110th Birthday Celebration of THEODORE ROETHKE Set for Memorial Day

With the fertile and invigorating Rites of Spring finally upon us, an exceptional litany of music and poetry is poised to blossom in the region on Monday, May 28th, as The Friends of Theodore Roethke Foundation presents its 110th Birthday Celebration of Theodore Roethke at the Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy Auditorium with a showcase performance by the Raisin River Ragtime Revue, followed by poetry readings on the newly completed Janet Nash Nature Trails.

The Raisin' River Ragtime Revue (R4) is a professional theatrical orchestra dedicated to educating and entertaining via performance, preservation and restoration of significant American music, with a focus on the development of the USA’s original popular musical style – Ragtime.  Utilizing a well-researched and engaging narrative, R4 transports the audience to the cultural and social conditions of turn-of-the-century America, with special emphasis given to the contributions of African American composers and the obstacles they overcame in attempting to gain acceptance of this unique and truly original art form.

Bringing together musicians, dancers, actors and visual artists to recreate a ragtime-era vaudeville revue, encompassing some of ragtime’s greatest works, including Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer and Easy Winners. Also included are works by James Scott, Joseph Lamb, Arthur Marshall and Maurice Kirwin.

Based in Tecumseh and situated on the River Basin in Southeast Michigan, the Ragtime Revue regularly performs at Henry Ford Museum, The Detroit Institute of Art, and Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater, and has partnered with historic Greenfield Village in Dearborn to present a major annual ragtime festival, drawing thousands of patrons.

The 110th Birthday Celebration of Theodore Roethke will begin at 2:00 PM with an introduction by Poet-In-Residence Jeff Vande Zande, followed by a Live performance of The Raisin River Ragtime Revue from 2:30 – 4:00 PM.  Following their performance, a River Walk and Poetry Reading on the Janet Nast Nature Trails will take place from 4:00 – 5:00 PM, weather permitting. Prior to this celebration you can also enjoy the Saginaw/PRIDE Memorial Day Parade at 11 AM along South Washington.

Tickets are only $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, with cake and ice cream, book and CD sales, and a gallery of art by Saginaw School students included.  Tickets can be purchased by phoning 989-928-0430 or at the following locations:  Country Club Cleaners, Hamilton Bakery, Sullivan's Family Restaurant, Roethke House, Savoy Bar & Grill or from Leona Glenn and Joyce Seals. or by going online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/river-raisin-ragtime-revue-concert-tickets-45741547199?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button