RAGTIME 2025 Reviews- Page 13
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#300
Posted: 3/23/26 at 9:45am
When is Caissie leaving? She needs a break before NTN starts on Broadway :)
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#301
Posted: 3/23/26 at 9:49am
It’s an odd situation for sure since LCT hasn’t had a revival that struck paydirt since THE KING AND I in 2015 and the economics of Broadway have changed A LOT since then. While they may be grossing a large sum of money, that show is definitely not cheap to run with a cast and orchestra of that size.
Awards wins will say a lot about the future of the show, but the brass ring that everyone is going for is Best Revival of a Musical, which (pending reviews) is likely in a dead heat with CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL. I do think the safest assertion is that, regardless of accolades, many of the principals likely won’t extend past August 2nd.
Understudy Joined: 10/3/22
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#302
Posted: 3/23/26 at 10:00am
steven22 said: "When is Caissie leaving? She needs a break before NTN starts on Broadway :)"
I mean if the N2N rumour is true, I would imagine a late fall opening, which would give her a decent break. Jack Wolfe is scheduled for an event in Paris in late September, so I would bet rehearsals start in October for this potential production.
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#303
Posted: 3/25/26 at 10:36am
Anna Grace Barlow will play her final performance as Evelyn Nesbit on June 14th. Her replacement will be announced at a later date.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Anna-Grace-Barlow-Will-Depart-RAGTIME-in-June-20260325
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#304
Posted: 3/25/26 at 10:39am
Have to assume they're getting Stephanie Styles back after the Encores run, right?
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#305
Posted: 3/25/26 at 11:03am
Revisited the show again last night and while there are undeniably some incredible performances, I find the production itself less impressive each time and were it not for the work being done by the majority of those actors onstage, I do not think this would be doing the business it is.
Levy and Uranowitz have further deepened their performances and are just stunning from start to finish. Henry has broadened his scene work considerably, but the vocal performance and the gusto with which he delivers the songs is miraculous. Jason Forbach was on for Younger Brother and while the word "Younger" was certainly doing some heavy lifting in that role name, he gave an assured and nuanced performance akin to Bobby Steggert's pitch perfect one in the last revival. Nichelle Lewis in this role I will never understand, but the audience received her warmly and I understand I'm in the minority there.
The lack of vision or intent in the production is still glaring, DeBessonet's rather static staging -- how many times is the ensemble instructed to stand upstage choir concert style? -- does not work for me still.
And yet, I was still moved to tears just hearing this score and seeing this story unfold before me. It's nice to see a show I have always loved getting its flowers, although I have many quibbles with the production that brought it to this level.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#307
Posted: 3/25/26 at 3:55pm
getatme said: "Revisited the show again last night and while there are undeniably some incredible performances, I find the production itself less impressive each time and were it not for the work being done by the majority of those actors onstage, I do not think this would be doing the business it is.
Levy and Uranowitz have further deepened their performances and are just stunning from start to finish. Henry has broadened his scene work considerably, but the vocal performance and the gusto with which he delivers the songs is miraculous. Jason Forbach was on for Younger Brother and while the word "Younger" was certainly doing some heavy lifting in that role name, he gave an assured and nuanced performance akin to Bobby Steggert's pitch perfect one in the last revival. Nichelle Lewis in this role I will never understand, but the audience received her warmly and I understand I'm in the minority there.
The lack of vision or intent in the production is still glaring, DeBessonet's rather static staging -- how many times is the ensemble instructed to stand upstage choir concert style? -- does not work for me still.
And yet, I was still moved to tears just hearing this score and seeing this story unfold before me. It's nice to see a show I have always loved getting its flowers, although I have many quibbles with the production that brought it to this level."
This review is SPOT. ON. We also agree with Nichelle Lewis. The ROLE of Sarah is great. She's lovely but serviceable. She feels like Henry's daughter - not his love interest - and he eats her up vocally. It's just not there. Interested to see Forbach now. Steggert deserved his Tony nomination in that role. The Younger Brother now sings it well but there is something missing in the acting that Steggert had in spades.
The production is basic -- with Levy, Uranowitz and Henry doing the heavy lifting with strong work that elevates the basic & uncreative production. Debessonnet has been blessed to hand pick the Encores shows & casts (all big successful names) while going against the grain of the purpose of the series. It's no suprise those shows have been successful with the shows and casts being strong - it's her direction that has never been strong or inventive.
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#308
Posted: 3/26/26 at 3:44am
I only saw Sarah's understudy - any thoughts on her? It seemed to be much more in Audra style legit voice and I thought she was excellent, but the way I hear "only darkness and pain" etc. on the recording sounded much more intense than what I saw so I did miss this particular moment..
