[image]
[title]On March 27, members of the original cast of Ragtime the Musical went “back to before” for a Entertainment Community Fund benefit concert marking the landmark production’s 25th anniversary. Over the course of many heart-felt tributes, multiple standing ovations and a nostalgic speech by original cast member, and current Funny Girl star, Lea Michele, the audience was reminded just how timely the show’s social themes remain.
Set in New York in the early 20th century, Ragtime follows the intersecting lives of a wealthy white family, a Black pianist from Harlem and recent immigrants to the city. Though it's set in the past, the musical—based on a 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow—explores topics that feel depressingly relevant. Police violence against Black Americans, discrimination against immigrants and the fight for gender equality all feature prominently in the plot.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, who originated the role of Coalhouse Walker in the original production, helped produce the reunion show to benefit ECF, an organization where he’s served as Chair of the Board for the last 20 years. Tickets for the non-profit’s next big benefit, its annual spring gala, go on sale today.
“All year long, the Entertainment Community Fund provides services that address the unique needs of people who work in performing arts and entertainment, and we always look forward to our Annual Gala to celebrate those who work alongside us in this mission,” said Brian Stokes Mitchell in a statement today.
We caught up with the star to look back on the memorable reunion concert and dive into the larger ongoing mission of ECF.
How did you approach Ragtime differently for the reunion concert than in the original production? What new things did you bring to the character?
Actually, it's kind of sad how not much has changed when looking at the themes of Ragtime and our world now. It’s actually a timeless show. During “’Til We Reach That Day,” the end of the first act, there's this lyric about how there was blood on the ground when I found Sarah [Audra McDonald’s character], and I sing: “It will happen again and again and again and again.” Especially given our more recent history and seeing this same thing happening that's been going on for hundreds of years now, it's just sad that that is something that we have not learned.
Our first rehearsal for the concert was a sob-fest.
What themes in the show continue to resonate with you the most?
Unfortunately, the themes in this story are just as relevant, if not more so, than they were when it was originally written. So performers and audiences nowadays are going to find their own connections to the story and their own memories of recent happenings that have been going on in the world, whatever time that might be, that relate to Ragtime. Ragtime is, fortunately, and also unfortunately, a timeless kind of story.
What was the process like rehearsing for the reunion concert and returning to this score?
Our first rehearsal for the concert was a sob-fest—just seeing each other again and hearing the music for the first time. It was interesting because I had not actually listened to the album since we recorded it, and I decided about three weeks ago that I better listen to the album and see if I’m forgetting anything in this. I was on an airplane actually when I did it and Allyson [Tucker Mitchell] was sitting next to me and so I was listening to the album on the airplane and I found myself having to pretend I was looking out the window because I found myself crying my eyes out listening to it! The music is so gorgeous. The lyrics are gorgeous, and that recording is beautiful. The orchestrations are beautiful. Marin Mazzie, Peter Friedman, Audra McDonald, Lynette Perry, Stephen Sutcliffe, Mark Jacoby…literally every single cast member was just so brilliant in that show.
What do you think is behind the enduring appeal of Ragtime?
It's about everybody working together to make life better for people who are struggling and having a hard time. And it's amazing what human beings can do when we all work together. I think that's very much what Ragtime is about. Let's listen to each other. Let's sit down. Let's work together.
Why did you feel it was important to organize this night to benefit the ongoing work of the Entertainment Community Fund?
I’m going on my 20th year now as the Chair of the Board of the Entertainment Community Fund, and I’m so incredibly proud of all the work the Fund does. I think if there's any large lesson in Ragtime, it's that we all need to work together. We all need to listen to each other. We all need to help each other because life is difficult and complex. I think our country is at its best when we are all united for a single goal, and that's very much what the Entertainment Community Fund has always been about.
Tickets for the Entertainment Community Fund’s 2023 gala are now on sale.