NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 11 – IN THE HEIGHTS

by | Sep 15, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, In The Heights Walking Tour, News, Shows, Washington Heights

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LIGHTS UP BROADWAY FANS on counting down to another day leading to The 74th Annual Tony Awards. We have more iconic performances coming your way celebrating Broadway’s return on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Broadway’s biggest night is almost here!!
Our selection today at # 11 is a unique show that changed the face of Broadway. It follows 3 days in the life of residents in one of New York’s most famous upper West Side neighborhoods…. Washington Heights. It featured an incredible blend of original Hip Hop, Rap, Pop, Soulful, and Latin music. If you think about what we’re talking about, you guessed correctly….. This is In The Heights. In his breakout Broadway debut, the show features a score (in his Broadway debut) by Lin-Manuel Miranda along with a book by Quiara Alegria Hudes .
From the 2008 telecast, Lin-Manuel Miranda as “Usnavi”, Tony nominee Christopher Jackson as “Benny”, Tony nominee Robin De Jesus as “Sonny”, Tony winner (and nominee again this year) Karen Olivo as “Vanessa”, and the cast perform a medley of the show’s opening title song IN THE HEIGHTS and the showstopping 96,000.
IN THE HEIGHTS was first conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda (way long before his now worldwide smash hit Hamilton) in 1999 during his Sophomore year of college at Wesleyan University. Following seeing the musicals RENT and THE CAPEMAN on Broadway, he wanted to create his own show that takes place in the present day mixing Latin, hip hop, and rap into one show. He was inspired by his family routes, childhood, and living in Washington Heights, Manhattan. After a year of writing, the show got accepted into Wesleyan’s student Theater company called Second Stage (not related to the Off Broadway Theater company we know today) in the Spring of 2000. This 3 night only debut got the attention of fellow Wesleyan students consisting of John Buffalo Mailer, Neil Stewart, Anthony Veneziale, and Thomas Kail (who went on to direct the production). They wanted to expand the production and make it a full scale musical. It was continued to be expanded at the Drama Book Shop along with various readings, workshops, and labs. In addition, Quiara Alegria Hudes came on board as an additional book writer. 5 rough drafts of the musical were made.
Following over 7 1/2 years of readings and workshops, the show had its world premiere Off Broadway in 2007 at 37 Arts Theatre (now Baryshnikov Arts Center) and the response from critics and the audience exploded.. From there, the show went on to Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre where it ran for 1,213 performances. Under the direction of Thomas Kail and choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, the cast consisted of….
Lin Manuel Miranda (later Javier Munoz, Corbin Bleu, and Kyle Beltran) as “Usnavi”,
Christopher Jackson (later Clifton Oliver) as “Benny”,
Robin De Jesus (later David Del Rio, Jon Rua, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett) as “Sonny”,
Tony winner Karen Olivo (later Marcy Harriell) as “Vanessa”,
Seth Stewart (later William B. Wingfield) as “Graffiti Pete”,
Mandy Gonzalez (later Janet Decal, Jordin Sparks, and Arielle Jacobs) as “Nina Rosario”,
Carlos Gomez (later Rick Negron) as “Kevin Rosario”,
Tony winner Priscilla Lopez as “Camila Rosario”,
Andréa Burns (later Bianca Marroquin) as “Daniella”,
Janet Decal (later Courtney Reed) as “Carla”,
Tony nominee Olga Merediz as “Abuela Claudia”,
&
Eliseo Roman as “The Piragua Guy”.
IN THE HEIGHTS was nominated for 13 Tony Awards in 2008 winning 4 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST SCORE. In addition, the show’s cast album also went on to win a Grammy for BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM.
From there, IN THE HEIGHTS has gone on to present productions across America, London’s West End (winning several Olivier Awards), Japan, Philippines, and around the world.
Along with the success of stage production, IN THE HEIGHTS most recently went on to become a successful movie musical. The film was shot in THE BARRIO itself of Washington Heights. After a year long delay due to COVID-19, it was released in the Summer of 2021 from Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the direction of Jon M. Chu and an updated screenplay by Quiara Alegria Hudes and Marc Klein, the film cast was led by….
