Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Q & A With Michael McFadden, Artistic Director for RAGTIME

Michael McFadden, Artistic Director for Rag

RAGTIME_0352-copy (1)

At the penetrate of a new hundred, everything is changing…and anything is possible. RAGTIME returns to the itinerant in an all-new touring production that Bloomberg Tidings hails as "explosive, thrilling and zipp short of a masterpiece."

Q & A with Michael McFadden

Life Family Fun: How long have you been connected with RAGTIME?  Rich person you been involved with any separate productions (particularly any of the Broadway productions or other national tours?)

Michael McFadden: Phoenix Entertainment has great respect for this title and the productive team up behind it. We have been on the job with our booker, The Road Troupe,  and the original Broadway Revival creative team up, led by Tony-nominated Director/Choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge, since the Tony-nominated production closed in 2010.

It took a fewer years for schedules to aline but in 2014, schedules lined dormie, contracts were signed, a 10 month U.S. touring route became finalized, rehearsals began in New York in September 2015 and the tour opened in Las Vegas to great reviews. Critics called our lead manly actor, Chris Sams (who plays Coalhouse Walker Jr.) a vocal and dramatic powerhouse.

Life sentence Family unit Playfulness: What are the specific challenges of mounting this prove as a touring company?  What is the most challenging aspect, in footing of set, costumes, etc.?

Michael McFadden:There are many challenges in climb a musical, especially a musical that is as epic as RAGTIME but the challenges are what make the process stimulating and creatively fulfilling.

Calculation out how a production moves in and out of the same theatre on a each day basis is normally the biggest challenge but with our touring work party and local anaesthetic labor engage expertise in each market it runs like clockwork allowing us to take this story to many markets massive and small that otherwise would not experience this important evening of theatre.

Life Family Fun: (BIG question) The new was written more than 40 years ago about events that happened more than 100 years agone What does this show have to enjoin to audiences in 2016?

Michael McFadden:What do you hope audiences shoot away from this show? Many of the complex social issues adorned in RAGTIME are stillness relevant today. Immigration, racism and economic inequality are as apposite now as they were at the turn of the previous century. Just look at the issues discussed day by day during this presidential primary.

Despite all of these real obstacles, RAGTIME offers us the message of hope. Whether you are from fortunate Oregon unfortunate destiny, in that location is hope on the horizon. Even as we love and persevere, we remain hopeful that we backside contribute to making tomorrow better for all.

Life Family Fun: Is thither any aspect of the production to which you want to prognosticate exceptional attention?

Michael McFadden:The cast of Rag is one of the strongest happening the touring road this temper. Each one is an tall vocalist and fabricator. The casting team auditioned for many months, seeing complete 1000 people at live auditions and finished 350 more on video. The superfine of the outdo have been assembled AD the result is nothing short of fantastic.

Fun fact: on that point are two jr. actor roles in the musical . These roles are beingness played by two brother and sister teams. Remember these names, Colin and Cara Myers and Jordan and Leilani Santiago de los Caballeros – you will see great things from these quaternity in the near future.

Reader Interactions

Join A Family Community

Post a Comment for "Q & A With Michael McFadden, Artistic Director for RAGTIME"