The biggest problem for a director of a musical with more than 40 cast members is how to get everyone involved and establish the energy needed.

For PCPA Artistic Director Mark Booher, who is directing the latest production, “Ragtime,” the remedy was simple: Bring all 40-plus cast members on the stage together at the very beginning of the play for a rousing prologue, get the entire cast involved and feed off the energy of the opening night crowd.

With the tremendous opening number completed, the story was then able to flow, and as it was on opening night at the Marian Theater, the latest PCPA Theaterfest production was a triumph.

Based on a novel by E.L. Doctorow, “Ragtime” is a story of three families at the beginning of the 1900s, who experience various pitfalls of the American Dream.

Race relations, immigration, war and family values were all items of contention in the middle of the industrial age, as the 1800s turned into the Modern Era.

A terrific motion picture in 1981 was most famous as the last movie ever made by legendary actor James Cagney. That was followed in the late 1980s by an ambitious musical version, with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally.

The three characters who move the stories are Mother, played with a sweet, quite strength by Elizabeth Stuart; Tateh, a determined immigrant played with grace by Andrew Philpot; and Coalhouse Walker Jr., a talented ragtime piano player who suffers great indignities, powerfully played by guest artist David St. Louis.

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St. Louis, who has played in both “Rent” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Broadway, gives a brilliant performance as Walker. His deep baritone voice demands attention, both on the sweet love songs he sings with Mekia Cox as his ill-fated love, Sarah, and in his threatening songs of disenchantment and rage.

Mother, the well-to-do wife of an absentee husband, is not content in being just a wife or in following the norm, but is quietly searching for more. Stuart gives a fine performance, revealing the depths of her character’s sadness, and surprising strength and resolve.

Philpot is in great form as the poor immigrant Tateh, who only wants a better life for his young daughter. His pleas for success are as heart-wrenching as his songs of success are exuberant.

Other standouts in the cast are young Michael White, as the son of Mother, and Kiera O’Neil as burlesque star Evelyn Nesbit. Both bring comic relief with their characters — White with his boyish innocence and O’Neil with her boisterous presence.

Michael Tremblay is good in the role of Father, as is Corey Jones playing Booker T. Washington.

The singing is outstanding by all principals, and the ensemble is strong.

The choreography by Michael Jenkinson is quite strong, and getting such a large cast to work in unison is remarkable. Jenkinson is also solid in the role of Younger Brother, who is searching for his own identity.

While seeming out of place during the bleakness of the opening of Act II, “What A Game,” a song about baseball and its fans, is a hilarious piece of theater, and is one of many show-stopping songs in the play.

Early in Act I, some of the set changes were distracting, as big pieces of scenery were being moved during a speech by certain characters. However as one is caught up in the story, the distractions seem to disappear.

The scenic design by Heidi Hoffer was minimal, but worked well as they were pieced together scene by scene, and the costumes were well done by Misti Bradford.

While almost three hours long, “Ragtime” never dragged. It is an entertaining and winning performance, and one of the more satisfying productions PCPA has presented in quite a while.

BOX OFFICE:

“Ragtime” is playing through Saturday, July 26, at the Marian Theater in Santa Maria. Showtimes are at 2 p.m. Wednesday, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $16.25 to $27.75 for adults, and $10.25 to $17.75 for students and children.

The show will run in Solvang at the Festival Theater Aug. 1 to 24. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets cost $19.75 to $30.50 for adults, and $15.25 to $19.25 for students and children.

For information, call the PCPA Box Office at 922-8313 or visit www.pcpa.org.

Staff writer Brad Memberto can be reached by e-mail at bmember to@santamariatimes.com.