What the fly on the wall heard...

Hey! Its the second post of "What the fly on the wall heard..."

Today I'm really excited to talk about a new album I've been listening to (and I'm listening to as I write).

It is the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Ragtime, a 1998 musical nominated for 13 Tony's. Four of the lead actors were nominated for Tonys; Brian Stokes Mitchell and Peter Friedman for Best Leading Actor, Marin Mazzie for Best Leading Actress, and Audra McDonald for Best Featured Actress. Audra McDonald was the only one of the four who won a Tony, and the musical itself was beaten out for Best Musical by The Lion King.

The plot is complicated and much, much more in depth than I have explained, so for more information look at the Wikipedia page for the musical.

It centers around three different families and social groups at the beginning of the 20th century: an upper class, white family; the African American ragtime musician Coalhouse Walker Jr. and his love, Sarah; and an immigrant Jewish father and his daughter. The lives of each family all become intertwined in the many social problems and entertainments sweeping the nation.

The cast recording is full of some amazing numbers, especially "Your Daddy's Son", "Wheels of a Dream", " 'Til We Reach That Day", and "Make Them Hear You", as well as some other awesome ones.

I've really enjoyed exploring this new musical. I can't speak to how good of a musical it is overall, as I have not seen the stage production (although my parents did, with Audra McDonald!!!!)

Warning: There is violence and I think a little bit of curse words in the OBCR, and the musical itself is not a peppy, happy, tralalalala, kind of subject. I would still recommend checking out some of the songs, though!

Prologue: Ragtime at the 1998 Tony Awards:

Wheels of A Dream at the 1997 Kennedy Center Honors: