impossibly bright. It’s not just a song — it’s a prayer, a promise, a challenge. And when Coalhouse later sings “Make Them Hear You,” the music transforms into a call to action, a declaration of the power of one voice to ignite change.

The ensemble numbers, like “Ragtime” and “Till We Reach That Day,” are more than moments of spectacle—they are moments of reckoning. Every harmony, every dissonance, is intentional, reflecting the complexity of a society struggling to define itself.

We focused deeply on the emotional journeys of these characters. Coalhouse’s transformation from hope to despair and defiance is both heartbreaking and galvanizing. Sarah’s quiet strength speaks volumes about the resilience of love. Mother’s awakening to a world far bigger than the one she’s known shows us the power of compassion and courage. Tateh’s relentless hope reminds us of the extraordinary courage it takes to dream.

But this production isn’t just about telling their stories. It’s about challenging us—here, now—to consider our own. What do we do when faced with injustice? How do we respond to those whose lives and experiences differ from our own? What choices will we make to build a better world?

The music of Ragtime gives us an answer. It tells us that we cannot stay silent. That we must listen to one another, even when it’s difficult. That change is possible, but only if we take action.

So, tonight, I ask you to truly hear this story—not just with your ears, but with your heart. Let it inspire you to look more deeply at the world around you. Speak out when you see injustice. Extend compassion to those in need. Choose hope when despair feels easier. And, most importantly, take action—big or small—toward creating the world that Coalhouse, Sarah, Tateh, and Mother dream of.

The final notes of Ragtime are not an ending—they are a beginning. They are a call, asking us to stand together, to fight for what is right, and to ensure that the wheels of a dream never stop turning.

Make them hear you.

The Real Lives of Ragtime

Ragtime takes place between the years of 1902 and 1912 in “The Progressive Era,” mixing the historical and fictional in a look at the birth of modern America and the lives that shaped it.

The Progressive movement was a political and social-reform movement that brought major changes to the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. […] Progressives saw elements of American society that they wished to reform, especially ending the extreme concentration of wealth among the elite and the enormous economic and political power of big business. The U.S. population nearly doubled between 1870 and 1900. Increasing immigration and urbanization had helped the shift from small-scale manufacturing and commerce to large-scale factory production and enormous national corporations. The leaders of the Progressive Era worked on a range of overlapping issues that characterized the time, including labor rights, women’s suffrage, economic reform, environmental protections, and the welfare of the poor, including poor immigrants.

Encyclopedia Britannica, The Progressive Era Key Facts

J.P. Morgan was perhaps the key financial figure in America during the Progressive Era, particularly between 1902 and 1912. Born in 1837 in Connecticut, he became known as America’s “greatest banker.” His firm, J.P. Morgan & Company, dominated the banking sector and played a critical role in consolidating various industries.

During the Financial Panic of 1907 (also known as the Bankers' Panic or the Knickerbocker Crisis), Morgan's decisive intervention helped stabilize the banking system as he invested his own money and persuaded other bankers to do the same, averting a financial crisis. This event underscored the need for a central banking authority, leading to the creation of the Federal Reserve System.

By 1912, Morgan controlled nearly $23 billion in assets, reflecting his immense influence. His legacy extended beyond finance; he was also a prominent philanthropist, notably founding the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Morgan’s death in 1913 prompted national mourning, underscoring his profound impact on American finance and culture.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1884 or 1885, Florence Evelyn Nesbit rose to fame as the quintessential Gibson Girl and an in-demand model in New York City. Her lasting fame came as she became embroiled in a sensational love triangle that would captivate the nation. 

After a long and troubled relationship with architect Stanford White, who assaulted her and preyed on her emotional and financial vulnerability, she met the son of an incredibly wealthy family, Harry Kendall Thaw. Thaw was infatuated with Nesbit and eventually married her in 1905. His obsession with her and deep-seated paranoia about White led to a tragic confrontation. On June 25, 1906, at the Madison Square Garden premiere of the musical revue Mam'zelle Champagne that all three were attending, Thaw shot White in a fit of rage, declaring, “I did it because he ruined my wife!” Thaw’s trial became one of the early “Trials of the Century,” capturing public attention and raising questions about morality and justice.

