In Syncopated Debauchery, a 90-minute one-woman theater show, Eve is your raucous guide into the colorful world of ragtime - a scandalous yet irresistible music born in the barrooms and bordellos of 1890s America. You’ll be introduced to our story’s heroes – and villains – and get a vivid glimpse into their lives and the songs they wrote. Expect plenty of vaudevillian antics as we delve into questions like: Who kidnapped Fats Waller? Why did Jelly Roll Morton own so many suits? How did Scott Joplin uphold his artistic vision amid a slew of rejection? What does “funky butt” mean? The ragtime era is brought to life in this hilarious and poignant show full of thrilling costume changes, bombastic characters, and virtuosic piano playing.

Syncopated Debauchery

Background

Before writing the show in early 2025, Eve spent several months researching and reading biographies. She studied up on Vitaphone vaudeville shorts and passed many joyful hours listening to Jelly Roll Morton's interviews with Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. The history of ragtime is simply too rich and many worthy anecdotes did not make it into the show.

After a successful premiere at The Yard Theater (now The Stray) in Hollywood, the show had a 5-night run at The Cat's Crawl Theater as part of the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The show was selected as a finalist for the Namba Performing Arts Space Splash Award, and was invited for a performance at the Namba space in Ventura, CA this past October.

A scene from the show!

Audience Reviews - see what the folks are saying!

“Vaudevillian!” “Lively, authentic and engaging”

“Eve… entertains with real nerve”

“I will never listen to ragtime the same again… I wish all our history was taught this way!”

“Syncopated Debauchery reveals the wellspring of creative endeavor and price paid by those who give their all to breaking new ground in the arts. It’s an uplifting and unforgettable experience”

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