Anthony Ramos as “Usnavi”,
Corey Hawkins as “Benny”,
Gregory Diaz IV as “Sonny”,
Noah Catala as “Graffiti Pete”,
Leslie Grace as “Nina Rosario”,
Jimmy Smits as “Kevin Rosario”,
Sacha Polanco as “Cuca” (formerly “Camilla Rosario”),
Daphne Rubin-Vega as “Daniella”
Stephanie Beatriz as “Carla”,
Olga Merediz reprising her performance as “Abuela Claudia”,
&
Lin Manuel Miranda as “The Piragua Guy”.
The show is also currently being performed in Schools, Community, and Regional Theaters everywhere.
Doesn’t this show make you want to get into that hip hop groove?

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 12 – COME FROM AWAY

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS! The days continue to get closer as we celebrate Broadway’s biggest night just 12 DAYS AWAY. We of course are talking about The 74th Annual Tony Awards. We have more iconic legendary performances coming up on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Truly the ultimate celebration of welcoming back Live Theater’s return. Are you ready for more?
At # 12 on our countdown, we chose a groundbreaking powerful story inspired by what happened on the day we NEVER FORGET 20 years ago. It follows a community of people on a small Canadian Island (called Gander) as they take care of over 7,000 strangers from all points of the earth during the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. This is Come From Away. The show features a score and a book by husband and wife duo Irene Carl Sankoff and David Hein.
From the 2017 telecast, here is the full original Broadway cast singing the show’s opening number WELCOME TO THE ROCK. .
COME FROM AWAY was first conceived by Lawyer and Theater producer Michael Rubinoff. He was inspired by the story of how the entire community of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed the stranded passengers into their homes during September 11th, 2001 for a whole week till it was safe to go back up into the air. He tried to pitch the idea to many numerous Canadian musical theatre writers to no avail. Luckily at the same time in 2009, an new original musical entitled My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding just opened. It was getting tons of buzz from the Toronto Fringe Festival and was transferred to the Panasonic Theatre. Rubinoff got the autobiographical musical’s composer husband and wife duo Irene Sankoff and David Hein on board for the new musical. From there, the team went straight to work. In 2011, Sankoff and Hein traveled to Gander, Newfoundland on the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. There, they got to meet and interview many of the locals and the passengers that were stranded (who returned for the Anniversary) to share their stories and experiences on what it was like during the long week of the most difficult time in world history. The couple took many of the stories turning them directly into music while others were merged for story purposes. From there, the show went on to be developed for 3 1/2 years, Many readings and workshops for the show were done through the The The Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan College, Goodspeed Musicals, and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.
It officially had its world premiere engagements in 2015 playing Seattle, Washington at both the The 5th Avenue Theatre and the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Both runs earned critical praise and extensions. From there, the show embarked for a pre-Broadway tour in the Fall of 2016. The Pre-Broadway tour played engagements at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. and the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, The Toronto engagement sold out by the 2nd week of performances selling over $1.7 million in tickets in a single week.
The company also performed a special benefit concert version in the actual town of Gander at the Steele Community Centre as a tribute to the inspirational people there. Many of the residents and the passengers who were grounded during that crazy time were an emotional mess to hear their stories told by performers.
From there, the show officially made its way to the Great Bright Way playing the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre where it was still playing to packed houses. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic when it shutdown, the show was initially set to celebrate its 3rd Anniversary performance that evening. It is set to relaunch its Broadway run there on September 21st, 2021.
Under the direction of Christopher Ashley, the cast was led by….