Thaw was declared insane and committed to a mental institution, and Nesbit faced a struggle for independence, ultimately divorcing him in 1915. Her later life saw her making peace with her past, including serving as a technical adviser on the film The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing.

Born Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, became one of the most famous escape artists in history. Immigrating to America in 1878, his early career as a magician was unremarkable until he pivoted to escape acts. By 1900, Houdini was a sensation in Europe, astonishing audiences by escaping from handcuffs, chains, and even jails. His daring performances, often staged in public, earned him widespread fame.

Between 1902 and 1912, Houdini’s career rose to new heights. In 1908, he abandoned his handcuff act in favor of more dangerous stunts, such as escaping from a water-filled milk can. His acts became more elaborate, involving crates, boilers, and even the belly of a whale. 

Despite the thrill of his performances, Houdini was deeply affected by the death of his beloved mother in 1913, a loss he never fully recovered from. After attempts to reach her through mediums and seances, Houdini spent his later years debunking spiritualists, including a public rift with friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, before his untimely death in 1926.

Born in 1869 in Lithuania, Emma Goldman became one of the most radical and controversial figures of her time. Immigrating to the United States in 1885, Goldman’s early years were shaped by the hardships of factory work and personal struggles, including a failed marriage. Moving to New York, she quickly aligned with anarchist ideals, using public speeches to call for revolution. In 1901, her rhetoric led to a brief arrest following President McKinley’s assassination, though she was released due to lack of evidence.

Immediately after this arrest, Goldman lived a relatively quiet life, often in seclusion as a nurse, though she remained dedicated to activism. In 1906, she founded Mother Earth magazine, advocating for anarchism, labor rights, feminism, and free speech. Her publication of Anarchism and Other Essays in 1910 solidified her influence, as she continued to challenge social norms. She was arrested in 1917 for her opposition to the draft, and in 1919 was exiled with 200 others to the Soviet Union. After living throughout Europe, she died in Canada in 1940.

Born in 1863 in Michigan, Henry Ford revolutionized the automotive industry and modern manufacturing. After working for the Edison Illuminating Company and experimenting with gas engines, Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903. His breakthrough came in 1908 with the debut of the Model T, an affordable and durable car that would transform American society. By 1918, half the cars in the U.S. were Model Ts, making driving accessible to the masses.

Ford cemented his place in history by introducing the assembly line in 1913, which dramatically cut production time and revolutionized industrial manufacturing. His 1914 decision to pay workers $5 a day—double the industry rate—also set a new standard for labor. Ford's innovative ideas about efficiency and wages helped shape the modern workweek and redefine American industry.

However, Ford’s legacy is tarnished by his anti-Semitic views, which he propagated through The Dearborn Independent and his controversial book The International Jew. Despite his industrial triumphs, his personal beliefs left a troubling mark on history.

Born into slavery in Virginia in 1856, Booker T. Washington became the preeminent African American leader in the post-Civil War United States. Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865, he was appointed the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881, where he dedicated his efforts to vocational training for Black students, believing that economic self-reliance would lead to social progress.

His 1895 Atlanta speech advocating for Black individuals to improve their circumstances without demanding immediate equality marked a turning point in his public profile. This approach garnered both support and criticism, notably from contemporaries like W.E.B. Du Bois. Washington also championed Black entrepreneurship, founding the National Negro Business League in 1900 to foster commercial development. His autobiography, Up from Slavery, published in 1901, solidified his influence, leading to an unprecedented invitation to dine with President Theodore Roosevelt.

Dubbed the "Age of Booker T. Washington," his leadership spanned from the 1880s until his death in 1915, when over 8,000 mourners attended his funeral at Tuskegee Institute, honoring his legacy in the fight for Black education and economic empowerment.

This unlikely but inseparable duo shared a single goal: conquering the vast and unforgiving Arctic. Born a decade apart, Peary, a white Navy man from Pennsylvania, and Henson, a Black sharecropper’s son from Maryland, met by chance in 1887. Henson became Peary’s “first man” on Arctic expeditions, mastering Inuit survival techniques that were vital for their success. 

Their most famous expedition began in 1908, as they set out to reach the North Pole. While Peary commanded the journey, it was Henson who scouted ahead, using the skills he had perfected over the years. In 1909, Henson became the first to stand at—or near—the Pole, though Peary received most of the credit. 

Despite their achievement, recognition came slowly for Henson. While Peary was celebrated by Congress and promoted, Henson's contributions were largely overlooked until much later. The paths they forged together serve as a testament to their endurance, though history only belatedly acknowledged the full partnership behind the legendary feat. Both men now rest in Arlington National Cemetery, side by side in recognition of their shared journey. 

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914, triggering the outbreak of World War I. His death ignited a chain reaction of alliances and hostilities, fundamentally reshaping Europe's geopolitical landscape. 

Emiliano Zapata was a key figure in the Mexican Revolution, beginning in 1910, renowned for advocating agrarian reform and peasant rights. His rallying cry, "Tierra y Libertad" (Land and Liberty), became a powerful symbol of the struggle for social justice in Mexico.

Interested in Learning More?

Books

• Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow Immerse yourself in story that inspired the musical.
• The Age of Reform  by Richard Hofstadter This definitive historical look at the era won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize.

Movie

• Ragtime - The 1981 movie

The characters in Ragtime can also be found in:

• Emma Goldman in Reds.
• Booker T. Washington in The Gilded Age.
• Harry Houdini played by Adrien Brody in Houdini.
• J.P. Morgan in The Alienist. 
• Henry Ford in Ford: The Man & the Machine.

Thank You!

We appreciate all those who have contributed to the Hale Center Foundation for the Arts & Education (The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater | The Ruth Academy). If your name has been misspelled or inadvertently omitted, please contact Jeff Fisher at 435.668.3861.

Lifetime Benefactors

Major Gifts

Prince & Princess (over $10,000)

Royal Court ($5,000 to $9,999)

Count & Countess ($2,500 to $4,999)

Duke & Duchess ($1,000 to $2,499)

Lord & Lady ($500 to $999)

Ambassador ($250 to $499)

Annual Gifts

Dignitary ($100 to $249)

The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater

From Orem to Pleasant Grove:
A New Act Begins

Married in 1933, the Hales worked in perfect harmony, blending Ruth’s creative brilliance with Nathan’s practical support to bring theatrical magic to life.

In 1934, they were asked by their church leader to put on a play. They found one that had a $25 royalty, but $25 was more money than was in the church activity budget for an entire year. “Write one,” they were told. They did just that and launched a lifetime of entertaining millions and a legacy that lives on. 

In 1947, Ruth and Nathan debuted their first act: the Glendale Centre Theatre in California. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and wholesome entertainment, the Glendale venue became a hit with audiences. Over time, their family joined them onstage and behind the scenes, making the Hales’ work a true family production.

After decades of success in California, the Hales found themselves drawn to Utah, ready to set the stage for their next adventure: Retirement. It wasn’t long before their retirement turned into an intermission, and they were ready to begin their second act. 

In 1985, they established the Hale Centre Theatre in South Salt Lake. Their hallmark theater-in-the-round design created an immersive experience, bringing every member of the audience closer to the action.

In 1990, Ruth decided it was time to step into the spotlight again, founding Hale Center Theater Orem. With Nathan by her side, she enlisted the help of their youngest son, Cody, and his wife, Linda; their grandson, Cody Swenson, and his soon-to-be wife, Anne, to transform a former wedding reception center in Orem into a vibrant cultural hub. For 35 years, this tiny 300-seat theater welcomed 100,000 guests annually, enchanting audiences with its intimate stage and heartfelt storytelling. 

Today, we celebrate their encore and honor their legacy with the opening of The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater, aptly called “The Ruth.” This state-of-the-art venue on the dōTERRA campus in Pleasant Grove, will provide expanded opportunities for performances, larger audiences, and theatre education through The Ruth Academy. It will ensure that Ruth and Nathan Hale’s dream of bringing joy, inspiration, and connection through theater will continue to thrive for generations to come.