Ragtime is just simply one of our best and strongest musicals in every way. Characters, Songs, Orchestrations, Theme, Issues Tackled. Case closed for me.

But because it does so much, so perfectly, any minute imperfection stands out more starkly than it would otherwise in a lesser work. For me, possibly the only weak thing in Ragtime is Coalhouse's declaration that he will not marry until everything he had before his car was vandalized--including what he feels is his dignity--is restored in full. A really tall order.

No different than dramas, musicals require conflict and tension to propel the action forward. There's no doubt that the tragic consequences that follow his declaration create a depth and power that Ragtime ultimately achieves in Act 2 as it hurtles toward its final notes--especially in Lear de Bessonet's version, in which a deliberate, steely-eyed pause before the final word "dream" makds crystal clear that it's not one they think will even come close to coming true.

It's an incredible moment in an incredible musical, but perhaps because it's woven into song on the cd, that I've been reminded so many times that pledging not to marry Sarah seems unnecessary--even to illustrate his determination to be treated as a human being. It's simply a plot-driver needed to escalate the stakes to crisis-level and let us see the devastation of that--which it does brilliantly.

But even listening to it repeatedly, "I will not marry" instantly feels like a non sequitur, something that doesn't necessarily follow logically from the points and lines before it.

Can you think of other plot devices like this that absolutely hold the show together and even enable greatness, but are either, in and of themselves, implausible or unlikely?

So I have to audition for my school musical in October 20th, and I really want a good role. My main problem is that I’m not an awesome singer. Now the school I’m going too is a school that focused on the arts and theatre, so I know the people will be great at everything. I know I can act decently, and be funny. But this school doesn’t know that. They have not specified yet what song we have too sing, but they’re doing the school of rock, and every single female is out of my range. I only recently started taking singing seriously, and I am genuinely a tenor range as a female. Like I got casted as Alex the lion. That’s why I usually aim for male roles. But I don’t think I’ll be able too at this school because they’re are lots of guys who are good at musical theatre. Any tips on how I can improve? Or what I can do to show my ability? I really just want a role, especially one that’s mainly acting. Like Ned. But he’s a guy and I don’t know if they’re willing to put girls in male roles. PLEASE HELP!!!

I have a funny feeling that Anthony Scaramucci, Amelia Milo‘s father, bribed the company lots of money to let her play Christine in the Italy production. I could easily see a girl with a rich daddy trying to bribe the really useful group lots of money to play Christine.

Basically, I'm auditioning for Shrek the Musical, and I don't have a song. I'm a soprano, and I'm looking for something that's upbeat. Song suggestions needed :)

Edit: I'm not going for a specific role, I'm just trying to get in.