Tony nominee Chad Kimball (later Tony LePage and James Seol) as Garth”, “Kevin Tuerff”, and others,
Tony nominee Jenn Colella (later Becky Gulsvig and currently Rachel Tucker) as “Captain Beverly Bass” (the first female pilot EVER for American Airlines), Annette”, and others,
Joel Hatch as “Claude Elliott” and others,
Rodney Hicks (later and now De’Lon Grant) as “Bob” and others,
Caesar Samayoa as “Ali”, “Kevin Jung” and others,
Kendra Kassebaum (later Alex Finke, Emily Walton, and Pearl Sun) as “Janice Mosher” and others,
Petrina Bromley (later Pearl Sun) as “Bonnie Harris” and others,
Geno Carr (later and now Paul Whitty) as “Oz Fudge” and others,
Lee MacDougall (later and now Jim Walton) as “Doug”, “Nick Marson” and others,
Q. Smith (later and now Kenita R. Smith) as “Hannah O’Rourke” and others,
Sharon Donaldson-Wheatley as “Diane Gray” and others,
and
Astrid Van Wieren as “Beulah Davis” and others.
COME FROM AWAY went on to be nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 2017. It took home only 1 for BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (for Christopher Ashley).
With the success of Broadway, COME FROM AWAY continues to move audiences everywhere. It’s currently a worldwide phenomenon. Productions are currently being performed all over including….
a sit-down company in Toronto (which the producers planned immediately following the closing of the Pre-Broadway run there),
on Tour all across North America (set to relaunch also later this Fall),
in London’s West End (where it took home the Olivier for BEST NEW MUSICAL) which reopened this past Summer,
in Australia,
and more.
Along with its success on stage, COME FROM AWAY was recently released as a professionally captured proshot. It was released this past Friday on Apple TV+. Filmed on the stage of the Gerald Schonefeld Theatre in front of a private audience of Frontline Workers, it included veteran original and replacement cast members combined.
This show is truly a celebration of community even in the most difficult times.
How beautiful was that performance musical?!!

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: #13 – JERSEY BOYS

by | Sep 13, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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WHAT’S GOING ON BROADWAY FANS?! The 74th Annual Tony Awards is just 13 DAYS AWAY. Can you believe the wait is almost over?!! With getting us back into the groove of Broadway’s reopening and celebrating this annual tradition, we at New York Broadway Tours are continuing to serenade you every morning with many of our favorite legendary performances on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. More showstoppers from previous telecasts coming up. Get ready to belt it out!!!
At # 13 on our countdown, we follow 4 locals from New Jersey who come together and create one of the most successful Rock ‘N Roll groups of the 1960’s. This is Jersey Boys. The show tells the story and features the songs of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. It features a score by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe along with a book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice.
From the 2006 telecast, here is Tony winners John Lloyd Young as “Frankie Valli” and Christian Hoff as “Tommy DeVito” along with Tony nominee J Robert Spencer as “Nick Massi”, and Daniel Reichard as “Bob Gaudio”, and the full original Broadway cast performing a medley of some of your favorite FOUR SEASONS tunes. They consist of….. CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU and the show’s finale WHO LOVES YOU.
JERSEY BOYS was originally conceived by OG Four Seasons member Bob Gaudio. He wanted to create a musical featuring the discography of the band… almost done in the same style as Mamma Mia! with an original story. He hired book writers Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman along with director Des McAnuff, and producer Michael David of Dodger Theatricals). However, it was Brickman who suggested Gaudio in creating the musical to really tell the story of Gaudio’s own personal experiences of being part of The Four Seasons. He believes it’s a true classic rags to riches, and back to rags classic American story. There also wasn’t that much about the group’s history prior to the show happening because there weren’t that many tabloids about them in magazines during that era. However, Brickman and Elice were surprised to discover the Four Seasons (including Bob Gaudio) had criminal records but they cleaned themselves up in the end. They also explored previous interviews from the alive OG members at the end…. Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito (who recently passed away), and Gaudio. Each of them shared their own experience of the story. However, the script received that “A-Ha” moment when DeVito told Brickman and Ellis to not listen to what the other members said. It immediately was given that Rashomon effect into the story that we know today. In case anyone may not know, each member of the Four Season narrates their side of the story especially with the drama they go through.
The show had its World Premiere run in California at the La Jolla Playhouse in the Fall of 2004. It was well received by critics but bits of the Book needed some work and revamping before Broadway. In addition, the lead role of “Frankie Valli” (originally played by David Noroma) was recast by newcomer John Lloyd Young.
