On our journey to revise and revive Rag Dolly, we've gathered quite the collection of reading (and viewing) material for our research. For those interested in learning more about not just the production itself, but the people and inspirations behind it, here is that collection for you to follow along:
William Gibson
- A Mass for the Dead (1968)
- William Gibson's autobiography. This has been the most useful reference for his thoughts on death, politics, and childhood that can be clearly drawn to the themes in Rag Dolly.
- The Butterfingers Angel (1974)
- Two Plays: The Miracle Worker & Dinny and the Witches (1969)
- Including the foreword about his experiences with one hit play and one flop.
- Handy Dandy (1986)
Joe Raposo
- Sesame Street: Sing: Songs of Joe Raposo (1992)
- A memorial TV special about his work on Sesame St.
- The Great Muppet Caper Soundtrack (1981)
- Album
- Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music (1990)
- Album
- America Is (1986)
- Album
- Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back (Frank Sinatra, 1973)
- Album
Johnny Gruelle/Raggedy Ann
- Johnny Gruelle, Creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy (Patricia Hall, 1993)
- Widly respected as the most in-depth and accurate account of Gruelle's life and Raggedy Ann's creation.
- Raggedy Ann and More: Johnny Gruelle’s Dolls and Merchandise (Patricia Hall, 1999)
- The Collector's World of Raggedy Ann and Andy (vol. 1 & vol. 2) (Andrew Tabbat, 1996)
- The Animated Raggedy Ann and Andy (John Canemaker, 1977)
- An account of the making of Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977). Important for the history of the musical and Joe Raposo's involvement.
- Raggedy Ann Stories (1918)
- Read for free via the Gutenberg Project.
- Raggedy Andy Stories (1920)
- Read for free via the Gutenberg Project.
- Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees (1923)
- Read on Internet Archive.
- Marcella: a Raggedy Ann Story (1929)
Other
- A Theory of Adaptation (second edition) (Linda Hutcheon, 2013)
- Not Since Carrie (Ken Mandelbaum, 1991)
- Brief mention of the show's Broadway flop
- The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen: The Last Twenty-Five Years of the Broadway Musical (Ethan Mordden, 2004)
- Brief mention of the show's Broadway flop
- Out For Blood: A Cultural History of Carrie the Musical (Chris Adams, 2023) (also in podcast form)
- Sketches from My Life (Natalia Ilinichna Sats, 1986)
- Natalia Sats founded the first children's theater, and was instrumental in bringing Rag Dolly to Moscow for the 1986 cultural exchange. Her story is valuable in our research on the show's surprising popularity in the area.