Ragtime's Road to Broadway, Part 3: First Orchestra Rehearsal

It sounds like a nasty medical procedure, but “sitzprobe” is the official term for a musical’s first rehearsal in which the cast sings the score accompanied by a full orchestra. In the case of Ragtime, which held this all-important event on October 16 at the Carroll Music Studio, the room was verrrry crowded, since the Broadway revival boasts a cast of 40 and a 28-piece orchestra! The aim of the sitzprobe is to integrate the musicians and singers, many of whom will make their Broadway debuts when the show begins performances at the Neil Simon Theatre on October 23. Broadway.com had the good fortune to sit in on this special afternoon, which was emotion-packed for the entire company.