Creating Ragtime
Wow! I discovered on YouTube today something I did not know existed, a PBS "Great Performances" episode on the making of Ragtime. It is fantastic.
Favorite parts:
Watching Marin Mazzie sing her red, vibrating face off while recording "Back to Before," seeing her sheer exhaustion after finishing, and seeing Brian Stokes Mitchell come in and embrace her like a proud papa as she slumped against him.
Seeing teeny, tiny little Lea Michele.
Watching the conductor wave his baton in the air during the climax of "New Music," blissed out, eyes closed.
Favorite parts:
Watching Marin Mazzie sing her red, vibrating face off while recording "Back to Before," seeing her sheer exhaustion after finishing, and seeing Brian Stokes Mitchell come in and embrace her like a proud papa as she slumped against him.
Seeing teeny, tiny little Lea Michele.
Watching the conductor wave his baton in the air during the climax of "New Music," blissed out, eyes closed.
Seeing rehearsals and how the cast members would be only half in costume, wearing a top hat with a t-shirt and jeans or holding an umbrella.
Seeing the veins bulging in Brian Stokes Mitchell's forehead as he sings, "MY law and MY justice, in rhythm and rhyme..." and pulls out his gun.
Watching Stephen Flaherty joyfully pound out "Gettin' Ready Rag" on the piano.
The way that Coalhouse, when singing "And tell them in our struggle, we were not the only ones," extends his arm, gesturing to Younger Brother.
The utter perfection of "Sarah Brown Eyes."
Oh, to go back in time and see this original cast performing this musical.
At least I got to see Mother and Coalhouse in Kiss Me, Kate.
Labels: theater
posted by eliza @ 5:29 PM
4 Comments:
I told you I saw the original cast, right? It was one of the most amazing nights of theatre of my entire life.
Of course. I remember reading about that year's Tony Awards in your old online journal -- almost a decade ago. Wow. You definitely need to watch this special.
I remember about 9 years go (I think it was in 1998?) I saw 'Ragtime' on stage in Los Angeles, and it was the first musical I had seen in a theatre. I'll never ever forget it. I know every word to the soundtrack to this day.
ari, that sounds dreamy. I saw a touring production once it closed on Broadway, and it was so pared down that it was only so-so. Which was very sad for me.
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