RAGTIME 2025 Previews- Page 3

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 9/28/25 at 9:24pm

Can someone who has seen the show describe how they stage the prologue?  I’m dying to know. 

[binau]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 2:37am

I’ve always wanted to see this show live - I suspect that the choral singing is something that can really only be experienced live to be properly heard and felt. Is that true for this production? 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 4:29am

Rentaholic2 said: "Can someone who has seen the show describe how they stage the prologue? I’m dying to know."

 

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The prologue begins with Young Coalhouse at the piano on the turntable and the younger boy, Edgar, joins him onstage and begins the opening dialogue. The curtain rises to reveal the full cast rising up from an elevator on a fog filled stage. From there, the prologue unfolds as usual with the turntable being used for some moments. At the end of the prologue, the entire cast gathers upstage and "runs forward" while a smokey white light fills the bottom half of the screen at the back of the stage. It's hard to describe it, but it was just very well done.

Binau said: "I’ve always wanted to see this show live - I suspect that the choral singing is something that can really only be experienced live to be properly heard and felt. Is that true for this production?"

The choral singing here is truly wonderful - especially during "New Music" and "Till We Reach That Day".

 

Updated On: 9/29/25 at 04:29 AM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 9:14am

If this extends they’ll have to have some replacement casting. Caissie is booked with The Lost Boys this spring and *knock on wood* Ben should be busy with Gatsby.

[singer234]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 10:13am

I would so love to see Katie Rose Clarke play Mother at some point.

[goodtimes123]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 10:14am

If I had to guess, this would be a short extension and Caissie could still both? When is Lost Boys slated to starts previews?

[kdogg36]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 11:22am

I join the consensus that this production looks and sounds gorgeous. The chorus, orchestra, and principal cast are stellar across the board. Having only known the show through the cast recording (which I have for some reason not listened to for many years), I dare say this production makes a compelling case that Ragtime belongs in the pantheon of great American musicals.

I was seated in the "cheap seats" in the loge on the extreme audience right, and I don't think I missed anything at all. 

The curtain call on Sunday was perfunctory, with no individual bows. I see two possibilities here: either they haven't staged a curtain call yet (third preview), or they ran out of time (it was 5:58 when the orchestra began the exit music). Does anyone have any thoughts about this? (To be honest, I actually appreciate modest curtain calls, à la Next to Normal, but I doubt that's really the intention here.)

Updated On: 9/29/25 at 11:22 AM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 4:19pm

Performance tonight on "Colbert."

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 6:45am

[BobbyBaccalieri]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 7:24am

So bombastic that there’s no sincerity or connection. They may as well be in two different cities and different time zones. He’s very strident vocally. I guess nobody ever told him that a little goes a long way. If he keeps pushing like that, flatness is going to come calling, which it already is throughout.

Paging Ms McDonald and Mr Mitchell…

Updated On: 9/30/25 at 07:24 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 8:22am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "

 

"

Gorgeous 

[henrike]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 5:04pm

Vocally, that Colbert performance was fine. But I agree that there was no connection at all between them. Granted, it was just a TV studio performance. But is that how they sing at the Beaumont? 

[getatme]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 11:19pm

henrike said: "Vocally, that Colbert performance was fine. But I agree that there was no connection at all between them. Granted, it was just a TV studio performance. But is that how they sing at the Beaumont?"

He takes control of the number, yes.

[RexInLights]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 11:36pm

I am sad to say that I found this production quite unmoving. The material is incredible. Ragtime has been of my absolute favorite musicals since I first saw it in 1998. There is some very good singing and strong performances on that stage. Henry sings the hell out of the score, and I found Uranowitz, Ross, and Lewis very good. That being said, this production is completely listless. There is no energy or connection on that stage. I’ve never found DeBessonet to be a particularly good director, and that’s so clear here. The Beaumont is such a beautiful and unique space and it’s used so poorly. The blocking and transitions lag. The design choices, lighting, and project left me utterly confused as to their intent. I frankly found it all quite ugly. 
 

For what it’s worth, the audience was rapturous. There were 2 mid-show standing ovations. I’m sure the cast album will be good. But as staged, this is an unfortunate miss. 

Updated On: 9/30/25 at 11:36 PM

[BobbyBaccalieri]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 8:27am

The marketing department is posting so many videos and photo spreads on Instagram that it’s reminiscent of Hamilton’s manufactured hype a decade ago. And it’s only just started previews. Overkill incoming. 

[Kad]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 8:31am

BobbyBaccalieri said: "The marketing department is posting so many videos and photo spreads on Instagram that it’s reminiscent of Hamilton’s manufactured hype a decade ago. And it’s only just started previews. Overkill incoming."

Oh no the marketing department is doing its job.

[BobbyBaccalieri]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 8:36am

Eight posts across two days seems like a lot. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 8:43am

Just when you think people on this board can’t find anything new to complain about…

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 8:47am

Jordan Catalano said: "Just when you think people on this board can’t find anything new to complain about…"


‘it’s a bit like playing pin the tail on the racist. 

[Kad]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 8:49am

Jordan Catalano said: "Just when you think people on this board can’t find anything new to complain about…"

It’s Boris. 

[inception]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 9:07am

I was impressed that they got onto Colbert so early in previews.  That's what good marketing is supposed  to be doing, getting seen.  I never understood the shows that waited so long to do TV appearances. 

I'd say 99% of people are like me, & never heard the score before. So that performance was impressive. 

In the summer I did buy a used copy of the OBC double album on Amazon which got shipped over from Germany of all places   I couldn't find anywhere to buy  it digitally in Canada,  & I don't use Spotify so don't know if it is there.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 9:25am

BobbyBaccalieri said: "The marketing department is posting so many videos and photo spreads on Instagram that it’s reminiscent of Hamilton’s manufactured hype a decade ago. And it’s only just started previews. Overkill incoming."

CrustyBagel/BroadwayFlash, is that you again?

[Listener]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 6:03pm

It's wonderful to read such glowing reviews of the cast. I kinda expected the sets to be an afterthought, which has sadly seemed to be the case here. And there are no costume changes either? And they video projections? Boy, they really are trying to save wherever they can, aren't they?

But the cast seems stellar. Excited for the eventual album!

Is Cassie delivering a thrilling Back to Before, or more of a perfunctory one? She can obviously sing, but Marin's mark on the song is impossible to shake. I feel like you need a huge voice to capture the emotional breakthrough happening there...or else it falls flat a bit.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 6:25pm

BobbyBaccalieri said: "The marketing department is posting so many videos and photo spreads on Instagram that it’s reminiscent of Hamilton’s manufactured hype a decade ago. And it’s only just started previews. Overkill incoming."

God forbid they should try to sell tickets, Boris!!!!

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 6:48pm

Listener said: "Is Cassie delivering a thrilling Back to Before, or more of a perfunctory one? She can obviously sing, but Marin's mark on the song is impossible to shake. I feel like you need a huge voice to capture the emotional breakthrough happening there...or else it falls flat a bit."

I grew up listening to Marin's version of Back to Before, and when I saw Caissie at NYCC I was blown away by her rendition. She has a very different voice than Marin but she has an huge and powerful belt.