RAGTIME headed to Broadway!!!- Page 2

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:51pm

The Broadway would be an ideal house for this production.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:52pm

Dear Marin Mazzie,

Please reprise your role.

I love you.

Sincerely,
Jordan Catalano

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:53pm

Love Ragtime! Good news!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:55pm

Jordan Catalano, I think you'll be very happy with Christiane Noll.

She is an absolute revelation as Mother. Personally, I found her superior to Mazzie.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:56pm

Contrary to popular opinion, the neil Simon is not booked...and theater owners have extraordinary discretion on which of their houses a show will go into.

[little_sally]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:56pm

I love Marin Mazzie but I hope Christiane Noll reprises her role. Her voice is one of my favorites.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:58pm

Don't get me wrong, I adore Noll. But I've seen countless productions of this show and (to me) nobody has ever come close to being as glorious as Marin was. But if Noll took the role, I would be very very happy.

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 2:04pm

Here's another new link:


Another Ragtime B-way link

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 2:06pm

Look at the figures:

1998 - 96 % (https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=RAGTIME&year=1998)

and 1999 - 87 % (https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=RAGTIME&year=1999)

For any reasonably budgeted show that would have ensured payoff and healthy profit. But with Garth Drabinsky skimming $200 K a week it pushed the break-even too high. THAT is why Eisner closed the show soon after taking control of Livent. But the attendance figures show that it was popular production. Less so after some rather unsastifactorty (cheaper?) cast replacements, but still a draw.

So to say "it didn't find an audience the first time around" is not true at all.

RAGTIME had a weekly nut of $600 K ($550 K with royalty waivers) - So to meet that the show needed $64.2 million. The show grossed $79.7 million for its 107 week Broadway stay. That is a net operating profit of $15.5 million, which should have been more than enough to pay off. The fact that it didn't is still under investigation in the U.S. In Toronto earlier this year Drabinsky was found guilty of accounting fraud, moving profits from one show to cover losses of others - so where that $15 million went is anyone's guess.

SO even if Variety reports RAGTIME as a flop, it wasn't a flop due to its Broadway earning power.

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 02:06 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 2:44pm

My fave show EVER !!! But why limited ?? (

[NDR]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:06pm

Beyond excited for this show to come back!
I loved the original.

Possible casting:
Gavin Creel for Brother?
Stephanie J. Block for Mother?
Just my two cents.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:17pm

YES! Oh, I loved this production!

I hope they keep as much of the Kennedy Center cast as possible. I particularly want Quentin Earl Darrington, and Bobby Steggert back.

I think a small theatre would not work for this show, though. Oh, and although I think Marin Mazzie's voice is perfect for mother... Christiane Noll's acting was leaps and bounds above what had been done with the role before. I wasn't crazy about her voice, but her characterization was brilliant.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:17pm

NDR, there's no need to start hypothetical casting.

I'm sure a large majority of the cast from the Kennedy Center staging will transfer with the show, especially the principals (minus Manoel Felciano, who definitely won't be moving with it as he's taking up residency with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater.)

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 03:17 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:21pm

Part of the strength of the DC production was its cast. I hope that they remain intact for the transfer.

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:23pm

This totally makes my day...I'm beyond excited to see this production that I've heard such great things about.

Now all I need is a revival of City of Angels and I'll be a really happy camper.

[NDR]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:38pm

somethingwicked: sorry to have offended you but last I checked it was still a free country and people could say what they wanted to. I hope the Kennedy Center cast does transfer, but who are you to tell me not to postulate about possible casting.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:42pm

Leigh Ann Larkin please.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:53pm

I was telling someone earlier that I hope most of the cast stays intact. The cast of the Kennedy Center production was a true ensemble. I don't think the OBC can be topped, but the DYNAMICS of the Kennedy Center production probably better suited the show. There weren't as many competing powerhouses, and everyone had a measure of restraint and subtlety. There were standout performers, but none of the three storylines completely dominated the show. I wish Mano could stay with the show as I loved his Tateh, but it sounds like he's doing exciting work out in San Francisco.

[noahrp3]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:56pm

The casting notice states that all roles are currently available...although that may not mean anything...

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:59pm

The best news I've heard in a long time. I have so much love for Ragtime.

[lynnetoomey]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 3:59pm

This is OUTSTANDING news! I saw the production in DC, and was blown away from the moment the curtain rose. Broadway needs more INTELLIGENT yet still entertaining musicals! This is going to be a huge hit.

[Kev]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 4:14pm

(minus Manoel Felciano, who definitely won't be moving with it as he's taking up residency with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater.)

A darn shame. For me, Felciano (and the sublime Noll) were the highlights of this production. Their presence, and take on Tateh and Mother, pulled all my focus from Coalhouse's story.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 4:27pm

Why would Stephanie Block and Gavin Creel leave high-grossing shows within months of opening for this?


If anyone from Kennedy Center stayed with the show, I would hope it would be Bobby Steggert. He was absolutely perfect in the role.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 5:09pm

The only principal roles they are looking to recast at the moment (per ATC) are Tateh, Sarah, Emma Goldman, and the children.

Jennlee Shallow is committed to a Las Vegas company of a Cirque de Soleil show, Manoel Felciano is a contracted resident of ACT in San Francisco, and I believe Donna Migliacio (who was truly remarkable) isn't interested in leaving D.C.

Here's hoping they line up Mary Testa for Emma.

As far as Tateh and Sarah, Raul Esparza and Anika Noni Rose would be interesting choices.

Updated On: 6/11/09 at 05:09 PM

[alliez92092]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 5:14pm

Raul as Tateh would be perfect. I would love for that to happen.