Ragtime Reflections: Dusting Off a Musical Gem

"Ragtime: The Musical," with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally, is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. It's two-and-a-half hours of intense beauty and heartbreaking grief, and frankly, all three of us choked up a little while recording this episode. The (incredibly intricate) plot follows the intersecting lives of three groups in the early 20th century: African Americans, upper-class white suburbanites, and Eastern European immigrants. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the story delves into themes of racial tension, social upheaval, and the pursuit of the American Dream, weaving vibrant, moving music with compelling narratives. The characters navigate love, loss, racism, feminism, and the evolving landscape of a dysfunctional nation in flux, all while singing some of the most gorgeous lyrics and music that ever flowed from Ahrens and Flaherty's pens.

(And somehow we managed to squeeze in a tribute to the amazing Marin Mazzie, too!)

So get yer hanky ready -- it's time to dust off this musical gem and explore the masterpiece that is "Ragtime: The Musical."

 

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