Stage Production Notes
With a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime is a musical about the United States coming into its own, told through the stories of three different families in New York at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The musical was based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 award-winning historical fiction novel of the same name.
Directed by Milos Forman, the novel was adapted into a film in 1981. Doctorow was reportedly unhappy with the movie version, and wanted more control over choosing the creative team when it came to adapting the book for the stage.
As a result, producer Garth Drabinsky reportedly invited 10 composing teams to submit for the project, including Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who had written the Broadway shows Once on This Island and My Favorite Year. The teams were invited to submit music based on a treatment by book writer Terence McNally.
Over a total of 11 days, Ahrens and Flaherty wrote 4 songs, including “Prologue,” “Gliding,” “Till We Reach That Day,” and a song for Evelyn Nesbit (which was ultimately cut). In a matter of days, the composers recorded the songs, complete with full vocal arrangements, and submitted them to Drabinsky on cassette. The “cast” was comprised of Ahrens’ and Flaherty’s friends, including Billy Porter, who sang alto.
In 1995, Ragtime received two workshop readings at York University in Toronto.
In May 1996, the musical was further developed through a six-week workshop at the Tannenbaum Opera Centre, also in Toronto. A studio album featuring the cast of the workshop was released in November 1996.
On December 8, 1996, Ragtime received its world premier at Toronto’s Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The cast included Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marin Mazzie, Peter Friedman, Audra McDonald, Steven Sutcliffe, Camille Saviola, Mark Jacoby, Jim Corti, Richard Allen, Larry Daggett, Vanessa Townsell-Crisp, Paul Soles, Mike O’Carroll, Davif Mucci, Lea Michele, Paul Franklin Dano, Anne Kanengeiser, Joe Langworth, and Bruce Winant.
The Toronto Ford Center production was scheduled to play for 16 weeks, but due to ecstatic reviews and strong ticket sales, was extended several times, before closing on August 31, 1997.
A second company was launched in Los Angeles on June 15, 1997. This company toured to Vancouver and Chicago, where it continued to enjoy sell-out houses and extended seasons.
The Broadway production of Ragtime, featuring the majority of the original Toronto cast, opened at the newly refurbished Ford Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Apollo and Lyric Theatres, now the Lyric Theatre) on January 18, 1998.
Despite receiving rather mixed reviews, Ragtime was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning for Best Score, Best Book, Best Orchestrations, and Best Supporting Actress (Audra McDonald).
On January 21, 1998, PBS aired “Creating Ragtime,” a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with the cast and creative team, rehearsal and performance footage, and information about the re-design of the theatre.
On December 9, 1998, the Broadway production was filmed for the New York Public Library’s Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.
Ragtime closed on Broadway on January 16, 2000 after 861 regular performances.
The European premiere of Ragtime took place in a special concert version as part of the inaugural International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff on October 26, 2002.
Directed by Stafford Arima, the production was scaled back from the original and made use of a minimalist set design. The cast included Maria Friedman, Graham Bickley, Lawrence Hamilton, Dave Willetts, Matthew White, and Kenita Miller.
The concert was recorded by the BBC and aired on British television (see below for more details). The concert was also aired on British radio on BBC 3 on November 5, 2002.
Shortly after, the Cardiff production transferred to the West End, where it opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on March 19, 2003. Most of the cast who had appeared in the Cardiff concert reprised their roles.
The West End production closed on June 14, 2003.
Ragtime was revived on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it opened on November 15, 2009. Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, the revival received positive reviews.
In a unique offering, following the Tuesday evening performances, audiences were invited to a talkback series called “Ragtime Talk Time.” The series offered audiences the opportunity to learn behind-the-scenes information, and ask questions of the cast and creative team.
Despite the positive reviews, Ragtime only played 65 performances before closing on January 10, 2010. It was nominated for 6 Tony Awards, and 7 Drama Desk Awards, winning the Drama Desk for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical.
The Broadway revival was filmed for the Lincoln Center Theatre on Film and Tape Archive on January 8, 2010.
The Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, London staged a production under the direction of Timothy Sheader in 2012.
On February 18, 2013, a special one-night-only concert performance of Ragtime was held at Lincoln Center in Avery Fisher Hall. Directed by Stafford Arima, the concert featured a starry cast, including Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga, Patina Miller, Tyne Daly, Kerry Butler, Howard McGillin, Philip Boykin, and Michael Arden. While it appears the concert was taped, the recording has not been officially released.
Phoenix Entertainment launched a national tour of Ragtime in 2015. During the tour, members of the cast created a short-lived weekly web series, “Ragtime Reinvented,” where they performed new contemporary arrangements of songs from the musical.
On August 8, 2016, another concert version of Ragtime was performed at Ellis Island under the title Ragtime on Ellis Island. The production was featured on the American Theatre Wing’s series “Working in Theatre.”
Under the direction of Thom Southerland, Charing Cross Theatre in London staged a production in late 2016 which received lukewarm reviews.
A 20th anniversary reunion, in the form of a benefit concert for the Actors Fund was announced 2018, but did not eventuate. Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell announced in March 2020 that plans for the reunion were still on the table, and that the possibility of filming the event was also being explored.
Ragtime is available for licensing through Music Theatre International.
With a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime is a musical about the United States coming into its own, told through the stories of three different families in New York at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The musical was based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 award-winning historical fiction novel of the same name.
Directed by Milos Forman, the novel was adapted into a film in 1981. Doctorow was reportedly unhappy with the movie version, and wanted more control over choosing the creative team when it came to adapting the book for the stage.
As a result, producer Garth Drabinsky reportedly invited 10 composing teams to submit for the project, including Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who had written the Broadway shows Once on This Island and My Favorite Year. The teams were invited to submit music based on a treatment by book writer Terence McNally.
Over a total of 11 days, Ahrens and Flaherty wrote 4 songs, including “Prologue,” “Gliding,” “Till We Reach That Day,” and a song for Evelyn Nesbit (which was ultimately cut). In a matter of days, the composers recorded the songs, complete with full vocal arrangements, and submitted them to Drabinsky on cassette. The “cast” was comprised of Ahrens’ and Flaherty’s friends, including Billy Porter, who sang alto.
In 1995, Ragtime received two workshop readings at York University in Toronto.
In May 1996, the musical was further developed through a six-week workshop at the Tannenbaum Opera Centre, also in Toronto. A studio album featuring the cast of the workshop was released in November 1996.
On December 8, 1996, Ragtime received its world premier at Toronto’s Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The cast included Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marin Mazzie, Peter Friedman, Audra McDonald, Steven Sutcliffe, Camille Saviola, Mark Jacoby, Jim Corti, Richard Allen, Larry Daggett, Vanessa Townsell-Crisp, Paul Soles, Mike O’Carroll, Davif Mucci, Lea Michele, Paul Franklin Dano, Anne Kanengeiser, Joe Langworth, and Bruce Winant.
The Toronto Ford Center production was scheduled to play for 16 weeks, but due to ecstatic reviews and strong ticket sales, was extended several times, before closing on August 31, 1997.
A second company was launched in Los Angeles on June 15, 1997. This company toured to Vancouver and Chicago, where it continued to enjoy sell-out houses and extended seasons.
The Broadway production of Ragtime, featuring the majority of the original Toronto cast, opened at the newly refurbished Ford Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Apollo and Lyric Theatres, now the Lyric Theatre) on January 18, 1998.
Despite receiving rather mixed reviews, Ragtime was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning for Best Score, Best Book, Best Orchestrations, and Best Supporting Actress (Audra McDonald).
On January 21, 1998, PBS aired “Creating Ragtime,” a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with the cast and creative team, rehearsal and performance footage, and information about the re-design of the theatre.
On December 9, 1998, the Broadway production was filmed for the New York Public Library’s Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.
Ragtime closed on Broadway on January 16, 2000 after 861 regular performances.
The European premiere of Ragtime took place in a special concert version as part of the inaugural International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff on October 26, 2002.
