When Rhiannon Ragland was asked to direct the latest Jeff Daniels’ penned play at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, she quickly discovered that she would be in for a wild ride. “This is less of a play and more like a ride at Universal,” says Ragland, the longtime member of the famed Purple Rose team.
The play, “Pickleball,” began the theatre’s 32nd season in October and is a world premiere by acclaimed actor and founder Jeff Daniels. In a wild comedy about America’s fastest growing sport, four below average players must overcome their own limitations in order to achieve greatness in a game that has nothing to do with pickles.
The play runs through Dec. 23 and has received winning reviews.
Ragland, who has been with the Purple Rose on and off for 15 years including 12 years as a resident artist, has a CV full of acting roles and director credits. She started as an actor and was recently named one of the artistic associates and a member of the new leadership team at the Purple Rose.
Her climb up the ladder has reached the top.
“I’m really looking forward to contributing even more in my new role,” says Ragland, who is originally from Flint. “It’s definitely different, but in an amazing way. It’s about promoting Midwest artists and voices.”
Ragland also was very excited to be asked to direct “Pickleball.”
“It’s great to be kicking off our new season with a play by our founder and creative voice,” she says. “I think it’s important to keep his voice out there as our leader. He’s very much involved in this play and the theatre.”
Ragland has worked with Daniels before and is comfortable putting her voice into the mix, especially when it comes to a new play. “He’s always been very open to ideas but he knows his audience better than anyone,” she says. “I love the play. It’s about relationships and friendships and how difficult those can be for adults. It’s a lot of fun.”
In her review of “Pickleball” for WeloveAnnArbor/WeloveDexter, writer Nicole Robertson stated: “Anyone familiar with any of Jeff Daniels’ 20 plays — all premiered at the Chelsea theater he founded — know his stories have a serious side lurking beneath often-lowbrow yuks. Love is the driving force of his silly hunting-camp play (and movie) “Escanaba in da Moonlight,” and it’s a theme at the heart of this one, too.”
Directed by Ragland, the cast features artists Ryan Carlson (Clinton Township), Caitlin Cavannaugh (Chelsea), Kate Thomsen (Portage), Lynch R. Travis (Southfield), and Jonathan West (Allen Park).
“Jeff is the playwright and it’s just one of many hats he wears,” Ragland says. “It’s exciting when we are developing one of his new works. It’s a lot of work because we want to get it right but that’s what we are built for.”
As an actor, Ragland made her professional debut at The Purple Rose with the show When the Lights Come On, and continued her education with roles in over 24 professional productions. Her personal favorites include, Consider The Oyster, Best of Friends, Some Couples May…, and Flint, and she was last seen in, Diva Royale.
A proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association and a Purple Rose Resident Artist, Ragland has worked as choreographer/assistant director since 2010, helped stage over 13 professional productions, and directed both, Stone Carver (Wilde Award winner for Best Play) and Vino Veritas (revival 2017.)
As an instructor, she has taught at the Rose from 2012-2016, is a founding instructor at Jackson School of Arts, and has held numerous talks and workshops with college students across the state.
Ragland believes in the power artists have to change the world with acts of creation and hopes in this new position she can help to do that by supporting the Purple Rose in being a driver of change in the industry and community.
“The Purple Rose has a high-quality style and brand people are familiar with and we are exploring, expanding and presenting the work together here as a team,” she says. “It’s very exciting.”
And sometimes it’s as exciting as a ride at Universal.
Ticket Information: All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118. The performance calendar can be found HERE.
In Review: Competition drives the fun in silly ‘Pickleball’ tourney at Purple Rose
