Disguised as a two-for-one musical biography, Tin Pan Alley Rag deepens as it lengthens. The show revolves around a dreamed-up encounter between two of America’s very real great composers: Messrs. Irving Berlin and Scott Joplin. In some ways, the meeting transpires like you might expect. The two great men recount the details of unlikely rises, the backstory on revolutionary musical hits, and the pain of loss that nothing can reverse. This is a tale of the highs and the lows that make any brilliant career worth telling about.
What changes the situation is the fact that Joplin (Boatman) needs something from Berlin (Therriault). After taking the musical world by storm and accomplishing greatness, he wishes for more. Rather than continue to write ragtime, he wishes to evolve his own beast. Joplin writes an African-American opera. And he wants Mr. Berlin to back its staging. Nobody else will, but Joplin needs to see the project realized to honor his late wife, who he loved beyond all reason. [click to continue…]
Tagged as:
Roundabout Theater Company,
Teen Reviewers and Critics
The Tin Pan Alley Rag, written by Mark Saltzberg, is based on a true story about two well known “Kings of Rag”. Taking place in the early 1900s, this play spans a mere several days, its contents ranging from flashbacks to musical hits. Irving “Izzy” Berlin, played by Michael Themault, is a modern, cocky musician who writes songs solely for their profit. Earning himself the title “King of Rag” because of the hits he publishes, Izzy believes he knows everything about music, though he is only 28. Into his office, seeking the publication of his new opera walks Scott Joplin, played by Michael Boatman, weak, frail and reaking of rag. Famous for his catchy compositions and sheer muscal talent, Joplin himself wore the crown as “King of Rag” years ago, but is now too consumed with his new opera to write hit songs. [click to continue…]
Tagged as:
Laura Pels Theatre,
Roundabout Theater Company,
Teen Reviewers and Critics
Picture two renowned men ranting on all night, attempting to oust one another, while drowning out the neighboring dissonance of “tins banging”. Would it make a difference if these men were “Ragtime King” Scott Joplin and “The Dean of American Songwriters” Irving Berlin? There is something about having the great masters of American music together, on one stage, retelling the beginnings and consequences of their extraordinary statures. The Roundabout Theatre presents Tin Pan Alley Rag, a production of two parallels intertwining at a cross point only to have an “unlikely jam session” and a night of uplifting memories ensue. This show reimagines Joplin and Berlin stripped of their exterior layers, as only men, no “The” before them and no “genius” after. [click to continue…]
Tagged as:
Laura Pels Theatre,
Roundabout Theater Company,
Teen Reviewers and Critics
I recently saw a performance of The Tin Pan Alley Rag at the Laura Pels Theatre. I would definitely say that that was an amazing performance. Not only was the music incredible, but the acting was also very good. It seemed as if the actors really understood ragtime and how it brought together the two races that were torn apart for so long. What really stood out to me was how Michael Boatman, who played Scott Joplin, was able to convey the emotions so effortlessly. He was able to be calm and then switch to anger in a split second flawlessly. [click to continue…]
Tagged as:
Laura Pels Theatre,
Roundabout Theater Company,
Teen Reviewers and Critics
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