'Ragtime' takes the stage at Peoria Players

The musical “Ragtime” was perhaps the most successful show produced by Peoria Players in the last decade and one of the most enjoyed in the theatre’s long history. That’s why bringing it back 10 years after its regional premiere at the city’s oldest community theatre isn’t a surprising move.

In fact, it’s one audiences have been asking for, said Steve Bortolotti, who directed the 2004 show and is directing the new production, which opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Sept. 14.

“There has been a real push to do the show again and it has been considered the last couple years. We just couldn’t seem to fit it into our last couple seasons. So we decided to produce it this year, on its 10^th anniversary,” Bortolotti said.

“People who saw the show in 2004 loved it and its popularity seemed to take on its own life for a few years, with people wanting us to do it again. When I was asked by the play selection committee if I was interested in directing it again this year, I was ready,” he said.

“Ragtime” is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. The musical book was written by Terrance McNally, with music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

It tells the story of three groups in the United States in the early part of the 20^th century and portrays how different their lives were.  The groups are African-American, upper-class suburbanites and Eastern European immigrants. It includes numerous historic figures, as well, include Henry Ford, Booker T. Washington, Evelyn Nesbit and Harry Houdini.

The history that is told in the musical and the historic figures represented may be one reason “Ragtime,” while loved by most who see it, isn’t done much at the community theatre level, said Bortolotti. “It is a wonderful show with great music, but the music is tough. And it’s a heavy drama and some theatres are afraid to touch heavy dramas for musicals. And with the historical figures audiences may need to be educated about some of them,” he said.

Another factor is that “Ragtime” is a big show for period costumes. Sandy Cheeseman is Bortolotti’s costume chair for this production, as she was in 2004, and the show has about 350 costumes.

In fact, Bortolotti would have qualms about directing the show again with Cheeseman and other “go-to” people who work his productions. That includes Michelle Loeffler, who choreographed “Ragtime” in 2004 as well as this year.

The music director for this production is Camilla Russell.

But only one cast member is the same. Ryan Stevenson again portrays Younger Brother in the suburbanite family headed by Father (Steve Post) and Mother (Anne Gonzalez).

The African-American group is headed by Coalhouse Walker, portrayed by Aaron Bolden of Rockford and Juanita Williams.

Bob Khoury is Tateh, head of the Jewish immigrant group.

Each group has its own chorus.

“We decided to audition every part new this time and use a whole new, fresh approach. It has worked out well. Our cast is wonderful and dedicated,” he said.

He cited Bolden, who wanted so badly to play the role of Coalhouse he is commuting between Peoria and Rockford and back every night. “I knew I wanted him for the role but I didn’t know if it was possible. But when I asked him about it he guaranteed me it would be no problem, and he’s been here every night. It’s worth it to him and I’m glad it is. This guy is great,” Bortolotti said.

“Ragtime” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 and at 2 p.m. on Sept. 7 and 14. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for those 18 and under. For the Wednesday, Sept. 10 performance adult tickets will be $15.

To purchase tickets visit www.peoriaplayers.org or call (309) 688-4473.

Just the facts: Labor Day

The first observance of Labor Day was likely on Sept. 5, 1882, when about 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade. That celebration inspired similar events across the country and by 1894 more than half the states were observing a "working men's holiday" on one day or another.

Later that year, with Congress passing legislation and President Grover Cleveland signing the bill on June 29, the first Monday in September was designated "Labor Day." This national holiday is a creation of the labor movement in the late 19th century and pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. 

Who Are We Celebrating?

155.6 million 
Number of people 16 and over in the nation's labor force in May 2013.  
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table A-1
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

Our Jobs

16.0 million: The number of wage and salary workers age 16 and over represented by a union in 2013. This group includes both union members (14.5 million) and workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract (1.5 million).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 1 www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf

14.8 million: Number of female workers 16 and over in service occupations in 2012. Among male workers 16 and over, 11.4 million were employed in service-related occupations.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table C24010 
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/C24010

1.8%: Percentage increase in employment (or 2.3 million) in the U.S. between December 2012 and December 2013. Employment increased in 286 of the 334 largest U.S. counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more). 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm

Another Day, Another Dollar

$49,398 and $37,791: The 2012 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, Table A-4
https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf

Fastest Growing Jobs

49%: Projected percentage growth from 2012 to 2022 in the number of personal care aides (580,800). Analysts expect this occupation to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other is registered nurse (526,800).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Employee Benefits

84.5%: Percentage of full-time, year-round workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2012. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, derived from Table 7 https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf

Say Goodbye to Summer

Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer and the start of the back-to-school season.

