Ragtime - Prologue

[@FG94]

How they all move in their own social groups is so powerful.

[@dancurry1623]

So true

[@mikemaples7236]

It was amazing to watch when they were all together mixed and they didn't notice....THEN....they noticed and ran back to their groups. This show DID NOT get the recognition it deserved! However, it was going against LION KING that year.

[@thomasbradley4505]

@@mikemaples7236 I saw a local production at Theaterworks in Mountain View CA. It was a smallish theater. When they sang Til We Reach That Day at the end of act one, the ensemble stood in the side aisles of the orchestra section, so their voices surrounded the audience. It was probably one of the most moving numbers I have ever heard

[@Goomgam]

Maybe the greatest opening number in Broadway history...

[@JoelLittle-mm8ed]

What about showboat, it’s opening is spectacular as well?

[@archbaldmacdonald6091]

I dressed Coalhouse and Tatah during the original 1996/97 production in Toronto before it went to Broadway. Stokes and Peter were wonderful to work with and Lea was a very sweet kid too. Remember she was tied to Tatah so I saw lot of her. She was already a pro then. The crew was in from eight to eleven during tech and we rehearsed this scene for three days until the director was happy with it. That's probably why it's so good. I worked on every original show Livent produced, Kiss, Showboat and Fosse but Ragtime was the happiest time as I got to watch it every night from the wings while I waited for either Stokes or Peter to exit. A side not for Joel Little. The opening tech for Show Boat also took days to work out too. The boat was in four sections that had to be swung around stage left and took up a lot of room. This and a cast and crew of over 100 made backstage a tricky place to be. I was banged up bad when a prop wharf trolley was in the wrong place. It was caught by a fly weight bar and thrown at me whilst I waited to guide Robert Morse off stage during a scene change blackout. I hope my happy memories gives you some insight into the work cast and crew love to do on any show.

[@eliasbernstein]

Hands down, the greatest. Not even a question.

[@1868foxpoint]

And they lost the Tony! 😳

[@music4thesoul80]

​@@1868foxpoint- Yeah to The Lion King which was/is also a magnificent show in its own right.

[@spencerschneider3695]

WE NEED THIS AS A REVIVAL NOW MORE THAN EVER.

[@JPLEYONKO4]

Yep, based on recent events, this musical is perfect for this time.

[@eliasbernstein]

YES PLEASE

[@Itschristiannoel]

My school is doing RAGTIME! I just heard yesterday I got cast as Tateh!

[@eliasbernstein]

@@Itschristiannoel Congrats!

[@ActorsWithIssuespodcast]

God Bless the brave soprano and tenor at the end holding that top B. AMAZING!

[@jennag8544]

Juan Ayala that was almost definitely audra haha

[@alexbrown9351]

Yeah, you can find a video on KZbin where they performed this on the Rosie O'Donnell show and it's pretty clear from that audio that it was Audra.

[@jonathanreed5509]

Jenna G I was just going to say that!!!!

[@newyorker2581]

Audra McDonald 🤗

[@amapparatistkwabena]

I don’t have perfect pitch, so I had to go and confirm that “B”, but I don’t need to check anywhere to confirm that the voice was none other than the incomparable Audra McDonald!❤️

[@devynboyle]

My high school did this musical last year and there was a whole controversy that made national news due to the racial slurs in the script. Thankfully, the show went on. Brian Stokes Mitchell came to our school and sang for us right before the show and everyone started crying because his voice is so beautiful.

[@anhw3303]

Devyn Boyle Read about it. How stupid to be whitewashing history as if that wasn’t reality. Luckily Stokes helped put that to rest.

[@rocknroll20024]

Lucky

[@johndalton3180]

One of the most lovely comments I've ever seen on YT. Gives me hope.

[@PlaidBoyPDX]

What a treat to have him sing for you all. He’s incredible. 🙌🏻

[@Steets]

The great thing is, even though this is ostensibly a very long and narrative-heavy intro number, this was still cut for broadcast. The actual Prologue is over NINE MINUTES long, and every second of it oozes musical perfection.

