Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

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Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/18/09 at 11:56pm

Hi folks. I just returned from the opening night of a brand new production of Ragtime at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It was just wonderful. The production is somewhat paired down (at least when compared with the Broadway original) but it has a full orchestra and a cast of more than three dozen. Christiane Noll is Mother, Ron Bohmer is Father, Manoel Felciano is Tateh, Leigh Ann Larkin is Evelyn Nesbit, and Quentin Earl Darrington is Coalhouse Walker, Jr. Washingtonians will recognize local favorites Donna Migliaccio as Emma Goldman and Tracy Lynn Olivera in a variety of ensemble roles. The whole production was directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, and I thought she did a terrific job. It runs until May 17, and I highly recommend it.

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:03am

In your opinion is it a bare-bones production or a big one? I am very curious about it.Thanks.

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:09am

I am very excited to see this show. I have seen it on Broadway and on Tour and cannot wait to see what the Kennedy Center does with it. I have tickets for Mother's Day.

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:12am

No, it's certainly not a bare-bones production. It's just smaller than the original, which was, of course, colossal. The set, which was designed by Derek McLane, was very impressive. The production is in the Eisenhower Theater, as opposed to the Opera House, which is far better for this kind of show.

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:15am

I dont really want to know cause I dont want to spoil it but do they bring the car out onstage?

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:21am

They do, but it's different from the original production. Both the car and the piano are rendered somewhat more figuratively, but I won't give away any more.

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 9:07am

I really cannot wait to see it-- but I won't for nearly another month.

How was the sound? When I saw the last two shows there, it was very difficult to hear the actors, like a few of them weren't wearing mics. (And when you can't hear singers belting out "The Lion King," you know something's wrong.)

Ooh, also, how was Quentin Earl Darrington? People say he was somewhat undistinguished when he did the role before... do you think he did a good job?

In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 11:20am

Schmerg: Yes, the sound was often poor. Lots of missed cues and the orchestra tended to overpower the performers. And while I thought Darrington had a very fine voice, he lacked charisma as Coalhouse.

Other comments:
I thought the direction was rather lifeless, and the company needs to fine tune pacing, choreography, etc. It was the first performance.

The three brightest principals, for me, were: Manoel Felciano as Tateh, Christiane Noll as Mother (always found her work to be a bit bland in the past, but she was exceptional here), and Jennlee Shallow as Sarah (singing the score much more in LaChanze's style than Audra's.)

It's still a grand piece of theatre, regardless of production shortcomings.

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 11:59am

I can't wait to see this next week. I love the score and it makes me very happy that Christiane Noll was cast.

"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)

#10

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:02pm

I'm going down to see this in a couple of weeks. I can't wait.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#11

re: Ragtime at the Kennedy Center

Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:04pm

"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 4/19/09 at 12:04 PM

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