Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future

The Art: 

A 90 minute folk/ science fiction/ rock musical, Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future centers around a young musician named Rags Parkland in the 2200s. The show opens with Rags at a bar in Virginia singing songs from his past and reminiscing about what brought him to this point in the future. He sings of running from home, lost love, labor camps on Mars, and more, through his creative and catchy folk music as well as his remembrance of his adventures with the band of Beaux Weathers.

At least that’s what you think, until, and I won’t spoil this for you, a big moment happens mid-show, bringing more characters onto the stage, and introducing us to a whole new idea and perspective of the future. While I was initially skeptical about this this show, it was by far one of the best shows I’ve ever seen (it’s up there with Come From Away) and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good time. In fact, I already have. Multiple times. 

The Artist:

Rags Parkland Sings the Songs from the Future was written by Andrew Butler, a new york based actor and writer. He was born in Florida, has an MFA from NYU Tisch, and uses a variety of resources to help him with his projects. Butler has his own creative company called Harunalee. 

Extras: 

After the show, I got to the chance to briefly speak with Andrew Butler on his experiences writing the show. It took him 10 years to write the show, and he used a variety of resources to do so, includingFresh Ground Pepper and Ars Nova, and JACKin Brooklyn, where, in 2013, he performed as Rags Parkland for the first time.