Ragtime 1998

Ages: 6+
Opened: January 18, 1998
Closing: January 16, 2000

Ragtime - 1998 - Broadway History , Info & More

Ford Center for the Performing Arts
213 W. 42nd St. New York, NY 10036

Based on the novel by E. L. Doctorow

Called by Time Magazine "A triumph for the stage," and by the International Herald Tribune "the best musical in twenty years," this acclaimed musical won 1998 Tony Awards for Best Score, Book and Orchestrations, and won both the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical and Best Score. RAGTIME is not only a powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America, but a relevant tale for today. Written by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ("Once On This Island," "Seussical," "Lucky Stiff"), noted playwright Terrence McNally, ("Kiss of the Spider Woman", "Master Class"), and based on E.L. Doctorow's distinguished novel, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families, as they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. The Tony-winning score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty is just as diverse as the melting pot of America itself. It draws upon many musical styles from the ragtime rhythms of Harlem and Tin Pan Alley to the klezmer of the Lower East Side, from bold brass band marches to delicate waltzes, from up-tempo banjo tunes to period parlor songs and expansive anthems.



Featured are such show stopping songs as "Getting Ready Rag," "Your Daddy’s Son," "Wheels of a Dream," "Till We Reach That Day," "Back To Before," and "Make Them Hear You." This thrilling musical is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike! Book by Terrence McNally; music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Presented by Mesa Encore Theatre at the Farnsworth Studio.

Ragtime - 1998 - Broadway Cast

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Interview: Tricia Corcoran of RAGTIME at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
by Andrea Stephenson - Apr 9, 2024


Ragtime, based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, premiered in Toronto in 1996 before opening on Broadway in 1998. The musical, by Terrance McNally, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens, tells the story of the United States in the early 20th century, focusing on the experiences and tensions that existed (and still exist) between different groups of people. It is a beautiful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking show, and audiences can experience it on stage at Dutch Apple through May 12th. Tricia Corcoran, who portrays Emma Goldman, spoke with BroadwayWorld about this production of Ragtime.

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Review: RAGTIME at Union Avenue Opera
by Steve Callahan - Aug 22, 2023


When the musical Ragtime was produced for Broadway in 1998 it was a colossal, big-budget show.  It cost some ten million dollars.  What in the world were the folks at tiny little Union Avenue Opera thinking when they decided to include this show in their twenty-ninth season?  Ragtime, the musical treatment of E. L. Doctorow’s vast rambling nostalgic, wonderfully American novel, is far removed from opera.

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Ragtime FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Ragtime have there been?
Ragtime has had 12 productions including Canada which opened in 1996, Broadway which opened in 1998, Broadway which opened in 1998, West End which opened in 2003, Milburn, NJ (Regional) which opened in 2005, Chicago which opened in 2007, Broadway which opened in 2009, West End which opened in 2012, US Tour which opened in 2015, Off-Broadway which opened in 2016, West End which opened in 2016 and Regional (US) which opened in 2017.
What Tony Awards has Ragtime been nominated for?
Ragtime has been nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Terrence McNally, Best Choreography for Graciela Daniele, Best Costume Design for Santo Loquasto, Best Direction of a Musical for Frank Galati, Best Lighting Design for Jules Fisher, Best Lighting Design for Peggy Eisenhauer, Best Orchestrations for William David Brohn, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Stephen Flaherty, and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Lynn Ahrens.
What Tony Awards has Ragtime won?
Ragtime has won the following Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical for Terrence McNally, Best Choreography for Graciela Daniele, Best Costume Design for Santo Loquasto, Best Direction of a Musical for Frank Galati, Best Lighting Design for Jules Fisher, Best Lighting Design for Peggy Eisenhauer, Best Orchestrations for William David Brohn, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Stephen Flaherty, and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Lynn Ahrens.
What awards has Ragtime been nominated for?
Ragtime has been nominated for several awards, including Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Choreography for Graciela Daniele at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Costume Design for Santo Loquasto at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Director - Musical for Frank Galati at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Lighting Design for Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Lyrics for Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Music for Stephen Flaherty at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Orchestrations for William David Brohn at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Revival-Musical for Eugene Lee and Wendell K. Harrington at the Drama Desk Awards, Distinguished Performance Award for Brian Stokes Mitchell at the Drama League Awards, Distinguished Production of a Musical at the Drama League Awards, Best Broadway Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Choreography for Graciela Daniele at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Costume Design for Santo Loquasto at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Director - Musical for Frank Galati at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Best Lighting Design for Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Lighting Design at The Hewes Awards for Peggy Eisenhauer, and Scenic Design at The Hewes Awards for Eugene Lee.
What awards has Ragtime won?
Ragtime has won several awards including Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Director - Musical, Outstanding Lighting Design, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Revival-Musical, and Outstanding Set Design - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards. The show also received the Distinguished Performance Award and Distinguished Production of a Musical at the Drama League Awards. Additionally, Ragtime won Best Broadway Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Director - Musical, and Best Lighting Design at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. The show also received awards for Lighting Design and Scenic Design at The Hewes Awards.
What are the songs in Ragtime and what's the order?
Ragtime
Goodbye My Love
Journey On
The Crime of the Century
What Kind of Woman
A Shtetl Iz Amereke
Success
Gettin' Ready Rag
Henry Ford
Nothing Like the City
Your Daddy's Son
New Music
Wheels of a Dream
The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Gliding
Justice
President
Till We Reach That Day
Harry Houdini, Master Escapist
Coalhouse's Soliloquy
Coalhouse Demands
What a Game
Atlantic City
Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.
Our Children
Sarah Brown Eyes
He Wanted to Say
Back to Before
Look What You've Done
Make Them Hear You
The Show Biz
I Have a Feeling
Ragtime
Goodbye, My Love
Journey On
Crime Of The Century
What Kind Of Woman?
A Shteltl Iz Amereke
Success
His Name Was Coalhouse Walker
Getting' Ready Rag
Henry Ford
Nothing Like The City
Your Daddy's Son
The Courtship
New Music
Wheels Of A Dream
The Night That Goldman Spoke
Gliding
Justice
President
Till We Reach That Day
Coalhouse's Soliloquy
Coalhouse Demands
What A Game!
Atlantic City
Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.
Our Children
Sarah Brown Eyes
He Wanted To Say
Back To Before
Look What You've Done
Make Them Hear You
Epilogue

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