'COMING TO AMERICA' Youngstowner is play's music director

The vaudeville-style stage has dressing rooms in view.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Kalliope Stage in Cleveland recently had the privilege of presenting the world premiere of a brand new musical, and Youngstown musician Anthony Ruggiero is the music director.
"Coming to America," by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, is based on the true stories of five immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island. The music, arranged by Phil Reno, is by well-known musicians of the turn of the 20th century, including George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. With the approval of the playwrights, Ruggiero and Kalliope Artistic Director Paul Gurgol have created a version to present to local audiences.
Ruggiero is thrilled to be part of this event.
"Paul Gurgol has such a creative mind," said Ruggiero. "He was in contact with the playwrights, who are from New York and LA, and asked them if they had anything Kalliope Stage could do. The original version could maybe be described as 'minimalist,' but the adapted version we are doing is vaudeville."
Ruggiero makes a clear distinction between vaudeville and burlesque. "Vaudeville is clean as far as language," he said. "It crossed ethnic lines -- was truly American, and affordable to people of the time. And vaudeville always promoted itself as wholesome."
How this is done
There are five actors who play all the parts. Each one has a turn to be a main character. There is the Irish Kaitlin; Ambrose from Italy; Yankel, who is Jewish; the Swedish Pernilla; and Hector of Greece.
"The work is a set of five vignettes, sketches," Ruggiero said. "The actors do everything. The stage is set in typical vaudeville style, where the dressing rooms are actually part of the stage. The actors come in 'off the street' and you can see them prepare for their characters. It is a remarkable set."
Ruggiero said the whole production is quite remarkable. "There are not many shows of this type being done today," he continued. "You can see how this style is the seed for what has transpired over the years."
And the preparation hasn't been easy. "This is the most detailed production I've ever been involved with," Ruggiero said. "The players have to be comedians, actors, singers, and there is a sense of timing that is so precise.
"I am playing the piano for two hours, over 60 numbers -- there is always music, but not always in the forefront," Ruggiero continued. "We had four weeks of very grueling, intense rehearsal."
Ruggiero has been active in music in the Youngstown area for 40 years. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Youngstown State University and also taught there for a number of years. He has been involved with local theater for over 20 years.
"Coming to America" continues through March 12 at Kalliope Stage, 2134 Lee Road. It runs Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For tickets, call (216) 321-0870.