RagTag helps bring the performing arts to Las Vegas with new productions

When RagTag Entertainment started three years ago in Las Vegas, its goal was to impact the arts culture by offering productions that are available and affordable for everyone.

Andrew Wright, founder of RagTag, said that in 2011, the group offered nearly 30 productions around the city and challenged the thought that there is no culture in Las Vegas.

"Pretty soon, people won't be able to say that," Wright said. "In 2011, (RagTag) just exploded, and 2012 is just going to be bigger."

Wright thought all the progress he achieved in 2011 would take five years.

Venues such as the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., and Ovation inside Green Valley Ranch Resort, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, have caught on to the vision by hosting productions.

"I hear that everywhere, that the city doesn't have culture," said Sirc Michaels, the artistic director of Onyx. "It's not true."

RagTag has presented shows such as "Rent," "Sweeney Todd " and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" at Ovation and shows such as "Evil Dead The Musical" at the Onyx Theatre .

Many of the shows, Wright said, have sold out regardless of production and venue.

" 'Rent' was a monster," Wright said. "It raised $15,000 in its first month. We actually oversold the first month to the point we were adding chairs to the show room."

Its success earned it a second month of performances at Ovation and opened the doors for RagTag to use the facility for additional shows.

"Ovation is giving us a season stay," Wright said.

Michaels said "Evil Dead," which he plans to bring back to Onyx, also had a great response.

People can still check out the current show, "Smokey Joe's Cafe," at 8 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 11 and 18 at Ovation.

Even with sold-out shows and increasing popularity, the year has been trial and error for RagTag. One obstacle was finding directors capable of scaling the shows down to fit venue space.

"People come to Ovation and think it's a Broadway theater venue," Wright said. "It's not. It's a concert venue."

Wright said even though the productions have gotten a good response , not every show has worked.

" 'Smokey Joe's Cafe' works for the space," Wright said. " 'Sweeney Todd' doesn't. It's too big a production."

Wright said RagTag has had incredible directors who have taken the challenge of having limited the space.

"Some directors see it as a creative challenge," Wright said. "Some directors have kind of (thrown) their hands up and said they couldn't do it. For the most part, directors have embraced it."

Now, all directors have to prove to Wright that they know how to make the space work.

Through its shows, RagTag has helped nonprofits such as Golden Rainbow, an organization that provides assistance for people with HIV and AIDS, and Olive Crest, an organization that works to prevent child abuse and helps at-risk children, by donating proceeds from the shows. Wright wants that partnership to continue and hopes to collaborate with more organizations in need of fundraising.

RagTag is drafting a performance schedule around Las Vegas for 2012.

Starting in January, RagTag is back at Ovation with a new concert featuring leading female artists of Las Vegas.

"We have a working title right now," Wright said, "s omething along the lines of a divas concert. We are taking the best girls (in Las Vegas) singing their best songs."

The production will have set performers and feature a guest performance each show.

"It's perfect," Wright said. "If you have certain songs you love, you can hear them again plus four or five songs you haven't heard from the guest performers."

For February, just in time for Presidents Day, Wright is looking at a show for the Onyx Theatre called "Assassins," which centers around the assassination attempts of presidents.

"We just had call backs for that show," Wright said. "The auditions were stacked. We had such amazing talent show up (for auditions)."

Sometime around Easter, Wright wants to do a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" to benefit Olive Crest.

"We are looking for a venue for that," Wright said. "We don't want anything less than 1,000 seats, because we know we can sell it out."

Wright said Super Summer Theatre, held at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, is adding a season opener, which RagTag is slated to host in June.

"We are not entirely sure what it will be," Wright said.

Around November 2012, in time for the election season , Wright wants to do "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson," a rock musical.

Wright said there are a few more shows lined up.

"But I want some things to be a surprise," Wright said.

Michaels wants the shows brought to Onyx to be different from anything shown before in Las Vegas.

"People have this image of what theater is," Michaels said. "It doesn't have to be Shakespeare or Rodgers & Hammerstein."

Michaels said the shows that are opening in 2012 are more relatable to the current generation.

"It isn't your grandma's theater," Michaels said.

Looking toward the future, Wright hopes more people come out to the theater. He said about 70 percent of the audiences are familiar faces.

"Which is great," Wright said. "Their loyalty helped keep theater alive. But we can't keep surviving on those people. If (the 70 percent) are at a production at Ovation, they can't be at a production at Onyx Theatre the same night."

With tickets usually at $10 or $15, Wright said theater can be affordable.

"It's the price of a movie ticket," Wright said. "We realized we don't need to overcharge, just make enough to cover expenses."

For more information, visit ragtagent.com.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.