That's The Showbiz from Ragtime

So I know the song was cut after Toronto- which is too bad b/c it was a great little piece for Houdini and Nesbit- I have looked everywhere and there is not a single piece of published Ragtime Sheet music that I can find that has the song in it- and I don't seem to be able to find anyone who has a copy of the score from the Toronto production either- anyone here have any ideas where I might be able to get my hands on it?

Ah, see I was always under the impression it was cut after- they must have recorded the cast album very close or even before they opened up there (ah the good old days)

I grew up in Rochester and that show was ALL over local TV- it was a really big deal that it was opening up there, the CD was in all of the local stores.

Wasn't that recorded as a "concept" recording even before the show opened in Toronto?

Right. In fact, "The Show Biz" technically wasn't cut from the show because it was never in it. It was replaced by "I Have a Feeling" before rehearsals began.

It's on the concept album because it was written just a few days before the recording session and Drabinsky liked it so much he had it recorded at the last minute.

Later, of course, "I Have a Feeling" was cut and Nesbitt and Houdini were given solos (which went through several revisions) in "Atlantic City" instead.

ETA I just found an old ratmer post that says "The Show Biz" was replaced by "I Have a Feeling" on 12/5/96. The Toronto opening was 12/8/96, so maybe it was in previews after all.

ETA again I found a song list in another old ratmer post that lists "I Have a Feeling" being in the show on 12/3/96. Regardless, there are several old posts there from people who say they saw "The Show Biz" performed during previews, so I was definitely wrong to say it was never in the show.

Open to correction as always.

Updated On: 3/15/12 at 03:45 PM

Almost 8 years later, I come across this post researching a song I found while cleaning out my hardcopy score library... from the original Ragtime Toronto run... and found a song called "I HAVE A FEELING" lol. If anyone is still looking for the music (12/4/96 if you're curious), shoot me a message. Someone else may have also posted/found it somewhere years ago, but if not and are still looking for it... I got it!