For Tony Award nominees Brandon Uranowitz, Caissie Levy and Joshua Henry, the Morgan Library in New York City – built by financier J.P.Morgan at the turn of twentieth century – represents the grandeur of the Gilded Age, a period of American history that lends itself especially to drama.
"There was just, like, a lot of change happening," Uranowitz said."And I think with any change comes conflict, and with conflict comes drama."That drama is what drives the revival of the musical in which the three star: "Ragtime." Asked to describe the show, Levy replied, "It's about three distinct groups of people coming together in America, and the way that, in their individual pursuit of the American Dream for themselves, the way it changes someone else's pursuit of their American Dream." Pursuing their American Dreams are Mother, a wealthy suburban matriarch (played by Levy); Coalhouse Walker, a successful ragtime pianist (played by Henry); and Tateh, an immigrant from Eastern Europe (played by Uranowitz).The original production (starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald) opened on Broadway in 1998.
Upon its debut, "Sunday Morning" interviewed the musical's creators, including the late writer Terrence McNally, who said, "This show is very much a return to the tradition of people singing about big emotions, primary emotions.It's a very noble show.
It's a big story.It says, `Here's my heart.'" Henry said, "I think that's one of the big successes of this book and this story, is that it catches people at their extremes."At the beginning of the show, Coalhouse Walker firmly believes in the promise of a future with the woman he loves and their infant son.
Henry said, "One of the heartbreaking aspects of that joyous moment is, we're in around 1908 and you're like, 'Wow.How can this Black man and woman be so hopeful about what they don't see?'" That hopefulness is conveyed in the show's best-known number, "Wheels of a Dream," sung by Henry and Nichelle Lewi...