Rags is the story of newly arrived Jewish immigrants attempting to “fit” into American society, to make a life for themselves in a Brave New World. It is a story of the clash between the old world and the new, between the unacceptable past, the sometimes incomprehensible present, and the quest for truth and happiness in an uncertain future.
Rebecca, a naïve Russian immigrant arrives at Ellis Island with David, her young son. Rebecca goes to work in a garment sweatshop while she searches for her husband, Nathan, who has preceded them to America. When they are finally reunited, Rebecca discovers that Nathan’s assimilation is not entirely for the best. His desire to change their name and turn away from the traditions of their ethnic culture in order to “fit in” as he seeks positions of status and authority in New York, begins to distress Rebecca, whose gradual enlightenment leads her into union activities against the very men her husband wants so desperately to impress.
As Rebecca and David sift through and shed many of their old values to make room for the new, they begin to carve out new lives in a new world that they are determined to make their own. Rebecca’s friend Bella also struggles, but her rejection of tradition leads her to a completely different end. Avram and Rachel, too set in the ways of the motherland, retreat from the chaos of the immigrant’s experience. Implanting the old traditions of the motherland in their new American surroundings, they resign themselves to each other’s company and find love and contentment together.
Rags picks up the story where Fiddler on the Roof ends, painting a sweeping saga of awakenings and disappointments, of greed and power, of strength and love. It is as deeply moving and inspirational a musical as you could ever hope to find. The brilliant musical score is the work of Charles Strouse (Bye, Bye Birdie; Applause; Annie). The book is by Joseph Stein, and the lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.