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Ragtime Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Ragtime Quizzes, Trivia

Ragtime Trivia

Ragtime Trivia Quizzes

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'Ragtime', based on a book by E.L. Doctorow about three vastly different families living in New York City at the start of the 20th century, includes not only ragtime music, but also gospel, marches and cakewalks.
5 Ragtime quizzes and 55 Ragtime trivia questions.
1.
  The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"Ragtime", a sweeping musical about the changes in American culture during the early 1900s, features many real historical figures relating to the central fictional characters. See if you can identify the ways in which real people feature in the show.
Average, 10 Qns, merylfederman, Oct 04 13
Average
merylfederman gold member
2051 plays
2.
  Ragtime: The Musical    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is based on "Ragtime: The Musical". It will not have any references to who plays what part (i.e. which actor plays Mother in the 2001 tour?).
Tough, 10 Qns, hppybob, Apr 21 09
Tough
hppybob
278 plays
3.
  And Everything Was Ragtime    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
"In 1902 Father built a house on the crest of the Broadview Avenue Hill..." And so begans this quiz on everything "Ragtime". It's a mixture of questions on lyrics, actors, and various other snippets. If you're a "Ragtime" fan you'll enjoy it! Good luck
Average, 15 Qns, megrit, Jan 18 09
Average
megrit
709 plays
4.
  The Musical 'Ragtime'    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The musical 'Ragtime' has been one of my favorites since seeing the original cast. Here's for all you other fans!
Tough, 10 Qns, ladymacb29, Mar 26 05
Tough
ladymacb29 editor
1064 plays
5.
  Ragtime The Musical    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are a few questions on the fantastic Broadway show, 'Ragtime The Musical'.
Average, 10 Qns, kantastik, Aug 28 06
Average
kantastik
777 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What year did Father build the house at the crest of Broadview Avenue?

From Quiz "The Musical 'Ragtime'"





Ragtime Trivia Questions
1. "Father", one of the fictional main characters, is an amateur explorer who meets which real-life professional explorer and Admiral on a trip to the North Pole?

From Quiz The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"

Answer: Robert Peary

Father is surprised that Admiral Peary's first mate is Matthew Henson, a black man - he remains civil upon meeting this historically accurate character, but it is clear that he is just small-minded enough to have problems with other races.

2. Complete the quote: "Grandfather was a professor of..."

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: Greek and Latin

The entire quote is "Grandfather was a professor of Greek and Latin. Now retired and living with his daughter and her family, he was thoroughly irritated...by everything." He plays an extremely minor part. I think his only positive comment is "Ill-tuned or not, the Aeolian had never made such sounds."

3. What are the names of the composer and lyricist, respectively?

From Quiz Ragtime The Musical

Answer: Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens

In 1994 the two collaborated on an audition tape made up of 4 songs for the would-be musical. Opening night on Broadway was January 18, 1998.

4. In what city did Ragtime have its World Premiere?

From Quiz The Musical 'Ragtime'

Answer: Toronto

I saw it there! Many shows won't premiere in New York in order to give them time to work out the bugs. Also, it's cheaper putting on a show in another city - New York is expensive!

5. "Now I'm the girl on the swing!" sings which real-life vaudeville showgirl back home?

From Quiz The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"

Answer: Evelyn Nesbit

Evelyn Nesbit, a young woman with a past, ended up gaining quite a bit of notoriety due to her involvement in "the trial of the century", where her husband was the defendant.

6. Which actor/actress won a Tony for "Ragtime"?

From Quiz And Everything Was Ragtime

Answer: Audra MacDonald

Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie were in "Kiss Me, Kate" together, as well.

7. "In ____ Father built a house at the crest of the Broadview Avenue hill in New Rochelle..."

From Quiz Ragtime The Musical

Answer: 1902

This is the first line of the show; it's in the Prologue, "Ragtime". The show spans approximately 10 years. The epilogue, which is a reprise of "Ragtime" and "Wheels of a Dream" includes talk of the first World War, and of how each main character 'ended up'.

8. "My Harry's not guilty!" cries the showgirl - "'cause Harry is out of his mind!" Which "Harry", married to the showgirl, killed the showgirl's lover? He was "a violent man!"

From Quiz The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"

Answer: Harry Thaw

Harry K. Thaw, a man with a history of mental illness, did not handle his wife's prior relationship well, and he was tried for the murder of her lover. This was one of the first and highest-profile instances of being found not guilty by reason of insanity, and sentenced to life in an asylum for the criminally insane.

9. Tateh, the Jewish immigrant, changes his name during the play. What is his name changed to?

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: Baron Ashkenazy

He actually spells the name out during the song "Buffalo Nickel Photoplay Inc." Here is the quote: "And if by chance you see/a movie that was made by/remember when the name goes by/that's ASH-K-E-N-A-Z-Y/the baron, now American,/who happened once to think..."

10. What was the name of the Tony Award-winning orchestrator for "Ragtime"?

From Quiz And Everything Was Ragtime

Answer: William D. Brohn

This was the first year that a Tony was given for Orchestrations. Before that, there were just Drama Desk Awards.

11. Who wrote the lyrics to the show?

From Quiz The Musical 'Ragtime'

Answer: Lynn Ahrens

My friend got to go to a master class with her. She also worked on "Titanic."

12. Can't have a love triangle without the third point - which real-life architect was the murdered lover of the vaudeville showgirl?

From Quiz The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"

Answer: Stanford White

Stanford White was an architect, and figures in the vaudeville representation of both crime and trial in the satirical song "Crime of the Century". This song both presents the crime of Harry Thaw killing Stanford White, and parodies the breathless sensationalism of the media hype.

