Happy 10th anniversary, Ragtime — Page 2

I saw this show just a few weeks after it opened in New York when I was 11. I distinctly remember even having to use a seat booster to see over the heads in front of me. I was too young to truly appreciate the show back then.


I saw it again about a year and a half later a few months before it close, and I knew the music much better, but remember that much of the spark and excitement had gone from the show, and also the audience. It still was quite good.

I always loved the show, and appreciated it immensely (even for all of its sometimes "overblown" big finishes to every song). But, about a month ago, I just decided to listen to the entire 2 Disc recording straight through, which I hadn't done in a while, and I was absolutely struck with the brilliance of the collaboration between the composers, writers, and actors. Especially now being a music student, it hit me with an even greater impact.

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I saw the OBC, this was my second broadway show, and to this day is still my favorite show of all time.

My only regret is that I was a newbie of sorts going into see the show. I wish I knew then what I know know about production values and theater in general. It probably would have been even more meaningful to me on an aesthetic level.

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Congratulations to Ragtime!

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I believe when Charlie Rose interviewed two critics, one of them said the same thing about Ragtime.

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The Broadway production didn't run longer because of Garth Drabinsky.

I was wondering how long it would take before TEH would show up. A 'Ragtime' post is like her crack. She always has to respond.

"She always has to respond."

'She' must always be addressed as 'MADAME.' Thank you.

"Are you kidding me? That's the only memorable tune from Ragtime?"

MADAME never kids. MADAME knows best. ALWAYS.



Milt C. Okefenokee
Gator Country, Florida

Updated On: 1/19/08 at 11:24 PM

Ragtime <3 <3 <3

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I saw a production of this magnificent show in 2004, and I've been in love with it ever since. I recently purchased the cast album (why didn't I do it sooner?!!?!), and I can't believe I never got the chance to see these fabulous vocalists perform the show live.

Ragtime forever <3

<---- Me as JP Morgan.

I don't think one can fully appreciate this show without performing in it for a long period of time. I still discover a new layer every time I listen to the score. It is now one of my favorite shows of all time. The score and story are so seamless I can never just listen to one song- I have to hear the whole thing! Happy (day after) anniversary to this incredible, brilliant show.

I think it will be the last of the great "Epic" musicals. Yet when stripped of all the spectacle, the story and characters endure. I was at the gala opening in Toronto in 1996 and caught the show on Broadway two days before the 1998 Tony awards. The electricity in the crowd was palpable and the thunderous applause at the curtain calls gave me a possible link to what Broadway audiences were like in the glory days. Just when you thought the ovation couldn't get any bigger, Brian Stokes Mitchell cam out and the crowd tore the roof off the place.

I didn't think any subsequent cast could match the originals but the post-Broadway non-equity tour made a brief stop near here - it's second last booking - and even without the kinetic star power it played beautifully earning rave reviews from the local critics who claimed it to be the best touring production to come this way in many years.


I have seen two community productions and even if not every detail was perfect, it inspired tremendous commitment from both casts.

As to the question of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE I cannot comment as I only know the show through the cast album, although I will be seeing a production here later this year. That said, even if the show on stages is dazzling it does not have the accessibility of RAGTIME'S score. There is nothing in the CAROLINE score that comes close to matching RAGTIME's rich tapestry.

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"I don't think one can fully appreciate this show without performing in it for a long period of time.

That's rather pretentious and totally inaccurate."

I meant nothing "pretentious" by it, and I'm sorry if that offended you. I just meant that by rehearsing or performing it every day, one acquires an understanding of the piece that cannot be obtained from watching or listening to it any number of times. The act of participating in the action on stage puts one directly into the world of the show, rather than observing it. This is true for any show, but is especially applicable to a show as layered and deep as Ragtime.