Directed by Stafford Arima, the production was scaled back from the original and made use of a minimalist set design. The cast included Maria Friedman, Graham Bickley, Lawrence Hamilton, Dave Willetts, Matthew White, and Kenita Miller.
The concert was recorded by the BBC and aired on British television (see below for more details). The concert was also aired on British radio on BBC 3 on November 5, 2002.
Shortly after, the Cardiff production transferred to the West End, where it opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on March 19, 2003. Most of the cast who had appeared in the Cardiff concert reprised their roles.
The West End production closed on June 14, 2003.
Ragtime was revived on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it opened on November 15, 2009. Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, the revival received positive reviews.
In a unique offering, following the Tuesday evening performances, audiences were invited to a talkback series called “Ragtime Talk Time.” The series offered audiences the opportunity to learn behind-the-scenes information, and ask questions of the cast and creative team.
Despite the positive reviews, Ragtime only played 65 performances before closing on January 10, 2010. It was nominated for 6 Tony Awards, and 7 Drama Desk Awards, winning the Drama Desk for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical.
The Broadway revival was filmed for the Lincoln Center Theatre on Film and Tape Archive on January 8, 2010.
The Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, London staged a production under the direction of Timothy Sheader in 2012.
On February 18, 2013, a special one-night-only concert performance of Ragtime was held at Lincoln Center in Avery Fisher Hall. Directed by Stafford Arima, the concert featured a starry cast, including Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga, Patina Miller, Tyne Daly, Kerry Butler, Howard McGillin, Philip Boykin, and Michael Arden. While it appears the concert was taped, the recording has not been officially released.
Phoenix Entertainment launched a national tour of Ragtime in 2015. During the tour, members of the cast created a short-lived weekly web series, “Ragtime Reinvented,” where they performed new contemporary arrangements of songs from the musical.
On August 8, 2016, another concert version of Ragtime was performed at Ellis Island under the title Ragtime on Ellis Island. The production was featured on the American Theatre Wing’s series “Working in Theatre.”
Under the direction of Thom Southerland, Charing Cross Theatre in London staged a production in late 2016 which received lukewarm reviews.
A 20th anniversary reunion, in the form of a benefit concert for the Actors Fund was announced 2018, but did not eventuate. Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell announced in March 2020 that plans for the reunion were still on the table, and that the possibility of filming the event was also being explored.
Ragtime is available for licensing through Music Theatre International.
Filmed Production Notes
The International Festival of Musical Theatre production was filmed by the BBC and broadcast on BBC Four on October 27, 2002, and again on December 20, 2002.
The program began with an introduction by English actor Clive Rowe.
Ragtime is not currently available to view.
The International Festival of Musical Theatre production was filmed by the BBC and broadcast on BBC Four on October 27, 2002, and again on December 20, 2002.
The program began with an introduction by English actor Clive Rowe.
Ragtime is not currently available to view.
