Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

#1

Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 5:41pm

I am very grateful the Times did this. I LOVE stuff like this. So interesting.

I personally like the 3rd poster that they show the best. I love the center image with the woman, and would have loved to have seen it with production photos in the background.

What does everyone else think? Which is your favorite and why?
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/09/13/theater/20090913-ragtime-feature.html

#2

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 5:52pm

I like the 5th image the best.

#3

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 5:58pm

I like 2, 3 and 6 the best. It's odd that they had those options available and went with one of the worst ideas for the final art.

#4

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 6:07pm

I really like the final poster art -- I find it a terrific blend of the old and modern, and a near perfect representation of an era of "change" that the show (and the novel) represents. And it's certainly better than a lot of other Broadway advertising graphics these days (I'm looking at you, Neil Simon Plays).

But I also find it very interesting that a number of the rejected ideas would have worked great as well.

Updated On: 9/13/09 at 06:07 PM

#5

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 6:46pm

I like the 5th one the best.

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"You have two kinds of shows on Broadway – revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion King a year in advance, and essentially a family... pass on to their children the idea that that's what the theater is – a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theater at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar.... I don't think the theatre will die per se, but it's never going to be what it was.... It's a tourist attraction." Stephen Sondheim

#6

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 6:49pm

I like the second slide the best. Simple and direct but nice to look at.

But the one they came up with in the end is really nice, IMO.

#7

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:21pm

#2 & #5 are the best. The one they picked is still the worst.

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A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

#8

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:24pm

I like the 6th one. It's similar to the one they have now, but it flows SO much better.

I also like 2 and 5.

Updated On: 9/13/09 at 07:24 PM

#9

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:33pm

I love the 3rd one. How original for a period piece. It probably doesn't suite the production as well as the one they have now, but I think it's really interesting and def. would have caught a few eyes.

#10

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 7:48pm

I like both of the flag ones.

#11

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:07pm

What a wonderful feature... I'm still a fan of the final decision, but I think any of those pieces are suitable. I love that this is one of the few Broadway posters I can think of that could stand on its own as a piece of art. I'm also glad to see a Broadway poster that is creative, as opposed to a headshot of whomever is starring in the show. I'm very excited to see this production.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

Updated On: 9/13/09 at 08:07 PM

#12

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:38pm

5 is the best of the lot, but it still needs work. I really like the flag and Coalhouse in the blue.

But the logo at the bottom needs work.

Still, I think it's the best of the lot.

#13

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:50pm

I can't stand the OBC artwork, but the first flag one shown in that feature is my favorite. I love the simplicity, and that it uses the flag without being so obvious about it. I do really like the artwork they settled on, though.

Updated On: 9/14/09 at 08:50 PM

#14

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 8:58pm

I also think they picked one of the worst sketches for the artwork. personally, I think they should have gone with the first flag one. The one they picked just looks like something exploded.

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"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL

#15

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:04pm

2 and 5 are my favorites. But I like the final art as well.

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"i had no idea billy elliot was about one boy's triumph over epilepsy."-FindingNamo

#16

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:07pm

"The one they picked just looks like something exploded."

Like an era?

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#17

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 9:23pm

The 2nd one was the best. I think the final artwork is WAY too modern.

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"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.

#18

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 10:35pm

Is it bad that I want to go while it's in previews so I can have a color playbill? Ha.

#19

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 10:49pm

I like the second and fifth ones.

The final art bugs me but I honestly can't figure out why.

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"You mean what was the best picture of the year or what did they pick as the best picture of the year?" - California Suite

#20

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:06pm

If I knew nothing about the show, the current art wouldn't make me feel like I need to see the show. For whatever reason #3 grabs me and pulls me in.

I'm just happy this modern masterpiece is coming back to Broadway. May it have a long, long, long run!

#21

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:29pm

#3 wins it for me.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#22

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:47pm

I like #5 the most.

#23

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:58pm

Gaahh...New York Times, I love you. I live for features like this.

#3 is quite striking. I agree with the way Kyle put it--it's the artwork that most makes me feel like I really need to see this show.

But I do like the final product. The artwork on its own is terrific--elements like the Obama-era "HOPE" button among all the early-1900s paraphernalia instantly make a case for the show's relevance in 2009. The only thing bugging me is their treatment of the title...the "big-small-big" lettering looks a little too funky to me.

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"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit." (Emanuel Azenberg)

#24

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/13/09 at 11:58pm

The final one doesn't really flow and seems off-balance. It reminds me of the latest Time Out New York cover.

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"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

#25

re: Evolution of New Ragtime Poster Art

Posted: 9/14/09 at 12:01am

The final one doesn't really flow and seems off-balance. It reminds me of the latest Time Out New York cover.

YES. That's what it reminded me of. I still like it.

(Incidentally, I think a nice shout-out to "Ragtime" was included in that cover art...?)

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"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit." (Emanuel Azenberg)

Updated On: 9/14/09 at 12:01 AM