Did anyone see LaChanz as Sarah in "Ragtime"? — Page 2

I saw La Chanze play Sarah FOUR TIMES in "Ragtime" in the Los Angeles production. She was SO much better in the role than Audra for one giant, basic reason. Audra was miscast in this part. When I first saw her in it, every time she opened her mouth, out popped Julliard. She was too schooled and trained and "legitimate" to realistically be anything close to this character. It might as well have been a young Julie Andrews singing the role.

La Chanze was very good, but actually got even BETTER in the part each time I saw her... something I can't say for too many other performers in any show. By the last time I saw her as Sarah, she FAR outshone Audra. It wasn't even close.

La Chanze was also a better match (as far as chemistry) for Stokes's Coalhouse. Audra and Stokes were unbalanced and poorly matched, and it actually hurt Stokes's performance... which was a shame. He was FAR more effective in L.A., and that was (in a ver large way) due to La Chanze playing Sarah.

---

Updated On: 2/12/06 at 09:48 AM

I loved LaChanze as Sarah. The part was originally written for her, as she did the first readings and first workshop. But, because she was pregnant when the Toronto workshop and production was mounted, she couldn't be a part of it.

I agree with the LaChanze love...I saw here twice in LA and she was amazing, her acting especially. And an absolute delight in person.

DDT -- yes, the songs were in a different key for LaChanze. I interned with the musical and assistant musical directors for "Ragtime" at North Carolina Theatre (with Julie Murney, Norm Lewis, and Michael Rupert) and part of my job was to analyze the score for the sound designer (long story). ANYWAY, the vocal score (of which there are two, HUGE volumes of -- and the complete orchestration set has *four* volumes) had both versions of the songs that Sarah would sing in. One version, was the orignal for Audra et al; and the LA LaChanze version, obviously, for her (and anyone who wanted the key lower).

~Sam

Updated On: 2/13/06 at 02:28 AM