Part 4: Behind the Curtain—Progress in Motion
Welcome to the fourth installment in an ongoing series exploring the journey of bringing the musical Ragtime to the stage as the PAC’s 2025-2026 season opener.
As Ragtime begins to take shape behind the scenes, we’ve made progress across several fronts—even if no single element is quite ready for a grand announcement. This is the nature of theater: part blueprint, part improvisation, and always a leap of faith.
- Most importantly, thank you to everyone who answered the call—whether by submitting a video audition or registering for our June open call. Your enthusiasm has given us the courage to move forward confidently! But we’re not done yet. We still need a strong turnout at auditions—especially from the men in our community! Bring a friend. Heck, drag in a family member. Invite your neighbors to be part of something meaningful. And remember, we’re casting not just for Ragtime, but also for our January comedy, The 39 Steps. The PAC was built to reflect the best the heart of Kentucky has to offer—but that only happens when you show up. PAC ProAm auditions are open to students and adults, amateurs and professionals alike. Learn more at ThePAC.net and join us for auditions June 20–23 at the PAC.
- Though decisions are still being finalized, it looks very likely we’ve found two of our leads. Thanks to May’s diversity casting efforts, it appears our “Coalhouse” and “Sarah” will be portrayed by two hometown performers who have gone on to join Actors’ Equity, performing on Broadway and in national tours. We’re not quite ready to shout their names from the rooftops, but the idea of welcoming them home has us buzzing with excitement.
- Meanwhile, our production logo has gone through multiple iterations before arriving at a version we’re proud to call final. What began as a striking but confrontational concept has evolved into a more nostalgic and patriotic design that invites viewers in instead of possibly alienating them.
- We’re also thrilled to welcome Cyndi Mattingly as our costumer. A veteran of several central Kentucky productions, Cyndi brings experience and enthusiasm to the task of costuming a cast in constant motion. Her designs will reflect the turn-of-the-century setting while using color and texture to highlight the show’s three cultural threads as they are gradually woven into one.
- On the scenic design front, we’ve partnered with the Youth Theatre of Hardin County to rent and purchase some set pieces. Once they wrap their summer production of Footloose, we’ll give those pieces a more industrial look and incorporate additional rolling and flying elements to create a dynamic, ever-changing world for this sweeping American epic.
- Directorially, my vision has continued to evolve. At its heart, Ragtime is a rehearsal for the American experiment itself. That’s why we’ll begin and end our story as if it were a rehearsal in progress—drawing a parallel between the effort it takes to bring a production to life and the work required to build a more perfect union. Democracy, like theatre, is never finished—and each of us has a role to play in shaping the next act.
So here’s your cue: the lights are warming, the stage is set, and your moment is approaching. Come be a part of something powerful. Auditions run June 20–23 at the PAC.
Let Them Hear You!
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
Congratulations to Lisa Chism, Lorraine Corneilson, Sonia Rosales, and Amber Wright, each the lucky winner of a $20 PAC gift certificate for completing an audience survey last month, and thank you for helping us learn how to serve our audiences better!
Audience Survey
Share your thoughts on your recent PAC visit and get entered into the next drawing.
PAC Spotlight
The JUNE PAC Spotlight shines on Elizabethtown High School’s Laney Looten.
What do you want to do when you grow up?
I would love to teach musical theatre to kids and instill the love of art into our future generations!
What have you seen at the PAC?
The Little Mermaid, Peter and the Starcatcher, Beauty and the Beast, The Skin of Our Teeth, Clue
What have you participated in at the PAC?
I’ve been in Youth Theatre Hardin County’s The Little Mermaid, Oklahoma!, Matilda, and Footloose this Summer! I was also Assistant Music Director for The Secret Garden and Mary Poppins
What have been your most rewarding PAC experiences?
My most rewarding PAC experience was helping with The Secret Garden. It taught me resiliency and thinking on my feet. It also helped train me to do anything I could to help within the theatre. I also made some treasured friendships with an amazing group of girls whom I wouldn’t have been that close to without the PAC!
What did you learn from your PAC experiences?
I have learned a myriad of things from the PAC. It has taught me to be a team player and how to adapt to be able to do anything that is needed of me. It has also taught me so much about myself and who I am as a person, and for that, I am forever grateful!
How have you benefited from the PAC?
The PAC has helped me come out of my shell performance-wise. When I first began, I was incredibly shy and hated being the center of attention. The PAC has helped me gain confidence and find my true passion and place within the world.
Why is the PAC important to you?
The PAC is important to me because it is a place that feels like home. No matter how I feel or where I am, I know I can walk into the PAC and be welcomed with open arms and smiling faces.
Why should the PAC be important to others?
The PAC should be important to others because it is a place where the arts thrive. It is a great place to discover new art forms and fall in love with them.
