Raggedy Ann Revival Effort

2025 Rag Dolly: The Raggedy Ann Musical Staged Reading at Ohio University

Directed by Gwyneth Gaunt
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo
Book by William Gibson
Additional Music by Hazel Hawlik, Gwyneth Gaunt, & Michael Mylen
Additional Book & Lyrics by Gwyneth Gaunt, Mckenah Rose, Notion, Presley Ellison, Silas Green, and Michael Mylen
Produced by Gwyneth Gaunt & RARE Theatricals

RARE Theatricals proudly presented a staged reading of Rag Dolly: The Raggedy Ann Musical from February 6–8, 2025, in four sold-out performances at Ohio University’s School of Theater Lab Show Program. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to see the show and support our cast and crew. I can't find enough words to express how enthusiastic the response was and how honored we are to see people connecting to this show just as much as we do. This was a beautiful, inspirational step in our process, and we are more excited than ever to bring Rag Dolly to more audiences.

The OU reading of Rag Dolly: The Raggedy Ann Musical is now avaliable to watch in full on our YouTube channel!

Through her attendance at the Ohio University School of Music, RARE founder Gwyneth Gaunt applied to produce this Rag Dolly workshop as part of the Student Lab spring season. The entire cast and crew consisted of OU students, with support from RARE Theatricals in the form of financing, programs, social media presence, and company management. Our initial funding estimate was $2,500, composed of travel fees and crew stipends, since many resources would be available through the OU School of Theater. We created a GoFundMe for the project, and within five days, we had met and surpassed our goal, ultimately raising $2,685.

A lot of work had to be done to prepare our lead sheets for performance. In total, the full workshop score included 22 songs and 18 pieces of incidental music and instrumentals.

Planning began in November 2024, with casting over the winter break. Rehearsals ran from January 23rd to February 5th. RARE Artistic Co-Directors Presley, Notion, and Mckenah flew to Athens, Ohio, to join Gwyn and assist with last-minute production details. Once there, they managed the box office and merchandise table. We also met up with more Rag Dolly fans and supporters, some of whom had traveled many hours and miles to see the show. Aside from a few of our friends, the majority of the cast and audience were completely new to the production. Each performance elicited laughs and tears from cast and audience alike; it was a moving experience for all involved.

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Cast

(In order of appearance)

Ragettes
Violet Weida, Elena Schwartz, Bridget Faulhaber, Noella Senra, Lucian Loyvé, Atlas Nilsen, Dora Gehrum, & Cos Lingnofski
Ragettes Violet Weida, Elena Schwartz, Bridget Faulhaber, Noella Senra, Lucian Loyvé, Atlas Nilsen, Dora Gehrum, & Cos Lingnofski
PoppaAlexzander Hanks MommyEmma Mayes
MarcellaMolly McHugh Doctors Spine, Lungs, & TonsilsLucian Loyvé, Dora Gehrum, Atlas Nilsen
Raggedy AnnSarah Biernacki AndyMichael Mylen
BabyKatie Price TeddyLaila Christian
General D.Cameron Hess BatElla Langiotti
WolfAndrew Falkosky The Camel with the Wrinkled KneesJaimon Lovins
Fire FinsCos Lingnofski NurseViolet Weida
BatettesNoella Senra, Elena Schwartz, Bridget Faulhaber SwingsLucian Loyvé & Bridget Faulhaber
PoppaAlexzander Hanks
MommyEmma Mayes
MarcellaMolly McHugh
Doctors Spine, Lungs, & TonsilsLucian Loyvé, Dora Gehrum, Atlas Nilsen
Raggedy AnnSarah Biernacki
AndyMichael Mylen
BabyKatie Price
TeddyLaila Christian
General D.Cameron Hess
BatElla Langiotti
WolfAndrew Falkosky
The Camel with the Wrinkled KneesJaimon Lovins
Fire FinsCos Lingnofski
NurseViolet Weida
BatettesNoella Senra, Elena Schwartz & Bridget Faulhaber
SwingsLucian Loyvé & Bridget Faulhaber

