Even though I can't get psuedo-redemption by having it trounce The Lion King in the Final Four (since a certain #1 seed was already ousted) - I will still take some pleasure in helping Ragime at least MAKE the Final Four.
My Vote is:
RAGTIME
"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man
I tried to do a current count, but my 3 year old daughter was pestering me the whole time. At this point it looks like Ragtime is winning 63-32 (not including any PM votes people have sent in). There is hope for this contest yet! Ooh, I'm just salivating at the prospect of a national championship between Ragtime and Parade.
wow, this is insane. I agree that this should have been the final contest, but...oh well. RENT is the musical that got me into Broadway, Ragtime is the show that made me realize how perfect a show could be. RENT made me a fan of many performers, Ragtime made me a fan of many performers. This is such a tough decision. Ragtime is easily the better show, but RENT holds a very special place in my heart.
I am going to have to say RENT, but only after fighting with myself for far too long.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
This really is a tough one. Im going to go with RENT. They're both great though...
"You will understand that Bww is a forum that allows Theatre people, Fussy old Queens, and chorus boys of Mama Mia to release their everyday life's frustration by being Snarky, B**chy, and sarcastic."
-BwayBoundJoe
Since the question is which musical do I personally like better, I'm gonna have to go with RENT. I saw Ragtime only a couple years after I first saw RENT, and while I love Ragtime, it never meant as much to me as RENT did.