Part 7-Make Them Hear You
Welcome to the final installment in our behind-the-scenes series on bringing Ragtime to life as the PAC’s 2025–2026 season opener.
Rehearsals are in full swing. The music is soaring through the halls, the choreography is bursting with life, and the design elements we’ve been teasing for months are finally finding their place on stage. Our cast and creative team are pouring their hearts into every scene, every note, every moment.
Outside the rehearsal room, we’ve been just as busy. We’ve partnered with minority-owned businesses to extend the reach and impact of this production, marched in the Heartland Parade for the very first time, and taken to the airwaves to share why this show matters now more than ever. Ragtime is about America—its triumphs, its failures, and its ongoing struggle to live up to its promise. It’s a story that resonates as deeply today as it did when the novel was first written.
Now, the final piece of this journey is YOU. Theater is not complete without an audience to witness and share the story being told. After months of planning, building, and rehearsing, we need you in the seats to laugh, cry, and reflect with us. Your presence is what transforms all of this work into living, breathing art.
Tickets are on sale now at ThePAC.net. Join us September 19–21 and 26–28 to experience this sweeping American musical. Bring your family, your friends, your coworkers—be part of this moment with us. Ragtime is more than a show. It’s a conversation. It’s a celebration. And it’s a reminder that the work of building a better tomorrow is never finished.
Come. Be our audience. Be part of the story.
Video Links
The links below provide a video version of this month’s blog and a link to HCECTV’s The Monthly Marquee, an interview program hosted by Bart focused on performing arts activities in our region.
Audience Survey Winners
With the PAC being “Dark” and in production for Ragtime through August, there were no survey winners last month.
Audience Survey
Share your thoughts on your recent PAC visit and get entered into the next drawing.
PAC Spotlight
The SEPTEMBER PAC Spotlight shines on Hardin County native Joey Stone, portraying Coalhouse Walker Jr. & Co-Directing Ragtime this month at the PAC.
What Do You Do For A Living?
Professional Actor & Stage Director, Arts Education Leader, Community Engagement + Program Director, Nonprofit + Cultural Strategist, Community + Ensemble Builder
What have you participated in at the PAC?
Working on Ragtime at the PAC is my first time experiencing any art in this space. Today, I have the honor & pleasure of serving as co-director of the production as well as starring as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the story.
What have been your most rewarding PAC experiences?
Rewarding experiences continue to unfold for me every day at the PAC. I’ve been introduced to & reconnected with artists from across Hardin County & beyond as we’ve worked together to build this production & bring this important American story to our community audiences.
I am particularly proud to have so many diverse artists join us on stage & on the creative team. This production features more Black actors than any other PAC production to date, highlighting Bart & his staff’s ongoing outreach & community-building efforts to create art & opportunities that truly reflect & uplift the community we serve.
What did you learn from your PAC experiences?
I’m learning more & more every day from my experiences here at the PAC. Having spent many years in educational theatre & community outreach, I love how beautifully those two essential elements come together in the PAC ProAm shows. It continues to be such a joy working alongside artists from different backgrounds & areas of expertise to create something truly moving & important.
Why is the PAC important to you?
Local arts organizations play an integral role in the fabric of our communities. They provide access to creativity while fostering cross-cultural understanding & bridging socioeconomic divides. Research demonstrates that accessible arts programming can enhance emotional regulation & social-emotional learning in both students & adults. Studies have also shown connections between arts participation & increased empathy, improved literacy outcomes through integrated learning approaches, stronger community engagement, & measurable economic benefits for local communities of all sizes.
Why should the PAC be important to others?
As I’ve shared my work & heart with this community, & witnessed the diverse artists who come together here, I’ve experienced what’s possible when we create spaces where everyone is welcomed & supported to thrive. The PAC represents the kind of community we should all want: one where people are valued not by some arbitrary measure of merit created & imposed by others, but by the inherent worth we all possess & the unique gifts we bring to our shared creative work as humans. When we build these inclusive spaces together as artists, we’re modeling what community can look like at its best. We’re proving that when people from different backgrounds & experiences are given the platform & support to create together, something magical happens: Change. Everyone deserves to be part of a community that sees their value, nurtures their growth, & celebrates what they contribute simply by being themselves. The PAC matters because it shows us that this kind of community isn’t just an ideal, IT’S ACHIEVABLE! & once you’ve experienced that level of acceptance & creative collaboration, you want it everywhere.
