| Newsletter |

COULD ONE POOR RAG DOLLY, PLAIN AS CAN BE
REALLY MAKE SOMEONE'S WISHES COME TRUE?

That’s right! The endeavors of the Raggedy Ann Revival Effort are no longer just dreams and make believe. Join us February 2025 at Ohio University’s Putnam Playspace for our first real-for-sure staged reading of the newly revised Rag Dolly script.

Come give us your feedback, hear the songs we’ve all come to love (performed alongside a live piano accompanist), and join us to celebrate four years of not taking “impossible” for an answer!

Book by
WILLIAM GIBSON

Music & Lyrics by
JOE RAPOSO

Additional music by Hazel Hawlik & Gwyneth Gaunt

Additional book & lyrics by Gwyneth Gaunt, Presley Ellison, Notion, Mckenah Rose, & Silas Green

Directed, Music Directed, and Produced by
Gwyneth Gaunt

Program art by November Gorrell

Feb 6th, 7th, & 8th @ 7:30, Feb 8th @ 2:00
Putnam Playspace, Ohio University - Athens, OH 45701
an Ohio University School of Theater Laboratory Production

F.A.Q.

What is a staged reading? How is that different from a workshop or full production?

A staged reading is a production without sets, costumes, or props, and features the actors reading and singing their parts with minimal staged movement. The goal is to focus on the delivery of the lines, pacing, and music in a small-scale setting, so that we can learn and make changes before going all-in.

Will it be livestreamed or recorded for those who can’t make it?

Due to technology limits, we are unable to livestream. BUT we are having it professionally filmed and edited to be released shortly after.

How do I audition?

Since this reading is a part of the OU Labratory Productions, only students and faculty at Ohio University will be able to participate in the show itself. But everyone is welcome to attend, and stay tuned for volunteer opportunities!

Where do I get tickets?

Tickets aren't yet avaliable, check back in later or subscribe to our email to be notified when they are!

Thank you.

Truly, thank you, from the bottom of our candy hearts. Your support and enthusiasm is what makes this project possible. We hope to see some of you in person next February, we have more events in the works to show our gratitude and love for our RARE members and supporters!

- Notion,
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

Thank you for another wonderful Raggedy Ann Rally!

This year was bigger and better than ever! We had at least 20 RARE-associated friends show up to the various events, and it was lovely to see us new kids taken in so warmly by the long-time rallygoers. We performed two concerts, talked about the show from our market booth, arranged two meetups, and went home will full suitcases of Raggedy merch!

We had 60 people attend the concert on Friday.

We got over 25 new sign-ups for our email newsletter.

We made $500 before the event to cover the ventue and accompanist fees, and another $400 during the rally for our future projects. All from donations! Thank you!

Not only that, but we got the attention of editor Ben Crane from local paper The County Chronicle, who wrote an article about our appearance at the Rally: Raggedy Ann Rally experiences a renaissance among young adults.

What's next?

First of all, getting the rest of our footage from the Rag Dolly banquet performance up to our YouTube channel. Secondly, we have moved the 2024 schedule information off of the rally page on our website and over to an archive page. This new page also has a gallery of photos collected by us to showcase the festivities and preserve the spirit of the event.

We've also begun thinking about what the rally will look like next year. Will we do another concert like this? Possibly! Will we be doing our meetups and getting people involved? Definitely. Who knows... we may be very busy next spring. If you'd like to start making your plans for the Raggedy Ann Rally 2025, we have a guide to what you need to know.

We hope that in the future, our presence will expand the Raggedy Ann Rally and we can continue adding events through your support— for musical, book, and movie fans alike.

- Brooklyn Williams,
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

Live for the first time since 1986, come experience a selection of songs from this previously lost musical!

The Raggedy Ann Revival Effort will be performing a showcase of songs from the Rag Dolly musical on June 7th, during the Arcola Raggedy Ann Rally. Our cast will be singing concert-style alongside piano accompaniment by Hazel Hawlik. The Rag Dolly Revue will also be the public debut of new music arrangements and lyric revisions, with permission from the Raposo estate to use this performance as a test before discussing proper workshops. This is the first step towards our goal of a full revival.