FUN FACT: Young originally auditioned for the show’s world premiere run as “Tommy DeVito” however he failed to get the role. When the show was getting ready for Broadway, he persisted and auditioned again. This time, he booked it and replaced David Noroma as “Frankie Valli”. This shows you that persistence pays off!!!
JERSEY BOYS officially made its Broadway Debut in the Fall of 2005 where it played Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre for 11 years and 4,642 performances as the 12th Longest Running Show in Broadway History. It became an instant box office smash playing to packed houses every single night. Under the direction of Des McAnuff and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, the original cast was led by…
John Lloyd Young as “Frankie Valli”
Christian Hoff as “Tommy Devito”
J. Robert Spencer as “Nick Massi”,
Daniel Reichard as “Bob Gaudio
Michael Longoria as “Joe Pesci” (and OG alternate “Frankie Valli”),
Jennifer Niamo as “Mary Delgado”,
Erica Piccininni as “Lorraine”,
Sara Schmidt as “Francine Valli”,
Mark Lotito as Gyp DeCarlo,
and more.
The Broadway production had a huge roster of replacements throughout its unforgettable 11 years.
JERSEY BOYS went to be nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 2006 winning 4 for BEST MUSICAL, BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for John Lloyd Young), BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Christian Hoff), and BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL (for Howell Binkley). The show’s original cast recording also went on to top the charts and win a 2007 Grammy Award for BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM.
With the success of Broadway, the show went on to become a worldwide phenomenon with productions everywhere from London’s West End (where it went on to win the Olivier Award taking home the only the big prize that evening BEST NEW MUSICAL), Australia, Several Touring companies worldwide, Global companies translating the show into various different languages, and even a company on Norwegian Cruise Line.
A month after shutting down ON Broadway, it was announced that JERSEY BOYS was here to stay in the Big Apple. In the Fall of 2017, the show made its way OFF-Broadway to its current home at New World Stages. For its current Off Broadway run (with the production being in a smaller space), the set was created smaller along with 4 Ensemble actors tracks being cut. The script however is still the same. With its same original creative team, the original Off Broadway company was led by….
Aaron De Jesus as “Frankie Valli”,
Nicholas Dromard as “Tommy Devito”,
Mark Edwards as “Nick Massi”,
Cory Jeacoma as “Bob Gaudio”,
Jon Hacker as “Joe Pesci”,
Jennifer Niamo as “Mary Delgado”,
Rachel Schur as “Lorraine”,
Jenna Nicole Schoen as “Francine Valli”,
Stephen Cerf as Gyp DeCarlo,
and more.
Several replacements have gone into the Off Broadway run including most recently notably the Granddaughter of the real Frankie Valli himself. In 2019, Olivia Valli joined the cast playing her own real life Grandmother “Mary Delgado” for a strictly limited engagement. See, it runs in the family.
JERSEY BOYS was still playing to packed houses every night at its current Off Broadway home and around the world.
The show was abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12th, 2020. However, they are starting to return. The New York company will resume performances Off Broadway at New World Stages starting November 15th, 2021.
Most recently, the show launched its first West End revival at the newly renovated Trafalgar Theatre in London.
Along with its success on stage, JERSEY BOYS became a smash on the big screen. The film version was released in 2014 from Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the direction of Clint Eastwood, the cast was led by….
John Lloyd Young reprising his Tony winning role as “Frankie Valli”,
Vincent Piazza as “Tommy Devito”,
Michael Lomenda as “Nick Massi”,
Erich Bergen as “Bob Gaudio”,
Jon Hacker as “Joe Pesci”,
Renee Marino as “Mary Delgado”,
Erica Piccininni as “Lorraine”,
Freya Tingley as “Francine Valli”,
Christopher Walken as Gyp DeCarlo,
and more.
Most recently, it was announced that a Live Televised production of the musical is set to be released this holiday season. Filmed in Cleveland, OH, it will be a made-for-television presentation featuring the show’s original staging and led by an exciting cast consisting of….