13. Who is mentioned in the song "His Name was Coalhouse Walker" as Coalhouse's inspiration to play ragtime?

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: Scott Joplin

"His name was Coalhouse Walker./Was a native of St. Louis some years before./When he heard the music of Scott Joplin..." Scott Joplin was a famous ragtime composer, creating, most famously, "The Entertainer."

14. In the song "Your Daddy's Son", finish the line "Daddy played piano, played it very well. Music from his hands could catch you like a ___."

From Quiz And Everything Was Ragtime

Answer: spell

"Music from his hands could catch you like a spell. He could make you love him 'fore the tune was done. You have your Daddy's hands. You were your Daddy's son."

15. Which University did Father attend?

From Quiz Ragtime The Musical

Answer: Harvard

This information is found in the song "What a Game" 'At Harvard, We were gentlemen. Men were gentlemen.' This song is really entertaining and fun, though I'm pretty sure the show would have been just as extraordinary without it. But that's just my opinion.

16. What ethnical background does the Fire Chief have?

From Quiz The Musical 'Ragtime'

Answer: Irish

He works at the Emerald Isle Engine Company.

17. The fictional character of "Mother's Younger Brother" was inspired when he heard someone speak "At Union Square". Which real-life rabble-rouser was so inspiring to him?

From Quiz The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"

Answer: Emma Goldman

Anarchist Emma Goldman enters the story as the substantial, powerful counterpart to Evelyn Nesbit (who was Younger Brother's prior infatuation). Younger Brother always needed something to believe in, and found the ideology of Goldman more compelling than the sex appeal of Nesbit.

18. In the Prologue, Emma Goldman mentions a date that specifies during what time period the play takes place. What is this date?

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: 1906

This is the line: "And although the newspapers called the shooting the 'Crime of the Century', Goldman knew it was only 1906..." The next line has the chorus sing "And there were 94 years to go!"

19. In the beginning of the show there are three groups circling each other for the opening number. What three are they?

From Quiz And Everything Was Ragtime

Answer: African Americans, Immigrants, rich Caucasian people

The scene starts with the rich people, moves to the African Americans, then the immigrants. In the original previews showing in Toronto, the beginning was completely different. It was changed for the opening.

20. In the original Broadway cast, who played Coalhouse Walker Jr.?

From Quiz Ragtime The Musical

Answer: Brian Stokes Mitchell

Apparently you can only play Coalhouse if you have a stage name consisting of three names, or at least an initial! White is from a Broadway cast, Darrington from the Canadian Tour in 2002 and Rollins is from the cast pre-Broadway.

21. Who attended Booker T. Washington's Funeral?

From Quiz The Musical 'Ragtime'

Answer: President and Mrs. Wilson

It's in the talking bit during the song.

22. Mother, just before the song "Goodbye, My Love," asks Father not to bring back too much of what?

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: Polar bear skins

Father is going to the North Pole with Admiral Peary and his first mate Matthew Henson. He comes back to say that he never actually reached the North Pole and that only Henson and Peary made it, but that he got quite close, which is pretty incredible for an amateur explorer.

23. What type of building is Coalhouse Walker Jr. threatening to blow up in his last scene?

From Quiz And Everything Was Ragtime

Answer: library

Younger Brother is in the building with him. In the end, Father convinces Coalhouse to leave.

24. On which day of the week did Coalhouse visit Sarah at the house in New Rochelle?

From Quiz Ragtime The Musical

Answer: Sunday

"Each Sunday he'd come driving. Curtains would part, Neighbors would peek." At first, Mother is hesitant to let Coalhouse Walker Jr. into her home, but as weeks pass, she invites him in and he plays the piano for her and her family, and Sarah.

25. Who played Mother in the original Toronto and New York casts?

From Quiz The Musical 'Ragtime'

Answer: Marin Mazzie

A wonderful actress who was also in 'Passion'.

26. Complete the quote: "Little Brother was a genius at..."

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: explosives

While you may object to the answer being explosives and not fireworks, Little Brother does specify that he is a genius at explosives, not fireworks. This comes in handy later, during the song "He Wanted to Say".

27. In the song/scene "Look What You've Done", what does younger brother protest Coalhouse doing?

From Quiz Ragtime The Musical

Answer: Turning himself in

"You can't change your demands. You are betraying us. You said we would all go free or we would all die!" Coalhouse does end up turning himself in, and getting shot and killed. Younger Brother later joins the revolutionary, Emiliano Zapata, in Mexico.

28. Who originated the role of Emma Goldman in Toronto?

From Quiz The Musical 'Ragtime'

Answer: Camille Saviola

Camille Saviola is also well known as the Kai in the first season of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

29. Coalhouse takes over a library named for and owned by another man "at the apex of the American pyramid," a wealthy robber baron who emerges as a villain towards the end of the play. Who is it?

From Quiz The Real Historical People Called it "Ragtime"

Answer: J.P. Morgan

J. P. Morgan's library provides the setting for the final showdown. Emma Goldman applauds Coalhouse's takeover of the library and most of the other main characters are frightened and appalled by it. Mother's Younger Brother is part of the gang at the time and Father is sent in as well to help negotiate a conclusion.

30. What color eyes does Sarah have (according to Coalhouse)?

From Quiz Ragtime: The Musical

Answer: brown

An entire song is dedicated to Sarah, called "Sarah Brown Eyes." Kinda obvious, isn't it?

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