Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical

The need to create is alive and going, as well as the need for the performing arts to be supported during this long and very unpleasant pause

Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

It hurts that the stages are closed and we cannot enjoy a live performance altogether. Until things become safe again and we can come back, projects like this, keep the faith going and shows the need to create and present.

A 10-second video posted on TikTok by @e_jaccs A.K.A  Emily Jacobsen in August 2020 about the new Ratatouille inspired ride at Walt Disney World in Orlando, was what got everything started. -A Ratatousical-. 

2021 began with the debut of Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical. A one-time event (for now) that is available to stream, until Monday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m. EST. 

Loved watching all the magic come together through one big edited bunch of TikToks, using the effects of the platform as well as some of the "main-stream" choreos that have gone viral. In less than an hour, you can enjoy the gist of the beloved Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille. Not only are there new songs developed by talented TikTokers, this project also has some big names attached to it like André De Shields, Priscilla Lopez, Adam Lambert, and Netflix's Emily in Paris fave Ashley Parks. And for me, that was a catch 22. The performances were outstanding. Wayne Brady as Django, Tituss Burgess as Remy, and Andrew Barth Feldman as Linguini (who I consider is IDENTICAL to the animated character) were award nominating. Yet, I would have loved to see all of the TikTok community that had a role in creating this, to take center stage. No big names as a crutch to launch and promote it, you know what I mean? I think it would have had a big buzz too with a more grassroots approach... considering a platform with millions of views a day, "grassroots". If we were going all out doing this exercise by involving TikTok, let us do the exercise in full.

Those are my two cents on the matter. And also, for all of those people who since April of 2020 have been complaining and saying "this is not theatre", "this is not musical theatre", "this is a screen", well, we do not need to be rocket scientists to figure that one out but until we get back to some sort of live hybrid or whatever is to come where we can gather safely, this will have to do. AND might I say, is pretty darn good and creating community as well as experimenting with media and cross-media. I saw a play through WhatsApp and Instastories last month and it was absolutely delightful.

Besides, this is to benefit the Actors Fund which needs all the help we can give it right now, for reals. This has made over a million dollars during the past weekend. That is great and all but there needs to be more, WAY more. 

You can watch Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical for 5 dollars. If you can donate more, do so. Hurry because there is not much time, check all the details here: https://ratatousical.com/ And the super cute Playbill with all the behind the scenes stories and cool ads here: https://www.playbill.com/ratatouillemusical 

Andrew Barth Feldman as Linguini in Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical


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