[@bradykelso8682]

Saw this in LA before it opened in New York. Prologue got a 3 minute standing ovation! I miss the Schubert Theatre in LA. Glorious production.

[@williampelto6095]

The transitions of the "societies" at 2:45 gets to me every time. Just a spectacular musical.

[@rellenoz]

After watching this performance, I purchased a single ticket to NYC, for the first time, and purchased my first ticket to a Broadway show. That's how much this moved me. I knew nothing about the show, except it had been a film. The entire trip was one of the best times of my life.

[@corvusdelicti8853]

j gipson: And one of the worst films ever. The beautiful novel of Ragtime by EL Doctorow was ruined and watered down in the movie version. Thank goodness this musical arrived to wipe away the memory of that movie.

[@corvusdelicti8853]

The costuming choices in "Ragtime" are stupendous. The deceptively simple choreography is very telling, as the three disparate groups circle each other and recoil from each other. And the sometimes cruelly-blunt lyrics and the sweeping melody are just brilliant.

[@tylerleblanc4305]

I personally love this powerful, iconic opening. The way that each group moves is so distinguishable and the addition of the groups following the whites follows history. I really think this is one of my favorite musicals because not only is it a great period piece, but it is definitely so easily applicable everywhere today and everywhere hereafter.

[@billfisher9238]

there needs to be a film. Spielberg could direct. he proved his musical chops with WWS. now he can make a movie musical masterpiece all his own.

[@michaeljj43]

the best opening of a musical!!!!!!!!

[@ruthhellkamp926]

i could listen to this production all day....truly captured the essence of that era.

[@thomasbradley4505]

Probably one of the greatest casts ever assembled for a broadway musical.

[@paulajosmith62]

We lost Marin Mazzie a few years ago. She was great. And Audra McDonald, the greatest.

[@thomasbradley4505]

@ I saw Audra in concert (several times) but specifically shortly after she left Ragtime. The program listed on of the numbers as Your Daddy’s Hands, but she didn’t sing it. A few weeks later she announced that she was pregnant. She didn’t sing the song because being newly pregnant she didn’t want to jinx it. I adore Audra

[@YayaDIYCreations]

The BEST! I wish I could see the play in realtime with this cast. I missed an amazing era.

[@pffellows]

Simply a stunning musical, which I first saw at its West End premiere in 2003 at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. I've subsequently seen a Broadway revival at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway in 2009... I often play a recording of the show and the songs which bowl me over are the opening number , "Ragtime", also "New Music".... Girl on a Swing" is a catchy tune too.

[@rondawilkinson3108]

There will never be another Mother like Marin. She was perfection. A golden light.

[@JoshuaGarretson]

That leap at 1:35 is my favorite thing.

[@tracer740]

+Joshua Garretson - Tru-dat! Nothing short of spectacular!

[@taylorlauren6068]

The guy's face at 3:56-4:00

[@toyman9642]

Saw Ragtime in Toronto many years ago. Great.

[@jasminderpinder]

Outstanding ! And amazing opening for an amazing musical - one of all time favourites ever.

[@orpheus9037]

Saw it recently - it's a good show and should be seen by more people. And yes, that opening is powerful, moving and pure theatrical genius - the sort of thing only theater can do.

[@eliasbernstein]

2:54 is such a small detail to this number, but it’s so exciting and powerful for some reason.

[@K.Bernice]

that top B is no joke lol

[@laurenwendt5276]

One of my favorite musicals

[@stevendrake9916]

I love how audra mcdonald's just in the background, but I bet she's like "just wait till I get 6 tonys bitches!"

[@thomassutherland7032]

Four, she already had two by now (and was about to win a third)

[@stevendrake9916]

Thomas Sutherland I did not mean then and there, I mean overall in her life

[@rocknroll20024]

Look at Lea's expressions in this performance she looks absolutely stunning to be there . I hope I get that chance too one day

[@ashareeoo]

Simply remarkable. Blows my mind everytime!

