RAGTIME headed to Broadway!!!- Page 4

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 9:33pm

Mano/Raul = not interchangeable.

Even as one of his most ardent supporters, I have to give the idea of Raul as Tateh a categorical, ".........." I'm not sure what about the combination signals "perfect."

That being said, I'm really happy to hear the show is returning to New York, especially in this extremely deserving, beautiful production.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 9:34pm

You're welcome, Raulmark! Weirdly, my very first exposure to the show was only this past December when I heard the song "Henry Ford"... and I didn't see it live until last month!

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 9:41pm

I saw it at the Papermill Playhouse a few years back. It was enjoyable. Not sure I would go again. Honestly I can't remember much about it.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 9:41pm

I saw the Kennedy Center production several times. It was possibly one of the most moving pieces of theatre I have seen so I am very excited about this transfer so that others can experience it (and I can see it again). I really hope Christiane Noll and Bobby Steggert are kept on as Mother and Brother. With this particular production, it was about the story and the score- not the spectacle. I like that.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 10:07pm

Ragtime is one of my favorite shows. I was lucky enough to see it on Broadway with the original cast.

Bring Audra McDonald back!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 10:18pm

The Broadhurst post-MARY STUART could be a definite possibility.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 10:45pm

I'd LOVE it to go in the Broadhurst - it's such a great intimate space.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 1:55am

This is definitely one of the most exciting thread news today!
So glad I get a second chance to see it, since I missed it in DC

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 2:58am

I saw the touring company in Boston years ago. It was dreadful, very cheaply produced with hardly any scenery.

Yes - and as we ALL know it is the scenery that makes for a good show!!

This was the 2nd tour - non equity - at its second last stop in Kitchener, which is about an hour west of Toronto. Now,having been at the opening of the original production in Toronto and having seen the original cast in New York, I was a little concerned going in that this would be a huge letdown.

It wasn't. Not at all. Very well sung, and acted. Yes, some of the scenic effects were missing (like the stereo optic slides at the start or the bridge with Henry Ford slowly descending and crushing the assembly line workers) but the performances moire than compensated. The book and score are so strong that the rest was just window dressing. In fact without all the fireworks, once can focus more on the story and characters. From all reports, I suspect tat is why this DC production has connected with so many fans new and old.

But before we get too excited here, remember that Ben Brantley of the NY Times HATED the original show. (He admired many of the key elements but found the show on the whole completely "resistible.") Little Brantley has written since then indicates that his feelings about what a musical should and should not be have changed. This new production could face an uphill battle.

Updated On: 6/12/09 at 02:58 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 4:25am

As for the casting notice: don't they HAVE to hold open auditions? And if they haven't OFFICIALLY offered/signed anyone to a contract, don't they have to say the part is open...even if they know full well who they are casting?

Thanks for any info you can provide on this.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 4:33am

Okay am I completely crazy or were there dates mentioned? I know the thread starts out with them and I could have sworn that late last night when I read about this I found dates. Possibly late September? I know it hasn't even been officially announced and now I can't seem to find the article that says anything date-wise. Any help would be appreciated.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 7:54am

I wonder if they will lose the TONY again...but this time to Bye Bye Birdie.

Unless Roundabout gets its act together and fast, I don't think we'll have to worry about anything from them taking any revival trophies home any time soon.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 10:13am

It would all depend on if the producers would want to bring the entire cast. Most of them are local DC actors.

Only a few were DC actors- Donna, the children and a few ensemble members. The majority were based in New York.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 10:57am

"what is booked at the Nederlander?"

Nothing. Ragtime will be going into the Simon if it goes into a Nederlander house.

"I'd LOVE it to go in the Broadhurst - it's such a great intimate space."

Hamlet, with Jude Law, is going into the Broadhurst.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:01am

"I wonder if they will lose the TONY again...but this time to Bye Bye Birdie. "

RAGTIME'S biggest competition will be the NIGHT MUSIC revival, which very well may become "the revival" of the season. And if RAGTIME is not playing during Tony time, that will severely hurt its chances.

Updated On: 6/12/09 at 11:01 AM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:05am

Fosse, I really hope you're right about the Jude Law Hamlet production transferring.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:12am

>"what is booked at the Nederlander?" Nothing.<

Not true.

>Ragtime will be going into the Simon if it goes into a Nederlander house.<

Except they would have to vacate if Love Never Dies materializes at any point, and the producers are reluctant to build in a transfer to another theatre into their budget.

>RAGTIME'S biggest competition will be the NIGHT MUSIC revival, which very well may become "the revival" of the season.<

What of Finian's Rainbow and La Cage aux Folles?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:40am

"Except they would have to vacate if Love Never Dies materializes at any point, and the producers are reluctant to build in a transfer to another theatre into their budget."

Wrong. The Nederlander's will stick Love Never Dies in another house. What people seem to not realize is theater owners tend to have an idea of how long a show will run...and often book two shows into the same theater in the thought the one won't run very long. A perfect example is The Addmas Family. A producer of Hair wanted it to go into The Shubert, and the Shuberts were all ready to take it. But they were also planning to book the Addmas Family into the Shubert as well...so they didn't expect Hair to run that long. If Hair had booked and opened the Shubert, then the Addams Family would be moved to another theater. Until a show actually starts selling tickets, they aren't guranteed any specific theater by the owners.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 12:10pm

>The Nederlander's will stick Love Never Dies in another house.<

Oh yes? Which one of their houses do you predict?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 12:21pm

"Oh yes? Which one of their houses do you predict?"

At this point it doesn't matter. But I would venture that, ASSUMING Ragtime is playing at the Simon when Love Never Dies is ready to transfer, I would venture a guess that Rock of Ages will be on its way out by then and that it would go into the Brooks-Atkinson. Or if West Side Story's box office decreases it can go to the Palace. Or Webber can stick it in a Shubert house.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 12:47pm

Let's build another Broadway theater!!!!

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 1:18pm

Agreed with Broadwaybound!

I predict that this revival of "Ragtime" will go into the Broadhurst.

What a season for musical revivals! "Finian's Rainbow", "A Little Night Music", "La Cage Aux Folles", maybe "The Wiz", and now "Ragtime"?!?!?! Pinch me!
Updated On: 6/12/09 at 01:18 PM

[sparkleplenty]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 1:38pm

"Ragtime" is one of the all time great shows. It was underappreciated in the year of "The Lion King" but certainly deserved another run. The profit question is certainly a viable one. Can a big show like "Ragtime" make money unless it's a big hit?

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 2:10pm

will it be opened in time for labor day weekend? I would die to see it live finally. such a beautiful show, im so happy it will be reviving.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 2:34pm

Ragtime is currently slated to begin previews in October and open in November, so not early enough for Labor Day Weekend.