As for the production, I agree it's simple but when expectations have been lowered I was pleasantly surprised at some of it, for example how beautiful the staging of "Back to Before" was. It seemed kind of like a tasteful evening focussed on the performances and music at Lincoln Centre rather than an elaborate "Broadway show" that it must have felt in the original production.
I don't think we can divorce the performances from the directing though. The director directs the performances in addition to staging the material. There seems to be an implicit assumption that were the director not there then the leads would have walked on stage and delivered the same performances as if all the choices they made was their own. I realise that this is often not the case.
Understudy Joined: 10/16/13
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#309
Posted: 3/26/26 at 3:07pm
Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Video of the View and Whoopie Goldberg"
"
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#310
Posted: 3/26/26 at 3:26pm
Whoopi has dyslexia. She has spoken about it many times on The View. She often fumbles with celebrity names as she reads them on the teleprompter every week, however she always means well. And the way she praised the show was so great to hear. I can't wait to see it again soon!
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#311
Posted: 3/26/26 at 3:32pm
binau said: "
I don't think we can divorce the performances from the directing though. The director directs the performances in addition to staging the material. There seems to be an implicit assumption that were the director not there then the leads would have walked on stage and delivered the same performances as if all the choices they made was their own. I realise that this is often not the case."
in this rare case it is. those involved on stage (in this or her other shows), behind and in the orchestra would tell you differently.
Her only experience is in large community shows where she moves people around quickly to make a show happen. She heavily relies on good designers and actors to make her decisions.
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#312
Posted: 3/26/26 at 3:35pm
If you have genuinely heard that first hand then that's very interesting to hear, thank you.
Understudy Joined: 10/16/13
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#313
Posted: 3/26/26 at 10:14pm
WithoutATrace said: "Whoopi has dyslexia. She has spoken about it many times on The View. She often fumbles with celebrity names as she reads them on the teleprompter every week, however she always means well. And the way she praised the show was so great to hear. I can't wait to see it again soon!"
I did not know that. Thank you for your thoughtful reply!
Leading Actor Joined: 11/17/11
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#314
Posted: 3/27/26 at 8:00pm
Jake Pedersen posted he is on for Younger Brother tonight. I'll bet he's fantastic.
Updated On: 3/27/26 at 08:00 PMRAGTIME 2025 Reviews#315
Posted: 3/28/26 at 12:45pm
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#316
Posted: 3/28/26 at 5:00pm
Is Nicholas Barron no longer in the show?
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#317
Posted: 3/28/26 at 9:31pm
WithoutATrace said: "Whoopi has dyslexia. She has spoken about it many times on The View. She often fumbles with celebrity names as she reads them on the teleprompter every week, however she always means well. And the way she praised the show was so great to hear. I can't wait to see it again soon!"
She also praised the first revival.
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#318
Posted: 3/28/26 at 11:20pm
DottieD'Luscia said: "Is Nicholas Barron no longer in the show?"
He injured himself and is out until early May.
Understudy Joined: 10/3/22
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#320
Posted: 4/15/26 at 12:13pm
I forgot to comment here last week, James Moore conducted his final performance with the show last Sunday, April 5. (He's staying on as music supervisor, though.)
His former associate Danny Percefull took over the baton starting on the 7th.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#321
Posted: 4/19/26 at 11:04pm
He was on today and was lovely.
I got to thinking after the performance - is younger brother actually Mother’s son? Sort of in the way it’s understood that Winthrop is Marion’s son in The Music Man but he’s called her “younger brother”?
Mother has such affection for Sarah, an unwed mother, and is so protective of Sarah and her baby when Father criticizes them. It got me thinking that Mother experienced the same sort of thing before she met Father? Could also explain why Father and Younger Brother have such a tense relationship.
just some food for thought…
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#322
Posted: 4/19/26 at 11:30pm
"younger brother" is "mother's younger brother", in both the E.L. Doctrow novel and the musical.
Mother’s Younger Brother grew up in Ohio with his older sister (Mother), and his father, Grandfather. A shy, sensitive, and driftless youth, he hasn’t accomplished much or found his path in life by the turn of the century. Instead of marrying or making his own way in the world, he follows Mother, Father, and Grandfather to New York, where he settles into Mother and Father’s home and begins working at Father’s company.
RAGTIME 2025 Reviews#324
Posted: 4/24/26 at 3:41pm
BroadwayGirl107 said:
I got to thinking after the performance - is younger brother actually Mother’s son? Sort of in the way it’s understood thatWinthrop is Marion’s son in The Music Man but he’s called her “younger brother”?
...is that understood in Music Man? I
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