Crew

DirectorGwyneth Gaunt ProducerGwyneth Gaunt & RARE Theatricals
ChoreographerNoella Senra Assistant ChoreographerMeg Mccleary
Stage ManagerAlex Smith Assistant Stage ManagerFinn McDonald
Music DirectorGwyneth Gaunt Assistant Music DirectorMichael Mylen
ConductorHazel Hawlik Sound BoardFinn McDonald
Light BoardDylan Dahlberg Sound DesignBob Walters
Lighting DesignDylan Dahlberg PropsGwyneth Gaunt, Mckenah Rose, & Notion
DollsMckenah Rose Program ArtNovember Gorrell
DirectorGwyneth Gaunt
ProducerGwyneth Gaunt & RARE Theatricals
ChoreographerNoella Senra
Assistant ChoreographerMeg Mccleary
Stage ManagerAlex Smith
Assistant Stage ManagerFinn McDonald
Music DirectorGwyneth Gaunt
Assistant Music DirectorMichael Mylen
ConductorHazel Hawlik
Sound BoardFinn McDonald
Light BoardDylan Dahlberg
Sound DesignBob Walters
Lighting DesignDylan Dahlberg
PropsGwyneth Gaunt, Mckenah Rose, & Notion
DollsMckenah Rose
Program ArtNovember Gorrell

Songs

Act 1

1. Gingham and YarnRagettes
2. Carry OnPoppa, Marcella, Ragettes
3. DiagnosisDr Spine, Dr Lungs, Dr Tonsils, Raggedy Ann
4. The LightAndy, Baby, Raggedy Ann, Teddy, Marcella
5. No Girl’s ToyAndy, Teddy, Dolls
6. Camel’s DiagnosisDoctors
7. BlueCamel, Marcella, Raggedy Ann
8. MexicoAndy, Dolls, Marcella, Ragettes
9. Make BelieveRaggedy Ann, Marcella, Dolls
10. Quiet Night
Something in the AirDolls, Marcella, Clouds
So BeautifulMarcella
Heavenly ChoirYellow Yum Yum, Clouds
Shooting StarShooting Star
Rat in the Rolls Royce
Wedding FinaleCompany
11. Rag DollyRaggedy Ann

Act 2

12. Gingham and Yarn (Reprise)Ragettes
13. You’ll Love It Bat, Batettes, Andy, Wolf
14. A Little MusicMarcella, Dolls, Camel
15. Gone/Why Not?Marcella, Dolls, Ragettes, Witch
16. Candy Hearts and Paper FlowersMarcella, Ragettes
17. What Did I Lose/SomewhereWitch, Raggedy Ann
18. He Comes RidingWolf, Ragettes
19. Somewhere (Reprise)Witch
20. Welcome to L.A./Diagnosis L.A.Nurses, Doctors
21. Carry on (Reprise)Raggedy Ann, Poppa, Marcella, Dolls
22. Gingham and Yarn (Finale)Ragettes, Company

Testimonials

"[Rag Dolly] has to be one of my favorite scores that I've ever come across"

- Jaimon Lovins, The Camel with the Wrinkled Knees

“Rag Dolly has been quite possibly my favorite project I’ve ever worked on. It’s so exciting to be working on a piece of the history of this wonderful show.”

- Michael Mylen, Andy

“This project has truly been such a dream come true. It was an incredibly supportive and creative environment, and we were having so much fun with the material! I am incredibly honored to be a part of lost media history, and can’t wait for more people to experience the show for themselves!”

- Sarah Biernacki, Raggedy Ann

"High energy entertainment without losing sight of its message."

"Like nothing I’ve ever seen!"

"[Rag Dolly] was surprisingly funny!! I found myself laughing at the cast of outlandish characters, especially the ragtag group of dolls traveling with Marcella!"

"Rag Dolly passes the "leave a show feeling like you can do anything" test with flying colors!"

"I was whisked away by the music!"

"[Rag Dolly] definitely has a unique alternative sensibility. My folks divorced before they both passed away shortly after I was married- so all the themes tugged my heartstrings."

"It was so seamless that I didn’t even think about where there were changes"

"Props to [RARE] for putting on a very staged reading. There were multiple dance breaks. Ann wasn’t using no script! Half the actors were already memorized, and in two weeks of rehearsal that’s a lot."

"I am experiencing a wide variety of emotions… it was like cutting the champagne bottle cork."

"I love that the dolls themselves act as wrenches in the machine of this really sad fairy tale."

- Audience

Donors

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