EXTREME Minimalist Production of Ragtime at Youth Theatre

[jagfkb]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 4:21pm

Our youth theatre, for their winter season, is planning to produce 13, and due to some criticism for the descision, a 13 actor, 1 piano production of Ragtime. Here's how they've outlined the cast:

Mother
Edgar
Father
Tateh
Little Girl
Younger Brother
Coalhouse
Sarah

The remainder of the company is double/ triple/ quadruple casted, in addition to everyone in the company performing as the ensemble in various songs:

Booker T. Washington
J.P. Morgan/ Grandfather
Henry Ford/ Willie Conklin
Harry Houdini
Emma Goldman/ Cathleen
Evylyn Nesbit

Just curious to hear what others think of the idea. It sounds rather interesting, since it's usually performed by the largest casts on Broadway, and the actors who will perform the show have been wanting to perform the material for years. I also thought it was very interesting to double cast Henry Ford as Willie Conklin... Any thoughts?