Ragtime PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Producer: The International Festival of Musical Theatre
Book: Terence McNally
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Director: Stafford Arima
Musical Director: David Loud
Orchestrations: William David Brohn
Cast:
Graham Bickley (Tateh), Maria Friedman (Mother), Lawrence Hamilton (Coalhouse), Dave Willetts (Father), Matthew White (Younger Brother), Kenita Miller (Sarah), Gillian Bevan (Emma Goldman), Rebecca Thornhill (Evenlyn Nesbit), Cavin Cornwall (Booker T. Washington), Jordan Calvert (Little Boy), Leah White (Little Girl), Tim Howar (Harry Houdini), Robert Archibald (JP Morgan), Sam Kenyon (Henry Ford), Jenny Ingram Brown (Sarah’s Friend), Gareth Snook (Willie Conklin)
Theatre: St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Producer: The International Festival of Musical Theatre
Book: Terence McNally
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Director: Stafford Arima
Musical Director: David Loud
Orchestrations: William David Brohn
Cast:
Graham Bickley (Tateh), Maria Friedman (Mother), Lawrence Hamilton (Coalhouse), Dave Willetts (Father), Matthew White (Younger Brother), Kenita Miller (Sarah), Gillian Bevan (Emma Goldman), Rebecca Thornhill (Evenlyn Nesbit), Cavin Cornwall (Booker T. Washington), Jordan Calvert (Little Boy), Leah White (Little Girl), Tim Howar (Harry Houdini), Robert Archibald (JP Morgan), Sam Kenyon (Henry Ford), Jenny Ingram Brown (Sarah’s Friend), Gareth Snook (Willie Conklin)
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Dan Dietz, The Complete Book of 1990s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2016)
- John Stewart, Broadway Musicals 1943-2004, McFarland & Company (2006)
Articles
- Michael Billington, “Ragtime,” The Guardian (March 20, 2003)
- BWW News Desk, “McNally & Milgrom Dodge Set for Added RAGTIME Talk Time Series,” Broadway World (Dec 22, 2009)
- BWW News Desk, “RAGTIME to Be Filmed January 8 for Lincoln Center Archives,” Broadway World (Jan 8, 2010)
- BWW News Desk, “Original RAGTIME Cast Will Reunite in 2018 for 20th Anniversary Actors Fund Benefit Concert,” Broadway World (Jan 8, 2018)
- Lyn Gardner, “Ragtime review – kaleidoscopic musical sings the making of modern America,” The Guardian (Oct 20, 2016)
- Adam Hetrick, “Ragtime Concert at Avery Fisher Hall Gleams With Broadway Stars and Musical Riches,” Playbill (Feb 19, 2013)
- Kenneth Jones and Ernio Hernandez, “Ragtime Gets UK Concert Premiere Oct. 26 With Friedman, Bickley, Hamilton and Miller,” Playbill (Oct 17, 2002)
- David Lefkowitz, “'Creating Ragtime' Documentary on PBS Jan. 21,” Playbill (Jan 21, 1998)
- David Lister, “Ragtime, Piccadilly Theatre, London,” The Independent (March 26, 2003)
- Fiona Mountford, “Ragtime, theatre review: A punishing, head-pounding evening,” Evening Standard (Oct 19, 2016)
- Lloyd Rose, “BEHIND THE SCENES OF ‘RAGTIME’,” The Washington Post (Jan 21, 1998)
- Charles Spencer, “Ragtime, Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, review,” The Telegraph (May 29, 2012)
- Matt Wolf, “Ragtime,” Variety (March 27, 2003)
- “Tuesday Radio,” The Guardian (Nov 5, 2002), p.20
Websites
- About Maria: The Maria Friedman Website, “Ragtime,” Accessed via: http://www.aboutmaria.com/ragtime.html
- BBC, Genome: Radio Times 1923 - 2009, “Ragtime,” Accessed via: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcfour/2002-10-27#at-19.00
- BBC, Genome: Radio Times 1923 - 2009, “Ragtime - the Musical,” Accessed via: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ca431a754472433f849812d27a95149c
- Broadway’s Backbone, “Episode 65, Guest: Stephen Flaherty, Host: Brad Bradley” (Dec 28, 2017), Accessed via: https://soundcloud.com/brad-bradley-17/broadways-backbone-ep-65-guest-stephen-flaherty-hostbrad-bradley
- International Festival of Musical Theatre, “Saturday 26 October 2002,” Accessed via: https://web.archive.org/web/20021012103931/http://cardiffmusicals.com:80/sat26.html#rag
- Matthew Curiano, “Ragtime Reinvented,” Accessed via: http://www.matthewcuriano.com/
- Music Theatre International, “Ragtime: Show History,” Accessed via: https://www.mtishows.com/show-history/1625
- New York Public Library, “Creating Ragtime,” Accessed via: https://browse.nypl.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb19714376__Screating%20ragtime%20__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=def
- Playbill, “Ragtime: Broadway: Original,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/ragtime-ford-center-for-the-performing-arts-vault-0000004683
- Playbill, “Ragtime: Broadway,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/ragtime-neil-simon-theatre-vault-0000000843
Written by Luisa Lyons (March, 2018)