Nick Jonas as “Frankie Valli”,
Andy Karl as “Tommy DeVito”,
Cj Pawlikowski as “Bob Gaudio”,
and
Matt Bogart as “Nick Massi”.
In addition to life outside of doing the show’s success 8 times a week, the original Broadway FOUR SEASONS (Hoff, Reichard, and Spencer with the exception of Young being replaced by Michael Longoria) reunited and embarked on a concert tour as THE BOYS done in the style of a cover band show performing majority of songs from the show and additional Four Seasons tunes not in JERSEY BOYS. However, the group all got sued by Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice who claimed they were “stealing songs, stage elements and copyrighted logo” that imply that it is an authorized spin-off of JERSEY BOYS. They immediately gave the group a name change from The 4 Hitmen to what it is today as The Midtown Men. Longoria, Hoff, Reichard, and Spencer counter-sued, claiming that the accusations were false, and alleging the use of “bully tactics” in an “effort to injure the livelihood and the reputations” of the actors. All they were doing was paying tribute to their job. The original lawsuit was dropped in 2010 with the condition that they kept the performance distanced to the world of JERSEY BOYS. It was tweaked up featuring a tribute medley to music from the show (THE FOUR SEASONS) along with other additional Rock ‘N Roll songs in the 1960’s. Even before all of COVID-19 was happening, THE MIDTOWN MEN continued to give concerts all across the country…. Some with a small band and some featuring the world’s greatest symphony orchestras.
JERSEY BOYS has also been continued to be performed in Schools, Community, and Regional Theaters.
Isn’t this musical so great in the way it gets the audiences walking out humming those tunes?!!
Isn’t it TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 14 – FUN HOME

by | Sep 12, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS!! Just another day celebrating the return of the Great Bright Way after 18 months of being shutdown. We are continuing to countdown to Broadway’s Biggest Night just 14 DAYS AWAY…. We are talking about the 74th Annual Tony Awards. Our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more legendary performances.
At # 14 on our countdown, we take you to Pennsylvania where we meet a dysfunctional family BOTH living and working at a funeral home. Mainly, it centers on a coming-of-age woman discovering her sexuality her complicated relationship with her family, and more. This is a day at the…… Fun Home. Based on Allison Bechdel’s autobiographical graphic novel of the same name, it features an original score and book by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron. It also made history as the first Broadway show to have a Lesbian serve as the protagonist.
From the 2015 telecast, Tony nominee Sydney Lucas as “Small Allison” along with Tony winner Michael Ceveris as “Bruce Bechdel” and Tony nominee Beth Malone as “Adult Allison” perform the musical’s powerhouse ballad RING OF KEYS.
FUN HOME was first conceived in 2007 just a year after following the success of Allison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic novel of the same name which was well received by book readers everywhere. It was developed through a full course of over 5 1/2 years through various readings and workshops. The development labs were held in both California and New York City at the Ojai Playwrights Conference, Sundance Institute’s Theater Lab, and The Public Theater. Through the labs, the story began to evolve and went through numerous changes in the story and the score. For Allison Bechdel herself, she did not participate in the musical’s development labs. She expected her story to seem artificial and distant on stage, but she came to feel that the musical had the opposite effect, bringing the “emotional heart” of the story closer than even her book did.
FUN HOME officially had its world premiere production Off Broadway at The Public Theater in the Fall of 2013. It was well received by both critics and audiences alike, it was extended 3 TIMES running until January 2014. Under the direction of Sam Gold, the original production cast featured….
Tony winner Michael Ceveris as “Bruce Bechdel”,
Tony nominee Judy Kuhn as “Helen Bechdel”,
Tony nominee Beth Malone as “Adult Allison Bechdel”,
Tony nominee Sydney Lucas as “Small Allison Bechdel”,
Alexandra Socha as “Medium Allison Bechdel”,
Griffin Birney as “Christian Bechdel”,
Noah Hinsdale as “John Bechdel”,
Roberta Colindrez as “Joan”,
and
Joel Perez as “Roy”, “Mark” “Pete”, and others.
The Off Broadway run took home various Awards including the Obie and the The Lucille Lortel Award for BEST NEW MUSICAL. It was also nominated for several Drama Desk Awards and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2014.
