RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!
RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#0
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:05am
So... I would like to report for all those wondering.....
Papermill's current production of Ragtime (although without a Model T) is perhaps the best thing I have seen in a long time. STELLAR perfomances. It got wonderful reviews, they only made notes about the lack of car and swing, but more inportanly EVERY critic said they really enjoed the show, and i have several friends who are in the cast and are very proud of the show.
I would urge you to see this properly mimimalized version before it closes, although I hear tickets are going fast and it still has a month left! I had no idea HOW EASY and short a trip it was to the Playhouse.
Go to www.papermill.org to see a clip and see pictures!
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#1
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:21amNo Model T and no Swing???? Sounds a little too scaled down for me but I'm glad you liked it and I'm sure it's fantastic, especially if you've never seen the show before. Just the music alone if sung well is worth it!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#2
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:27amI can't wait to see the ITS National Production of Ragtime. I know it's cheesy to say that, but I know the director and some of the actors and it should be good.
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#3
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:29am
yes... its true no swing or model t.......
BUT this story doesnt need it. Its a remarkable story and really you dont watch and miss it because the people they cast are incredible...... Its most of the Dessa Rose cast... well (3?) and then people that graduated from reputable schools that Im sure well be seeing MUCH more of in the near future....
My friend mentioned that Steven Flagerty and Lynn Ahrens were very active on their show and have seen it several times now and LOVED IT.. That outta tell you something!!!
Its such a shame this didnt stay on Broadway longer........
Anyone else wanna share their opinion of Ragtime at Papermill??????
PAPERMILL WEBSITE
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#4
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:34amOh don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's still fabulous missing sets/props and all... it's just that my best friend was in it so I have seen it many times the way it was "meant to be" and it was sad to see it get scaled down, even as they were touring. It really should've stayed on Broadway longer! One the BEST shows!
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
Joined: 12/31/69
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#6
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:40am
International Thespian Society. It's not a club, perse, but high school theatre students are in the group, and at the ITS Convention in 04, students auditioned and the ones who made it got to rehearse in Las Vegas and it's performed in Nebraska this summer.
Sorry for the run on sentence...
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#7
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:40ami agree with you.. I LOVED the Broadway Production, but was SOOOO happy to have been pleased with this one. I heard through the grapevine that Stephen and Lynn were very active on this production and even worked on adding to the ending of this show.... meaning it is a little different musically, so if they saw it and or worked on it, then you just know it is top notch! they are geniuses, no? It could have been so dissapointing, but it wasnt at all!!!!!!!!!!
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#8
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:49am
C_O, just because you mentioned this... It's my theatre teacher and my school you're talking about. I had the fortune of seeing it this past Thursday and Saturday, and it's incredible. And I'm not just saying that! It is truly an unbelievable experience. Oh my God, I'm just so glad you brought it up! Keep an eye out for my boyfriend, he plays Grandfather!
Ahhhhhh! I'm just so happy someone knows about it!
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#9
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:49amYeah I heard about that Production by the ITS in Nebraska...I want to see it because someone from my state is going to be in the show.
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#10
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:53amIf you have the opportunity to see it, do so. The talent among the teenagers in our country is just astonishing.
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#11
Posted: 6/20/05 at 1:55amyoure boyfriend is Grandfather... he is fabulous... deleived those punch lines GREAT! My friend I live vicariously through (thats what I always say) plays Evelyn Nesbit..... She is so incredibly talented.... I cant wait till she gets discoved like most CCM kids eventually do!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#12
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:03amYes, I know that LVA is doing Ragtime and Mr Edwards is directing. I have connections with LVA, like I said before.
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#13
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:07am
just a nit-pick, and I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, popular, and I apologize, but just because a show was done a certain way on Broadway does not mean that is how the show is "meant to be" seen. there have been countless Broadway revivals and regional productions that have proved that shows can be even better when reconceived or reimagined. so just because RAGTIME was large-scale on Broadway does not mean it is automatically better than a production that is different or done on a smaller scale.
and I'd also like to note that I too am in rehearsals for a local youth theatre production of RAGTIME here in San Diego and we open in August. exciting sh*t.