Performers:

Presley Ellison, Gwyneth Gaunt, November Gorrell, Hazel Hawlik, Grey Lee, McKenah Rose, & Brooklyn Williams

Information:

Arcola Masonic Lodge, 111 S Locust St, Arcola, IL

June 7th, doors open at 11am, show begins at 11:30

Admission is free!

Songs will include Gingham and Yarn, Carry On, The Light, Rag Dolly, What Did I Lose/Somewhere, and more!

Interested in helping out? We're looking for volunteers for ushers and greeters! Contact us through our social media or on the Raggedy Ann Rally Discord Server.

Not attending the rally but would still like to help? Please consider donating to our Ko-Fi to help us cover the venue cost.

The show will be part of the festivities taking place during the Raggedy Ann Rally in Arcola, Illinois, a yearly get-together of Raggedy Ann fans that has been gathering since 1989. The organizers are very supportive of our Revival Effort, and the support of the community has been an incredibly encouraging environment as we work to get this show off the ground.

That's right, a real-for-sure concert! After three years of diligent work researching, archiving, revising, and discussions with the estates, we are so excited to announce our first public performance of the musical! Well, part of it at least! The performance will be filmed and available for later viewing.

Thanks to Gwyn Gaunt for the logo, and November Gorrell & Grey Lee for the program artwork.

- Brooklyn Williams,
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

With our special guests:

Scott Schafer (Andy) & Ivy Austin (Raggedy Ann)

Pamela Sousa (Bat, 1984-1986)

Michelan Sisti (Panda, 1986)

Hosted by:

Happy new year!

This year we are finally putting together plans we've had in mind for a long time, to do an official R.A.R.E. livestream and answer some of YOUR questions. We'll be hosting a live stream via our YouTube channel on Sunday, January 14th, starting at 12 noon EST. The organizers will be going over the current status of our revival plans and our goals for the future. In addition, we're welcoming four guests from the original productions of Raggedy Ann to the live, who will be chatting about their experience in the show and taking questions from the audience!

Schedule (Eastern Standard Time)

12pm : Live begins
12:30 - 1:00 : Scott Schafer
1:15 - 1:45 : Pamela Sousa
2:00 - 2:30 : Michelan Sisti
2:45 - 3:15 : Ivy Austin

We hope to see you there! The livestream will stay available on our channel afterward too, so don't worry if you miss it.

Thank you so much for signing up!
As a small volunteer effort, every eye on the project means the world to us.

We have some new people subscribed to the newsletter since last time, so for those new to the effort and interested in learning more about the Raggedy Ann musical, here are some links to get you started:

The full history of the musical can be found on Wikipedia, with a more in-depth chronicle on the Raggedy Ann wiki, we'd also recommend Michaela Bennison's video deep dives into the show (Part 1 and Part 2). You can also experience it for yourself! Through an unearthed recording of the entire production, taken early in its development in 1984. Two later versions of the show are available as audio only: a workshop album taken around 1985, and a full recording from the Broadway run.

The Raggedy Ann Revival Effort was founded in February, 2021. Raggedy Ann continued to attract curious fans, and since then, R.A.R.E. has brought a wide array of skills and experience from dozens of volunteers across the world. Through this dedication we've already accomplished what many considered impossible - at this point having made direct and promising contact with the holders of the show's rights - and we're not giving up anytime soon!

- Brooklyn Williams,
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

Hello everyone! The 2023 Raggedy Ann Rally has come to a close, and what an eventful weekend! There's a lot to cover, so let's get started:

First off, thank you once again to Kathy and John Ellis and their team for pulling this all together year after year.

In 2022, four of our members made it to the rally. This year, we had eleven people show up on behalf of the revival effort! It was wonderful to see so many familiar and fresh faces in person for the first time, and even more so to watch the the community’s reaction as we bring more and more new fans into the scene. We were welcomed with open arms and embraced for bringing new energy to the event, and I hope we can continue to do so. Now that all of the R.A.R.E. organizers have been able to experience the rally firsthand, we’re hoping to go even bigger next year and organize more events of our own to introduce the musical to the uninitiated, as well as - of course - to record for everyone to enjoy!

