How did "Ragtime" lose Best Musical to "The Lion King"

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:17pm

I have seen "The Lion King" on Broadway once, and I have seen "Ragtime" twice, and I believe that "Ragtime"'s characters are stronger and more developed. Also, I believe that "Ragtime" has a score that is superior to "The Lion King"'s. "The Lion King" relies heavily on spectacle, which is supposed to impress the audience, but it still didn't impress me. "Ragtime" left me with tears, "The Lion King" left me with a feeling that I had wasted my money. Thoughts?

[xOnMyOwnX]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:20pm

I find this post hilarious considering your other post on how Wicked should have beat Avenue Q.
Because it's not like Wicked relies on spectacle to cover up it's thin under-developed characters and lyrics or anything...

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:20pm

Thoughts? I think you should stop posting these threads. The only thing you'll ever need to know aobut why such-and-such did not win Best Musical over another is because often times the Tony's do not choose the best show, but often times the more popular one. I highly doubt if it were completely fair that Grey Gardens would have lost to Spring Awakening, or The Lion King would have won over Ragtime.

Updated On: 6/4/08 at 09:20 PM

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:24pm

Ragtime did not get positive reviews. The only things in Ragtime Brantly liked were Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra.
Here's the review:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E0DD1238F93AA25752C0A96E958260
On the contrary, Lion king received consistantly positive review, and had a completly revolutionary staging.
Besides, it's not entirely uncommon for the more popular show to win ie: Spring Awakening over Grey Gardens

Updated On: 6/4/08 at 09:24 PM

[joniray]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:26pm

"Ragtime"'s characters are stronger and more developed. Also, I believe that "Ragtime" has a score that is superior to "The Lion King"'s."

Which is probably why the voters that year gave Ragtime the Tonys for Best Book and Best Score.

Apparently the majority of the voters, however, found "The Lion King" to be the best overall production.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:26pm

Because there is no God. Or something.

I have never been as bored in a theater as I was watching Lion King.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:26pm

"On the contrary, Lion king received consistantly positive review, and had a completly new visual design."

While The Lion King had a new form of visual design, Ragtime's was nothing short of stunning. If anything, Ragtime reinvented it's period, while The Lion King translated Africa to stage.

Updated On: 6/4/08 at 09:26 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:30pm

Had it been a few years later I would have awarded Ragtime best musical and The Lion King best special theatrical event.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:32pm

Because The Scarlet Pimpernel was in-eligable. They found out they cheated, as did Ragtime for being based off of books. Lion King won for having it's story be based off a movie. whoo.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:35pm

Don't forget that RAGTIME was playing in the Hilton, the worst theater on Broadway. That could have influenced more than a few votes.

John Simon, in a Charlie Rose interview, said that he wasn't fond of RAGTIME when he first saw it, but upon a second viewing in a more intimate setting (and with better acoustics), he liked it much more.

[D2]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:38pm

Please

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:53pm

WHY DOES IT MATTER???

THESE DEBATES ARE YEARS OLD. STOP.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 6/4/08 at 9:59pm

"the lion king transferred africa to stage"

-what a slap to inventive set design. As a set designer, i'm officially offended.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 12:44am

The greatest thing about Ragtime was Audra and Stokes, but that doesn't do for audiences what Lion King did. Lion King had a design that captivated it's audience. Sure we were already familiar with the story and most of the music, but most people have not seen anything like Lion King on stage before. It is for this reason that Lion King is still running and Ragtime only lives on in regional and community theatres. It's not that Ragtime is a bad show, even when compared to Lion King, it just wasn't as awe inspiring for most people as lion king was.

[jackson992]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:04am

Ragtime is hands down miles above Lion King score wise. It is prolly one of my favorite cast albums and the two leads are amazing as is the lady who sang Back To Before.

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:22am

The leads generally are considered to be Tateh, Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and Mother. Mother sings "Back to Before". If you mean "the woman" as in "the actress", it's Marin Mazzie.

[jackson992]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:24am

Sorry I always considered Coalhouse and the part Audra played as leads. Yes the Mother was the one I couldn't think of lol

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:26am

Sarah is nowhere near lead. She is only (well she's in act 2 for like 1 minute) really in act 1. She has very few lines and only 1 solo song. She's featured.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 1:27am

Why don't you just start a single thread "How did (name of all the shows you think are better) lose to (the actual winner)?"

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 2:15am

Leave the guy alone! He's asked two very legitimate questions.

[StuckToTheStage]

Posted: 6/5/08 at 2:17am

The Lion King was completely visionary. Julie Taymor did a phenomenal job like always.