RAGTIME Reviews Are Out!
RAGTIME Reviews Are Out!
"Powerful and emotional themes aside, this current and creator-blessed production is breathtaking in all the ways that theater aspires to be." - Thomas Ryan Ward
"It's hard to imagine a better location for a production of RAGTIME than Deal, New Jersey. The predominantly Jewish community is adjacent to the largely African American population of Asbury Park (a city known for "New Music") and connected by the millionaire mansions of Ocean Avenue: RAGTIME in microcosm. The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is not just presenting RAGTIME, but living it. The 1998 Tony-winning musical has also never seemed more timely, considering the nation's recent headlines about immigrants and dreamers.
Axelrod has lately billed itself as New Jersey's newest professional theatre. Toward that end, they have enlisted Broadway actor / director / choreographer, Luis Salgado. Salgado's Broadway credits include IN THE HEIGHTS, which he also staged for Axelrod last season. Salgado learned at the heels of HAMILTONians Tommy Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, and, of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda. This season's production of RAGTIME exudes a HAMILTON-like energy. Salgado knows the secret to RAGTIME's success is its connectivity - and his brilliant mix of dance, drama, and visual composition is apparent in every scene. Salgado's staging features a few surprises that won't be divulged here, but that are creatively valid and won't perturb purists. Is this a revisionist RAGTIME? Not really. That mantle probably belongs to Stafford Arima's 2005 set-less staging at Paper Mill Playhouse. But this production resonates and is memorable in its own right.
Salgado's cast does not disappoint. They are a focused and tight group that is obviously wholly on-board with Salgado's staging and Terrence McNally's challenging libretto based on E.L. Doctorow's 1975 historical novel. Iterating them singly would do a disservice to the ensemble nature of the piece. Musically, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's sprawling score has rarely sounded better. What's more, the large non-Equity cast seems to understand the show and their place in its storytelling. They act as a seamless whole and consistently deliver on Salgado's vision." - by Michael T. Mooney
"It is very difficult for anyone intimately familiar with either the 1975 novel RAGTIME, or its brilliant 1996 musical adaptation of the same name, to believe that the story is 43 and 22 years old, respectively, when watching Axelrod Performing Arts Center's most recent, impactful production. The reason for this sense of disbelief isn't due to the story's familiar themes of uneasy attitudes toward immigration and immigrants, social and economic inequality, or racial tensions but, sadly, that these themes are so painfully timely for today's audiences. The proverbial 'theatrical mirror' is in no way hidden from view as RAGTIME's award-winning and socially aware director/choreographer, Luis Salgado (whom BroadwayWorld.com has called "one of the young Latinos on Broadway who has dedicated his entire life to both dance and social work"), has brilliantly meshed our chaotic current climate with the palpable past...and effortlessly.
Powerful and emotional themes aside, this current and creator-blessed production (multiple-award winning and prolific Neptune resident and lyricist, Lynn Ahrens, has shared her enthusiasm for Salgado's visionary interpretation) is breathtaking in all the ways that theater aspires to be: fluid in its storytelling, heartbreaking and comedic in equal proportions, awe-inspiring in the professionalism of the cast's acting, vocal, and dance talents, and visually dazzling; thanks to the 'stage pictures' which Salgado creates on an inspired yet minimalistic set construction.
Salgado has masterfully weaved the skills he has acquired through association with highly successful and more contemporary work such as In the Heights (which he directed/choreographed for APAC in 2017), On Your Feet: The Gloria and Emilio EstefanMusical, and the film Step Up 2 - The Streets and brought that intensity to this dawn of the 20th century tale; making it fresh for both veteran theater-goers and less-than-avid musical theater audiences.
This first production of 2018 for the newly 'upgraded' to regional status Axelrod (lead by CEO, Jess Levy, and Artistic Director, Andrew DePrisco) has set the bar exceedingly and excitingly high...not only for this nationally emerging shore-side facility but for Monmouth County arts in general." - by Thomas Ryan Ward
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| "It's hard to imagine a better location for a production of RAGTIME than Deal, New Jersey. " "The proverbial 'theatrical mirror' is in no way hidden from view as RAGTIME's award-winning and socially aware director/choreographer has brilliantly meshed current climate with the palpable past..." Read Full Review HERE "the large non-Equity cast seems to understand the show and their place in its storytelling. They act as a seamless whole and consistently deliver on Salgado's vision." "Salgado knows the secret to RAGTIME's success is its connectivity - and his brilliant mix of dance, drama, and visual composition is apparent in every scene. Salgado's staging features a few surprises that won't be divulged here, but that are creatively valid and won't perturb purists. Is this a revisionist RAGTIME?" Broadway World Review Buy your tickets HERE... every weekend during March. Closes Sunday, March 25th. Watch the trailer!  |
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