The rally organizers are interested in coordinating with us further after the success of our little speech we were invited to give at the annual banquet. Written by our team and presented by our founder Gwyn and myself, you can watch said speech below!

As a proper sendoff, I asked the R.A.R.E. members who attended if they had any parting words for those they met this year, and for anyone who's considering joining us in the future. It's safe to say we all had a wonderful time, but you don't need to just take my word for it!

"I had such a wonderful time during my first Raggedy Ann Rally! To all who attended and organized the event, thank you for all of the generosity, enthusiasm, kindness, and hospitality you showed me during my time in Arcola. It was a real-for-sure joy to meet all of you, and I am beyond thrilled to already be making plans for the next rally. Thank you again for such a lovely experience! See you next year!" - Gwyn

"I had so much fun at Arcola, every time I go to Arcola for the rally I feel like myself there, and I enjoyed hanging out with my amazing friends! I’m definitely going to come back next year." - Gabby

"My second rally was even better than my first! Everyone is so kind and welcoming. It is truly magical to share the love and appreciation for these characters with people who are incredibly passionate. I am definitely looking forward to what next year's rally brings-- and I hope to continue to make the annual trip!" - Presley

"What a joy it has been to see you all again! I had such a great time last year that I just had to come back, and I'm so pleased with the turnout of this year's Rally. It's all so amazing and surreal at the same time for everyone to come together in one place, joined by our love for everything Raggedy Ann. I can't wait for all the Rallies to come, and I hope to be seeing you all again soon!" - Grey

"Coming to this year's rally was truly a great experience! I got to meet my friends in person, and everyone was very nice and helpful. I'm looking forward to attending the rally next year, and hopefully even after that!" - Lars

If you're looking for more photos from the event, keep an eye out on our social media. Thanks for tuning in, and have a good week!

- Brooklyn Williams
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

We’d like to thank the Raggedy Ann Rally for inviting RARE to give a short speech at their opening banquet!

This year, Rally organizers John and Kathy Ellis asked us if we’d like to introduce ourselves and the musical to rallygoers by being a part of the Rally’s opening words. We’re excited to have gained the attention of the Raggedy Ann collector’s community, and for the chance to introduce more people to this lost piece of media from a character they already love so much.

If you are able to make it this year, we would love to see you there. Like last year, we will have a booth in the vendor hall where you can find homemade Raggedy Ann goods and official merch. Feel free to stop by and talk to us about the show!

In addition to official rally events, RARE will be organizing a couple get-togethers of our own. We decided we wanted a more comfortable space for the online Raggedy Ann fandom to meet, so on Friday, June 9th in the morning before the banquet, there will be a meetup and cosplay photo opportunity. Cosplays aren’t required, of course! On Saturday, after the market has closed, we'll be getting together for our second annual Cracker Barrel dinner in nearby Mattoon, Illinois. Both of these are casual events-- we’d just like the chance to say hi to other musical fans!

Below is a schedule of events for the Rally, along with the events we will be hosting.

If you’re a big fan of the musical and want an opportunity to talk about how much you love it, or you are just interested in supporting us, contact us to get a RARE name tag for the Rally!

We would love to have more people there representing the revival effort and answering questions about the show. You will get a custom name tag (pronoun stickers will be available) and a free RARE pin button. If you’re interested, email us or DM us on any of our social medias or discord.

More information about the event can be found on the official Facebook page. Hope to see you in June!

- Brooklyn Williams Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

Don't worry, we haven't gone anywhere! We're only recovering from a busy holiday season. Thank you for tuning in and sticking with us!

So, what do we have planned for you in 2023?

- More cast videos!
This year we hope to introduce you to more of the wonderful cast we've had the privilege of talking to, starting right now with our lovely chat with Tricia Brooks, who played Marcella throughout 1984, 1985, and the 1986 cultural exchange to Moscow. Her fond memories of the show and its music prove what a lasting positive impact Rag Dolly could have had, had it been a success. We always have a handful of videos in the midst of being edited and approved, with more coming the future as we prepare to reach out to the show's ensemble. We've found so much joy in reaching out and making these connections, and the fondness the cast has for the show is incredible encouragement for keeping it alive.

