[introduction Script]

---EVERYONE MILLING---

FREEZE

Tatiana: Ladies and gentlemen of the future...

Asha: Welcome to the Gilded Age!!

Tatiana: On one hand we have Lady Astor and her four-hundreds club!

Asha: Look at the fun they have!

Tatiana: But beware...the 400s club is only for the most elite of society...the most elegant of the

upper class...

Asha: The glamorous one percent. And the rest of us?

Tatiana: We are forgotten while they live in elegant stupor.

[walk over to urchins]

Asha: And what do we have here?

Tatiana: Why those are the street urchins!

Asha: Ah yes! Though only separated by a door, the scenes outside and inside are polar

opposites

Tatiana: Of course, here we have poor children, abandoned by society, left to fend for

themselves on the streets.

Asha: This is all good and well but... who are we?

Tatiana: We are the forgotten artists. We tiptoe in the shadows careful not to step on the white

man's feet. Angela Grimke, you are a magnificent playwright, but also a woman, a woman of

color and therefore not allowed to make change.

Asha: Youre Sippie Wallace, a singer and songwriter. You sing of racism because we are still

haunted with memories from the past.

[both walk over to isabelle]

Asha: And you sir?

Isabelle: Me?

Tatiana: Yes, you sit here at the piano but who are you?

Isabelle: I am Scott Joplin. I once traveled the country playing piano and performing my operas.

People still talk of my awe-inspiring pieces. I am called the King of Ragtime because of my

popular ragtime songs. Maybe youve heard of them? The Entertainer and the Maple Leaf Rag

are some of my all time favorites.

Asha: It seems as if history has overlooked us.

Tatiana: Because of our skin.

Asha: Because of our gender.

Tatiana: But in the meantime, lets take a peek into the world of the 400s club.

[urchins, 400s club part of show]

[vaudeville part of show begins]

Tatiana: And finally the vaudeville performers!

Asha: These folks perform for the poor and disadvantaged despite their extreme talent.
Tatiana: Acts including performing animals, plays, dancing and comedy wow both newly arrived

immigrants and poor workers.

Asha: But only because thats the only entertainment these folks can afford.

(1) Scott Joplin: Isabelle

Tatiana: First up we have Scott Joplin, an African-American original ragtime pianist and
composer here to perform the infamous, the catchy, the magnificent Maple Leaf Rag!

Asha: sippie if this performer seems very familiar to you it is because he often performs in our
vaudeville and minstrel shows but unfortunately most of his performances have been left behind
in the shadows.

Tatiana: Hmm, I suppose that since we dont have many records of him it must be difficult to
figure out his take on the racial disparity happening at this time.

Asha: Most definitely, its so discouraging!

Tatiana: Well dont get too sad because here comes our very own Scott Joplin!

Asha: Hopefully his upbeat ragtime tunes will lighten the mood.

Tatiana: Enjoy!!

[Isabelle performs]

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(2) Fanny Brice and Eva Tanguay: Bea and Rekha

Asha: Now introducing, long time performer, comedian and one of Mr. Ziegfeld's Follies, Fanny
Brice, singing Second hand rose!

Tatiana: Oooh whats this?

Asha: It appears we have another member of this act!

Tatiana: Its the queen of Vaudeville! The beautiful Eva Tanguay singing . . .
Asha: *glances at Eva* I Dont Care by Jean Lenox!

[Rekha and Bea perform]

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(3) Harry Houdini and Assistant: Donovan and Jordan

Tatiana: Next up we have Harry The Handcuff King Houdini and his magnificent assistant

Bess!

Asha: This renowned magician is most widely known for his Mirror Challenge, Milk Can Escape,

Chinese Water Torture Cell, Suspended Straitjacket and Overboard Box Escapes.

Tatiana: Wowing audiences far and wide, Houdini challenges your local community to find any

contraption that will successfully ensnare him!

Asha: Today he will be performing his Roped Straitjacket Escape trick for the 400s Club and

our esteemed guests of the future.

Tatiana: Now sit back, relax,

Asha: or not!

Tatiana: and enjoyyy the show!

[Donovan and jordan perform]

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(4) Louis Armstrong and Band: Alex, Jonah, Maddie, Charles?

Asha: Its time for the famous Louis Armstrong to take on the stage!

Tatiana: Louis Armstrong is a popular jazz musician, in fact he was the first great jazz soloist to
live and is among American musics most important and influential figures.

Asha: His solos set a standard for all musicians of the future!

Tatiana: Today Armstrong will take the stage with Baby Dodds, a popular jazz drummer. They
will be performing the West End Blues.

Asha: Now, enjoy a special treat by Louis Armstrong

[ Alex, Jonah, Maddie, Charles? perform]

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(5) Marx Brothers: Avi, Joel, Riley

Asha: Next we have the Marx brothers, a traditional slapstick comedy act that has never failed

to evoke a laugh from their audience.

Tatiana: Known as the most prominent group of actors on Vaudeville, the brothers come from

an extremely talented family and were introduced to performance arts at a very young age.

Asha: Today they will perform an act entitled The Lemonade Vendor

Tatiana: Now please, relax enjoy a wholehearted laugh

[Joel, Reilly and Avi perform]

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(6) Mami Smith: Mihret

Asha: Next we have the Ohio born Mamie Smith. Mamie will be singing her hit "crazy blues.

Tatiana: Mamie performed among European- American Audiences. Her success has influenced
record labels to seek for more female blues singers.
Asha: Now without further ado... Mamie Smith

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--Ziegfeld Follies

--Urchins [show ends w urchins begging]