25,455: The number of shoe stores for back-to-school shopping in 2012. Other choices of retail establishments abound: there were 25,421 family clothing stores, 6,945 children and infants clothing stores, 7,443 office supply and stationery stores, 7,244 bookstores and 8,196 department stores.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS: 448210, 44814, 448130, 453210, 451211 and 4521http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2012/00A1//naics~44813|44814|448210|451211|4521|453210

20,893: The number of sporting goods stores nationwide in 2012. In U.S. sports, college football teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing its first game the Thursday following Labor Day. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS 451110
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

53,981: The number of travel agents employed full time, year-round in 2012. In addition, there were 16,526 tour and travel guides employed full time, year-round nationwide. On a weekend intended to give U.S. workers a day of rest, many climb into their drivers' seats or board an airplane for a quick end of the summer getaway. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table B24124 
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B24124

862,630: The number of paid employees (for the pay period including March 12) who worked for a gasoline station in the U.S. in 2012. Oregon (9,347 paid gasoline station employees) and New Jersey (16,408 paid gasoline station employees) are the only states without self-service gasoline stations. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in February 1887.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS 447
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2012/00A1/0100000US.04000/naics~447

The Commute to Work

5.9 million: Number of commuters who left for work between midnight and 4:59 a.m. in 2012. They represented 4.4 percent of all commuters. The most common time was between 7 and 7:29 a.m. – with 19.8 million commuters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table B08132 
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B08132

4.4%: Percentage of workers 16 and over who worked from home in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table B08128
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B08128

76.3%: Percentage of workers 16 and over who drove alone to work in 2012. Another 9.7 percent carpooled and 0.6 percent biked to work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table S0801 
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S0801

25.7 minutes: The average time it took workers in the U.S. to commute to work in 2012. Maryland and New York had the most time-consuming commutes, both averaging about 32 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table R0801 
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/R0801.US01PRF

Komen Promise Run set for Oct. 18

The course is different and the relay portion of the race is for two people now, not four. But the 2^nd Annual Susan G. Komen Memorial Promise Run & Relay on Oct. 18 will be every bit as important as the original as a major fundraiser for breast cancer research, race officials said Tuesday.

Those officials said they learned with last year’s race, leading to the changes, but they added they also learned survivors and others still want to find ways to help, said Gina Morss-Fischer, marketing and development coordinator for the Susan G. Komen Memorial Affiliate in Peoria.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it will be pink for sure in Peoria as we raise funds and awareness of this deadly disease,” Morss-Fischer said during a news conference at Running Central’s new downtown Peoria store.

Running Central is one of the race partners and its team called Shazzam Racing will score and time the race, said owner Adam White. “We’re all about health and exercise. One of the greatest combatants against cancer is exercise,” White said after announcing Running Central will give prizes to the top men’s and women’s finishers  ̶  $300 gift certificate for first place finishers, $200 gift certificate for second place and $100 for third place.

The biggest change from last year is that the course is more compact, which race coordinator Phillip Lockwood said will make it easier for the runners, for the coordinators and for the emergency personnel along the course. The race no longer will use Bradley Park and Park Road or go past the Susan Komen burial site in Parkview Cemetery, so it will be less hilly for the runners.

The course now will still cross the Bob Michel Bridge and take in a small part of East Peoria, but now will use part of Southtown, including along Richard Pryor Place, and will run to Springdale Cemetery and Glen Oak Park before returning to downtown to the finish line at the Gateway Building.

Reducing the footprint will not reduce the length of the half-marathon, 13.1 miles, Lockwood said. By being less spread out it will be easier for volunteers to maintain the course and for emergency personnel to patrol as needed, he added. “Our area emergency personnel are world-class in their level of support,” he said.

He said it was decided to direct the course into part of Southtown and along Richard Pryor Place and past Carver Center because the Komen Memorial Affiliate wants to reach out to African-American women to become more involved. That, added Morss-Fischer, is because it has been shown that African-American women get diagnosed later for one reason or another, meaning their survival rate is not as good. “We want to bring people together from all parts of the community to help each other,” she said.

Another change is that this year’s event will include a 1-Mile River Walk for those not up for an endurance run. “It’s another way to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” she said.

Finally, the race is being run on a Saturday instead of Sunday, which Lockwood said could help bring out more volunteers.

Morss-Fischer said more than 400 people participated in the event last year and the Komen Memorial Affiliate wants 500-plus this year as well as continued growth in subsequent years.

Registration is open and before Oct. 1 it costs $70 for individual runners and $40 per person for the relay teams. After Oct. 1 it will be $80 for individual runners and $45 a person for the relay teams. The cost is $25 to participate in the 1 Mile River Walk.

To register visit www.komenmemorial.org or call (309) 691-6906.

Also in October will be the Pink Promise Survivor Fashion Show and Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria.

Survivors pay just $15 for the event. General admission is $40 and a table of 10 is $350. Call the Komen office at (309) 691-6906.

Among those displaying clothes at the event will be Running Central, said White.

Stressin' 9 to 5: Workplace Pressure May Prompt Employee Resignations

As the nation celebrates Labor Day and pays tribute to the American worker, an increasing number of employees continue to battle a workforce issue that threatens the productivity of businesses nationwide: Stress.

According to a recent Randstad Engagement study, U.S. employees cited stress as a top reason to quit their jobs.

Randstad asked 2,257 American workers what would be the most likely reasons to leave their current position. When asked to select up to three out of 10 possible factors that might push an employee to leave their job — including excessive workload and difficult working relationships — a high stress level (at 24 percent) was the third most selected reason, behind pay (37 percent) and opportunity for advancement (27 percent).

"As our nation continues to recover from the Great Recession, workplace stress has become the norm for many American workers who struggle with increased workloads, constant connectivity and poor work-life balance," said Jim Link, chief HR officer, Randstad North America. "This has become an issue of concern for employers nationwide, as it not only affects employee morale, but also a company's bottom line. The American Psychological Association estimated that job stress costs U.S. businesses more than $300 billion a year in absenteeism, turnover, diminished productivity and healthcare costs."

The study found the negative effects of workplace stress vary by gender and, to a lesser extent, age. For example, 27 percent of women (compared with 22 percent of men) cite a high stress level as a top reason to leave their current job. Within generational groups, one quarter (25 percent) of Gen Y/Millennial employees say stress is a likely reason they would leave their current organization, similar to Generation X and Baby Boomers, both at 24 percent.

"It's crucial for managers to understand there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the problem of stress in the workplace, and some employees are more susceptible to stress than others," Link said. "The good news about workplace stress is that it can be managed, especially when employers provide support – and that starts with being well-connected to your workers. Companies can impact employee stress by communicating regularly with workers to identify their concerns and establishing wellness programs that make healthy stress management a top priority across the organization."

Five Tips to Alleviate Workplace Stress

• Communicate often: By effectively communicating with workers, managers can better gauge the stress level of their employees and work to diminish pressure before it affects morale and productivity.
• Encourage camaraderie: Employees who actively connect with one another often create a better office environment. It's important to set aside time for staff to socialize and get to know one another. 
• Promote wellness: Give employees access to wellness programs that help relieve stress; whether it's a company workout facility or reimbursements for yoga classes, wellness programs are proven strategies to help relieve workplace stress.
• Set an example: Healthy stress management starts at the top; if employees consistently see their boss as being stressed, the negative energy can trickle down and impact the entire team.
• Empower your employees: One of the most stress-inducing triggers is feeling out of control, so allow your staff to take ownership of their work and give them as much control as possible when it comes to making decisions on how work gets done.

Survey Methodology

The Randstad Engagement Study is comprised of findings from biannual waves of research targeting employees and  annual surveys of employers. The ninth wave of findings was conducted online between April 1–8, 2014 from a national sample of 2,257 adults aged 18 and older who are currently employed full time from an Ipsos' U.S. online panel.

Weighting was used to balance demographics and ensure samples reflect the U.S. population of working adults.

Multiple waves of research allow for trending and to track changes in perceptions and attitudes over time. Research into employee attitudes and perceptions will be conducted biannually. Research into employer attitudes and perceptions will be conducted on an annual basis.