Updated On: 6/20/05 at 02:07 AM
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#14
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:07am
ahhhhh im getting confused..... NAME IN LIGHTS.... you said your boyfrined plays grandfather? Are you talking about Papermills Grandfather of or this Nebraska Production???? Im so confused... people are talking about two different things no????
My original post was regarding PAPERMILLS production, but glad to hear it is being done all over..... such an incredible show....
Joined: 12/31/69
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#15
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:10am
My name in Lights - I sent you a PM, but guess you're not reading it.
I used to date Nathan Lewis when he lived in Texas. He is one terrific guy. I love that boy to death.
And he/she is talking about the ITS production.
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#16
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:10am
CATSNY - yes I know. That's why I put "meant to be" in quotes. I mean what does that really mean anyway? It's so subjective. Meant to be according to who?
Anyway, I guess I followed her through the tour and saw the decline (we all know the Drabinsky/Livent troubles that occurred, no?)so it just struck me sad that it's come to a point where she's singing about a swing that isn't there and that a car that is a HUGE focus isn't there either. Doesn't mean it can't be done or that it isn't a great show without all that, it just struck me odd.
Updated On: 6/20/05 at 02:10 AM
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#17
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:11am
I agree.... im also not sure about "meant to be".. the thing is .. htere is so much pressure for a succesful Broadway show to be BIG, DAZZLING, a bit ticket seller therefore almost a spectacle, that really we dont knw exactly waht the people who wrot eit meant fo rit to be like. Steven and Lynn could have wanted to to be this way but were forced by producers and other people to make it big for Broadway, so I guess we NEVER REALLY CAN KNOW!!!!
I did still LOVe the B-way version Popular.....
Joined: 12/31/69
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#18
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:18am
ugh... Why do I bother?
(I think this is the longest time I've spent on the message board.)
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#19
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:19amYes, I was talking about the ITS production. Sorry for the confusion! And C_O, I'm sorry, I was in the shower. Check your PMs!
Swing Joined: 6/20/05
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#20
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:20amwhat was the "ugh.... why do i bother" for Brad Pitt:)
Joined: 12/31/69
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#21
Posted: 6/20/05 at 2:24am
Got it. Sorry, honey.
Lover - No, I thought I was being ignored.
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#22
Posted: 6/20/05 at 10:08am
I'm Seeing the Papermill on Saturday...but..two things (I posted this in another post and no one answered) Is the bridge still there? The one that comes down on the people during "Success"? That was my favorite part in the B'way production, and I would hate to see that symbolic scene taken away.
Also...I can understand the creativity of a Model T made with Chairs...but "Girl on the Swing" without a swing????
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#23
Posted: 6/20/05 at 11:55amweird double post. sorry. Updated On: 6/20/05 at 11:55 AM
re: RAGTIME IS MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!#24
Posted: 6/20/05 at 11:55am
I am offical super jealous of y'all let me just point out firstly.
"Ragtime" is my favorite musical point blank. I love grand productions, I love minimalist productions, heck I don't even mind high school productions. The lyrics and musical and book are just so beautiful, you'd have to be god-spewing-awful to ruin it.
Saying that, I wish I could see this production! It sounds SO GOOD! The reimagine sounds fanstatic and something I would love to see (for the most part I can live without the Henry Ford/Model T. I love "Girl On The Swing" but it isn't like it is the central story either). As long as the muscial didn't cut out any of Coalhouse or Sarah stuff I am pretty much happy to go along and enjoy the directors vision.
Oh and "What a Game". To cut that out would be a crime against humanity! LOL.
Did I mention I was jealous here folks? LOL.
lovergirl - what did you think the best part of the show was. What was the part where it just... leapt out at you? I have noticed with "Ragtime" (since I am so obessessed) that in any good production, there is just a point where everything and everyone... clicks. They just become one, the audience becomes one with them... and it is like this big orgasm of musical theatre.
God I am such a dork.
Updated On: 6/20/05 at 11:55 AM
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