With the success of the Off Broadway engagement, FUN HOME officially moved to Broadway the following year of 2015 playing the Circle in the Square Theatre for 26 previews and 582 regular performances. The biggest change for the Broadway engagement was transforming the show from a proscenium stage to now being performed in-the-round. With Sam Gold on board, the cast featured…
Ceveris, Kuhn, Malone, Lucas, Colindrez, and Perez reprising their roles from the Off Broadway run. In addition, the casting also featured….
Tony nominee Emily Skeggs as “Medium Allison Bechdel” (which she originally served as the standby and then took on the role fulltime halfway through the Off Broadway run from Alexandra Socha who departed for personal reasons),
Oscar Williams as “Christian Bechdel”,
and
Zell Morrow as “John Bechdel”.
The Broadway production was well received by critics and audiences everywhere. It went on to receive 12 Tony Awards nominations winning 5 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron – who also made history that night as the first female writing team EVER to win that category).
Following its life on Broadway, FUN HOME toured all across North America back to performing on a proscenium stage. It continues to play around the world including The Philippines, Canada, Barcelona, and Australia.
Along with the success of the stage production, FUN HOME is currently in development of becoming a movie musical. It’s expecting to be produced and starring Jake Gyllenhaal as “Bruce Bechdel along with Sam Gold (the stage version’s director) making his film directorial debut.
Isn’t this such a powerful story?!!!

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 15 – RAGTIME

by | Sep 11, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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WHAT’S GOING ON BROADWAY FANS?! It’s only 15 DAYS till we celebrate Broadway’s triumphant comeback with a BANG…. We are talking about The 74th Annual Tony Awards. We got more iconic legendary performances from previous telecasts coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN.
Today, our selection day was a last minute change in support of 20 years of that horrific we’ll NEVER FORGET. At # 15 today on our countdown, we celebrate America at the turn of the century. It’s a personal favorite of NYBT’s founder and head guide Amada Anderson……. This is RAGTIME. Based on E. L. Doctorow’s best selling 1975 novel of the same name, it features an iconic score by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty along with a book by Terrence McNally.
From the 1998 telecast, here is the show’s legendary breakout original cast performing the show’s opening title song.
RAGTIME originally premiered in Toronto back in 1996 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts before moving on a month later to Broadway which opened the newly built Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now the Lyric Theatre) for 861 performances. Members of the original production included….
Alex Strange (later Anthony Blair Hall) as “Edgar, The Little Boy”,
the late Marin Mazzie (later Donna Bullock) as “Mother”,
Peter Friedman (later John Rubenstein) as “Tateh”,
Audra McDonald (later LaChanze) as “Sarah”,
Brian Stokes Mitchell (later Alton Fitzgerald White) as “Coalhouse Walker, Jr”,
Lea Michele (later Elizabeth Lundberg) as “The Little Girl”,
and
Judy Kaye as “Emma Goldman”.
The original production of RAGTIME was nominated for 13 Tony Awards in 1998. It took home 4 for BEST SCORE (for Flaherty & Ahrens), BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (for McNally), BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Audra McDonald), and BEST ORCHESTRATIONS (for William David Brohn).
Following the success of the original production, the show went on to become a worldwide hit musical from Regional productions, London’s West End, and several concert productions (including a concert production on Ellis Island back in 2016).
The 1st and most recent Broadway revival of RAGTIME happened in 2009 at the Neil Simon Theatre playing for only 93 performances. Members of that 2009 cast included…
Christopher Cox as “Edgar, The Little Boy”,
Christiane Noll as “Mother”,
Ron Bohmer as “Father”,
Robert Petkoff as “Tateh”,
Quentin Earl Darrington as “Coalhouse Walker, Jr”,
Stephanie Jean Umoh as “Sarah”,
Sarah Rosenthal as “The Little Girl”,
and
Donna Migliaccio as “Emma Goldman”.
The revival was nominated for 6 Tony Awards in 2010 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL. However, it lost all of it’s categories.
How beautiful is this iconic musical?