Ragtime Article Broadway Quiz WSC 2025

What major Broadway production overshadowed the original 1998 Ragtime?

• Chicago

• Rent

• The Lion King

• Les Misérables

What scandal contributed to the original Ragtime’s downfall?

• Unpaid union wages

• Copyright theft lawsuit

• A fraud scheme by its producer

• Safety violations at the theater

Compared to the original, the 2009 revival of Ragtime was described as:

• Flashier and longer

• Leaner but emotionally richer

• Focused only on immigrant characters

• Completely re-orchestrated with pop styles

What distinguishes the 2009 revival’s use of orchestra?

• Synthesizers replaced traditional instruments

• A cappella vocal scoring

• Full 28-piece orchestra remained intact

• Percussion-only score

The three major storylines in Ragtime represent all of the following except:

• African-American experience in Harlem

• White upper class in New Rochelle

• Political radicals in New York City

• Immigrants arriving in America

Which character's transformation is marked by his higher stage position in Act II?

• Coalhouse Walker Jr.

• J.P. Morgan

• Tateh

• Harry Houdini

How does director Marcia Milgrom Dodge symbolize class through stage design?

• Costume color schemes

• Lighting intensity changes

• Tiered set structure

• Character entrances from different wings

What was NOT a change made in the 2009 revival compared to the original?

• Reduced cast to under 20 members

• Simplified single-set design

• More grounded emotional tone

• Slight musical score edits

The role of Mother, played by Christiane Noll, is notable in the revival for:

• Being cut from several scenes

• Her comedic transformation

• A new song added to Act I

• A stronger, more assertive personality

Which of the following is a real historical figure portrayed in Ragtime?

• Charles Dickens

• Emma Goldman

• Eleanor Roosevelt

• Sigmund Freud