[@NewHopeRichieRich]

Best opening number of any Broadway show that I have experienced.

[@oldgypsytap]

Yes, we do need to see, hear and intellectually experience this work of art so desperately. I've felt from the moment it hit the stage, it is among, if not the best depiction of the American Experience' ever to be created. Every aspect is glorious and enriching. Since we are in such perilous times, America had best keep this work alive..so as not to forget....

[@csm92459]

If you ever get a chance--Kander and Ebb (music and lyrics for Cabaret) wrote a show call "The Scottsboro Boys" which, like Cabaret, uses the convention of a musical show (in this case a minstrel show) to illustrate the story's plot. Like Cabaret it is based on historic events. This was of nine black men arrested in Alabama in the '30s for the crime of attacking two white women. (The women were recognized by the local police and were being picked up for prostitution. They used the allegation in order to deflect the charge.) There were repeated trials with the nine being jailed for years--only the youngest 4 being released. The cast is black (except for the narrator, who acts as emcee) and perform the minstrel numbers with standard theatrical makeup--until the last number. The nine black performers appear in blackface--which, when it happens, is more shocking than I can depict. It sticks with you. Like some of the incidents and language in Ragtime you wonder how it could have ever been acceptable. Like Ragtime it is a great theatrical experience that sticks with you.

[@rirobjr]

So proud to say my friend Frank Galati directed this STUNNING musical! He and his husband Peter, are two of the most amazing men I have ever met!

[@jackandthebeanstalk4253]

A true masterpiece

[@MirandaH96]

The immigrant entrance is epic

[@greenergrass4060]

I love how disitnct each group moves around

[@dawnmariebazemore3879]

The way the groups move is moving

[@mikemaples7236]

ABSOLUTE BRILLIANCE!!!!!!

[@dawnmariebazemore3879]

I’m in ragtime at the Arden theater

[@calpurniaalmaflicks]

I saw that!

[@tracer740]

Magnificent number!

[@chazofalsa]

It needs another revival and parade as well those musicals need their own theater to run forever because things have not changed and both parade and ragtime are so important.

[@rondawilkinson3108]

Marin Mazzie ❤❤❤❤

[@johndalton3180]

The staging owes a debt to Hal Prince's Peron's Latest Flame from Evita.

[@iamsherk2605]

patty goble is so damn pretty 🥰

[@danielperkins1429]

She's a dear friend.

[@iamsherk2605]

​​@@danielperkins1429 im a straight woman but she makes me gay

[@GhostmanDBP]

I'll have to agree with you.

[@stupidregulations123]

marvelous :)

[@laluna3272]

this version is sooooo clear

[@imgellin100]

The man hosting this...isn't this the guy who played traceys mom in hair spray live?? I know that voice anywhere

[@aidanheaney821]

imgellin100 Yep! That’s Harvey Fierstein! He was also the original Edna in Hairspray on Broadway!

[@imgellin100]

@@aidanheaney821 oh ok! Thats what i thought! Thanks so much!

[@michaelj3504]

3:37 cut

[@anonymoususer2271]

wtf is that lea michelle? wow

[@billelias7665]

Is that a young Leah Michelle?

[@marieremelie6716]

Yes

[@cam11971]

No it's lea Michelle! :)

[@lisanguyen4041]

I see lea michelle

[@jonathanreed5509]

Question do I spy Jennifer Garner?!!

[@tadimaggio]

What a pity Stephen Sondheim is too old now, to do for Doctorow's other masterpiece "The Book of Daniel" what Terence Rafferty did for "Ragtime".

[@theoperaghost100]

Yeah the little immigrant girl looks like Lea Michelle.

[@coreyryan6727]

That's because it IS Lea Michele.

[@theoperaghost100]

oh lol I knew it was her!

[@Cristina40866]

Holy guacamole! The little girl who played Tateh's daughter... is that Demi Lovato?

[@josephcarlisle1943]

Nope it's Lea Michelle

[@dawnmariebazemore3879]

It has to be