- Come say hi!
RARE will be returning to the Raggedy Ann Rally in Arcola, Illinois this summer from June 8th to 10th. Just like last year, we'll have a table with homemade goods, revival effort merch, and a chance to learn more about the project. Even more members are hoping to make the trip this time. If you signed up at our booth last year, we're looking forward to seeing you again! More information about the event can be found on the official Facebook page.

- Q&A Livestream?
With our two-year anniversary approchaing (February 11th!) we're hoping to set up another livestream to answer YOUR questions about the group, the show's history, and our plans moving forward. A date is yet to be picked and there are plenty of details to iron out, but we'll keep you updated as things come together. Let us know if there's any topics you'd like us to add to our growing outline.

Bye for now, and hopefully see you soon!

- Brooklyn Williams
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

New footage has been discovered!

A short segment on Entertainent Tonight about the Moscow cultural exchange was discovered yesterday on Archive.org and re-uploaded to YouTube. This segment contains footage of Ivy Austin singing Rag Dolly in Russian at a conference, a clip of The Light from the 1985 ESIPA production, and appearances by Patricia Snyder and Pat Birch:

But that's not all we've got new up on the YouTube channel. In March, three of the RARE organizers spoke with lost media archivist Garrett Gilchrist in a livestreamed Q&A about what the effort has uncovered so far and what our plans are for the revival. Watch the new edited version up now:

Aside from the Q&A, Garrett & RARE also collaborated on this ROMhack of Nintendo's Donaldland (1988), replacing nearly every sprite with characters from the books, movies, and musical. If you'd like to play it for yourself, the free download link can be found here (if you're up for a challenge that is, I hear Donaldland's controls are notorious).

Thanks for tuning in, and have a good week!

- Brooklyn Williams
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

As part of our research on the show, the organizers of the Raggedy Ann Revival Effort have reached out to many members of the original cast, who were lovely enough to talk to us on record.

From funny stories about the production to valuable insights on the script's themes and issues, the conversations we've had have been absolutely wonderful and we're glad they've given us permission to share them with you!

Interview with Gail Benedict by the Raggedy Ann Revival Effort (3-19-2022)

Highlights from Michelan Sisti’s talk with the Raggedy Ann Revival Effort (3-11-2022)

After taking a look at those, be sure to explore the official R.A.R.E. YouTube channel to find several curated playlists with everything - well, everything publicly avaliable - you can watch and learn about the show!

There'll be more interviews and videos to come, so please consider subscribing as well.

Thank you!

- Brooklyn Williams
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

Thank you so much for signing up!
As a small volunteer effort, every eye on the project means the world to us.

For those new to the effort and interested in learning more about the Raggedy Ann musical, here are some links to get you started:

The full history of the musical can be found on Wikipedia, with a more in-depth chronicle on the Raggedy Ann wiki. The smaller wiki is the place to go if you're interested in links, production photos, or lyrics to the songs.

Two versions of the show are available as audio only: a workshop album taken around 1985, and a full recording from the Broadway run.

But the best way to learn about the show is to watch it for yourself! Below is archive footage taken Dec. 16th, 1984, stored in the New York State Archives and recovered by R.A.R.E.’s efforts. Here the show is very much in its beginning stages, and it would see many changes before its time on Broadway

The Raggedy Ann Revival Effort was founded by Gwyneth Gaunt in February, 2021 after watching a video about the history of the 1977 film and the musical.

Previous research was done by Vinnie Rattolle & Garrett Gilchrist, who are experienced in preserving lost media, and McKenah Rose, who sought out contact with original cast and crew members to learn more about the mysterious production. At the time, very little was known about Raggedy Ann. With the only known script under heavy restrictions, the two audio-only recordings were the only accessible way to experience to the show— and yet Raggedy Ann continued to attract curious fans.

Following in the footsteps of a recent online interest in lost media, R.A.R.E. has brought a wide array of skills and experience from dozens of volunteers across the world. Through this dedication we've already accomplished what many considered impossible, and we're not giving up anytime soon!

Thank you again!

- Brooklyn Williams
Organizer, Raggedy Ann Revival Effort