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We have our own newsletter! It's not regularly sent, but we use it to update people whenever something interesting happens. Here you'll find a backup of them to read through, and it will be updated when new ones are sent out! You can use the sign-up form below to subscribe, or follow this link to the MailChimp sign-up page.

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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