Happy 10th anniversary, Ragtime

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 10:00pm

I was just surfing the Internet Broadway Database and I saw their opening nights in history column. It is 10 years today that Ragtime opened on Broadway. Woo hoo!!

Updated On: 1/18/08 at 10:00 PM

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 10:03pm

Shows like this deserve to be around to have photo coverage of their 10th anniversary posted on the main page. I regret never having been able to see perhaps the most epic show on Broadway in the past decade.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 10:06pm

Neither did I!!!!!!! I was across the street seeing The Lion King. Well, I was like 9 and that isn't exactly material for a 9 year old. But when I saw it at a local community theatre (yes, it was the Company Theatre), I was blown away. I was brought close to tears.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 10:09pm

Seeing Ragtime was honestly the most moving theatrical experience of my life. It's a masterpiece.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 10:14pm

You took the words right out of my mouth, sweetestsiren.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 11:07pm

I remember seeing it with the original cast on Broadway and it was amazing. In my opinion, Ragtime is a show that closed earlier than it should have.

[Urban]

Posted: 1/18/08 at 11:35pm

My favorite show. :)

Pity it closed before a stupid collective group name could've been thought of. Ragheads? Raggers? Raglyns :p

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 12:07am

The world premiered opening in Toronto in December 1996 was, if possible, even more exciting. Every number connected with the audiuence and there were very few changes between Toronto and New York.

But... I can help wondering why nothing even approaching the quality of RAGTIME has appeared in 10 years. It's a very sad comment on the current state of Broadway.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 1:51am

I can help wondering why nothing even approaching the quality of RAGTIME has appeared in 10 years.

I disagree. I think CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is just as brilliant, effective, and enthralling as RAGTIME. Actually, I prefer CAROLINE OR CHANGE, I find it a bit more daring.
I really wish I had seen RAGTIME on Broadway though, the idea of watching Marin Mazzie singing "Back to Before" live makes me salivate I always get chills when I listen to the opening number, one of the best in Broadway musicals history, IMO. Love the show.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 1:55am

I can help wondering why nothing even approaching the quality of RAGTIME has appeared in 10 years.

I disagree. I think CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is just as brilliant, effective, and enthralling as RAGTIME. Actually, I prefer CAROLINE OR CHANGE, I find it a bit more daring.

Caroline came VERY close, but didn't quite reach the brilliance that was Ragtime.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 2:38am

IMO, it's the other way around, neddy.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 3:01am

Ragtime is just brilliant. I loved Caroline, but I was more enthralled by Ragtime.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 3:03am

Ray- Did you see Caroline on Broadway?

[Actor2]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 9:05am

Ragtime is such an incredible piece of theatre. It should never have closed after only two years.

[singingbackup]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 9:30am

I echo the sentiments here...it should have never closed, or at least as soon as it did.

Brilliant, moving, meaningful. And it should have won the Tony! (Give Lion King a special theatrical event trophy)

I was so fortunate to see it a few times in Los Angeles. I'm kind of sad right now. What a great show.

[bwaymizfit2]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 9:38am

I completely agree with everything stated here. Saw the opening number on the 1998 Tony telecast, and still believe that it is one of the most powerfully staged 10 minutes of musical theater. The End.

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 10:04am

I wish I could have seen it... too young, and too far away. But I saw an amazing production twice this summer here in Chicago. I fell in love with the show and it now rivals RENT for the top spot, but I can't really compare the two so I just love them both equally. Ragtime has such an amazing heart and such spine-chilling numbers that I get goosebumps when I see it and I definitely cry at some points. Why did this close on Broadway so soon?

[alliez92092]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 10:20am

I'm still bitter that this show didn't run longer, and didn't win the Tony. I absolutely love it and think that it was one of the most brilliant pieces of theater to come along in awhile. I really hope they do a revival soon. It will be hard for me to get the original cast out my head, but this story deserves to be told and given another chance, no matter who's playing the roles.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 10:35am

I feel I was priveleged to see this amazing show 5 times during it's Broadway run, including the final performance. I cried every time. I still tear up when I listen to the recording.

[Bruce Memblagh!]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 10:38am

I echo the feelings here too. A brilliant show, phenomenal score and a marvellously coherent, strong piece.

I also liked the scaled down version in London and the concert version of the show from Cardiff was excellent - I still watch it often on dvd.

[kyle.]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 10:53am

I listened to that double CD almost every night the summer of '98. I cannot believe it has been 10 years!

[JRybka]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 11:00am

RAGTIME is and always will be my favorite musical ever. I saw it the weekend after it was nominated for all the TONYS and I thought it was the most brilliant thing I have ever seen.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 11:16am

One of the things that I think is so stunning about Ragtime is how well it works as an adaptation. I read Doctorow's novel before seeing the show, and I couldn't have fathomed how they could stage such a complex series of interwoven characters and stories. Obviously, some things were trimmed or altered for the stage, but the way the storylines are woven together through music is astonishing. Songs like "Journey On" and especially "New Music" are brilliant in that sense.

I agree about the staging of the Prologue, as well. Even lighter songs like "Henry Ford" and "What a Game" were so well staged and choreographed.

I so wish that the NYCO's planned 10th anniversary concert had worked out. I would have been there in a second. Updated On: 1/19/08 at 11:16 AM

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 11:23am

I saw the 1st national tour and was a bit too young to fully grasp the material, though I enjoyed the show. Now listening to the cast recording, I would really like to see it again. I get chills!

Happy 10th Anniversary!

[blockhead]

Posted: 1/19/08 at 11:52am

I'm thinking that as much as I loved the original staging and casting, it might be very interesting to see a new version of this amazing classic. What if the three groups (WASPs, blacks, Jews) were all played by one group of performers, and the orchestrations were pared down to a medium-sized jazz combo. I think it would be fascinating to see the imagination of the show run with this kind of casting. What do you think?