There was supposed to be a production directed by the original Houdini, Jim Corti, out here in the Chicago area. That was planned for 2021 and they have yet to reschedule it. The only production of ragtime I’ve ever seen was an incredibly done production at Northwestern. If I recall correctly it was the 2018 Dolphin Show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
pmensky said: "It was too soon for the last revival. I don’t understand why any producer would revive an expensive show fewer than 10 years after its previous production. Other than Les Mis, I can’t think of any major revival in the last 20 years that was produced within 10 years of its previous run and made it to a one year run. Fifteen years seems like a sensible amount of time to wait."
It was done at the Kennedy Center, where I saw it, got great reviews, so they moved it. I don’t think that move was originally planned.
It also opened right after the stock market debacle, which doomed it, as a lot of other shows were hurt badly (but never the safe long runs.
If anyone is in the DC area, Signature Theatre in Arlington is doing a truly amazing production. It is brilliantly directed by its artistic director Matthew Gardiner (but then almost everything he directs is brilliant, certainly better than most things I see in NYC). I saw it a couple weeks ago but am going again at the end of December. If you have a chance, see it!
Swing Joined: 7/24/23
I think this type of show would work well in the Beaumont, obviously the cast will have to be scaled down a bit, but they could maintain a decent sized orchestra. And if Lincoln Center decided to revive it, then I'd want Lileana Blain Cruz directing it. That's just what came to my mind when I saw this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/29/14
Maybe Jamie Lloyd can revive It with ladders.
yyys said: "Maybe Jamie Lloyd can revive It with ladders."
I can't wait for his use of cameras during BUFFALO NICKEL.
Wait, no, that would be thematically appropriate, scratch that. He should use them during HENRY FORD instead.
At the Stephen Flaherty concert at Carnegie Hall last night, they performed a lot from this show and hearing that music with a huge orchestra just makes you DESPERATE for a full revival here in NY.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/16
They should do a starry production at Encores to test the waters of a new production with the option to take it right to Broadway. A Ragtime revival would need buzz on it to have any hope. And even then, they need a star. And if Mother is the only star in the cast, that's a problem.
l absolutely love Ragtime (as evidenced by my profile pic) but it's a giant show with a very large cast, all of which adds up to high running costs.
Unless you got some very big names for the leads, I feel like mounting it in the current Broadway financial climate would be even more of a risky and costly endeavor than it normally is.
Stand-by Joined: 8/3/23
OhHiii said: "They should do a starry production at Encores to test the waters of a new production with the option to take it right to Broadway. A Ragtime revival would need buzz on it to have any hope. And even then, they need a star. And if Mother is the only star in the cast, that's a problem."
Would absolutely love to see this at Encores with a starry cast. Has anyone heard anything about the filmed version of the anniversary concert? Keep hoping that turns up on PBS or similar.
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