well, still hoping a few months on the road will improve things!!!!

<< and, of course, a copy is never as good as what it copied!>>

Years ago, I saw Les Miz in the original run, but without a few of the opening cast. We were underwhelmed and I couldn't understand what all the raves were about the show. Years later, I saw a revival and thought it was fantastic, but it was a copy. I attributed the differences to the cast. On the other hand, I was so disappointed by the last run of 'Man of La Mancha' because the original with Richard Kiley still stands out as one of the best musicals I've ever seen.

I think a copy may not be as wonderful as the original, but not always. And I am wondering what the new production of 'Ragtime' will be like. I very much enjoyed the original with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald.

I saw Billy Elliot on Broadway the other night.

I was extremely disappointed. I was tempted to walk out during intermission but I forced myself to stay till the end.

I am no prude but I thought the constant use of the "F bomb" was unnecessary.

cpg, we have high hopes for Ragtime, since this production has drawn raves in both London and Washington, DC. It's one of our all-time favorites. (This will be our fourth time seeing the show--twice at the original and once at a wonderful revival at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey four years ago.) Its opening number is one of the best ever!
There's a very good discount offer available on both broadwaybox.com and playbill.com. for Ragtime. Interestingly, I got almost the exact same seats for Ragtime as I did for Billy Elliot, and the Ragtime seats costs a little less than half (!) of of what I paid for Billy Elliot!

I think you have to realize when A Chorus Line first appeared -- some 33 years ago. At the time it was incredibly unique. A musical with no real scenery, no major costumes and no big production numbers (until the big ending, of course). It was truly a ground-breaking musical in a lot of ways. I think the original power of such a simple, but great show is now dated. Musicals have changed in a lot of ways. In those days a musical being serious at all was kind of a surprise -- today, it's almost the opposite -- musicals are expected to have some meaning and seriousness. To me, nearly any revival of the show just won't match the impact and "surprise" of the original. But of course, with a really wonderful cast, that could change that.

Howard has had my mouth watering for several months now over the idea of a trip to New York -- and seeing Ragtime again. I agree that the original was powerful, but almost too BIG for it's own good. I'd love to see a really great, NEW, somewhat less splashy version of the show. Now if only hotels in NYC weren't so damned expensive these days. Pushing $2000 or more just for a decent place to stay for a week just for me seems out of reach for me right now.

Shoot, tried to edit out the ' from it's but it was too late. Yes, I do know the difference between it's and its.

Patrick, I hate to make you even more frustrated, but this new version of Ragtime is supposed to be minimalistic in its scenery, focusing more on story and characters....and music, of course.
You are so right about shows being right for their time...and that certainly was the case for the original A Chorus Line. Interestingly, in the case of Chicago, the opposite was true. The revival was so much "righter" (my word!) for its time than the original, which explains why the original "only" ran for 898 performances, while the current revival is nearing the 5,400 mark and still going strong.
Coincidentally, Chicago and A Chorus Line both opened in the same year! Thus, the former was outshone by the latter at the time. But, Chicago may yet get the last laugh.If it lasts another year and a half, it'll surpass the original run of A Chorus Line!

Howard, I was thinking the same thing. I don't have dates in front of me, but at one time it was hard to compete with the likes of Cats, Phantom and Les Miz (not necessarily all at the same time).

My dh is having a big birthday in March. And since we decided not to travel then, I'm planning on a 'surprise,' great city weekend. I just bought tix for South Pacific (I saw it, but he didn't) for that weekend, but I had considered Ragtime. I'm not second guessing myself because I think he will love SP (6th row) and we did see the original RT together, but you have really whetted my appetite for RT. I think I'll bite the bullet and get them on Playbill.com.
After seeing RT, my older son said he was grateful that we took him to see it.

Howard, when are you seeing Ragtime?

I am coming to NYC w/my husband and 16 yr old daughter and her friend for a long weekend in mid-Dec for husband's birthday. I have the girls going to Hair on Fri. night and Altar Boyz on Sat. night.

I got tickets for hubby and me to see God of Carnage (yes, I know the cast is changing, hoping that it will still be good) on Fri. night. But he and I need a musical for Sat. night. I looked at off-Bway but so much is closing btwn. now and mid-Dec. Am thinking of Ragtime...really looking forward to your review.

Unfortunately, for your sake, emd3, we're not going until December 20.

That's funny - we got tix for 12/20 too.
Where are your seats?

For those of you interested in the origin of Ragtime, read Michael Kohlhaas is an 1811 novella by Heinrich von Kleist, based on a 16th-century story of Hans Kohlhase. Doctorow borrowed liberally from this including the main character Coalhouse Walker and the plot.

cpg, it's a small world! We're sitting in row K mid-mezzanine.

HowardR - We're in L orch on the side. I would love to meet you during intermission. I could come up to say hello - if you're agreeable to it.

cpg, we'll discuss as the date gets closer.