艾利克斯（迈克尔·道格拉斯 Michael Douglas 饰）出生在一个非常古老而又兴旺的大家族中，他的父亲名叫米奇（柯克·道格拉斯 Kirk Douglas 饰），是一个脾气非常暴躁而又古怪的老头，长年以来，艾利克斯和米奇之间的父子关系都非常的恶劣。艾利克斯有两个儿子艾力（罗瑞·卡尔金 Rory Culkin 饰）和阿什（卡梅隆·道格拉斯 Cameron Douglas 饰），其中，阿什正值青春期，满身都是逆反的情绪，满脑子里想着的只有毒品、摇滚和性。虽然艾利克斯不希望自己和阿什之间的关系向他和他父亲那样的糟糕，但大部分时候，艾利克斯并不知道该如何去应对阿什频发的特殊状况。

一场巨大的金融骗局摧毁了年轻律师玛雅·林德尔的声誉，同时骗取了其导师兼教母戴安·洛克哈特的积蓄。她们不得不离开原律所来到戴安的前同事卢卡·奎因工作的地方——一家由非裔美国人主导的芝加哥著名律师事务所。

这张DVD是1998年九月在著名的卡内基音乐厅所主办的一场演唱会实况录像。从片子的名字就可以看出，参与演出的都是那些在百老汇音乐剧舞台上风光无限的女明星们。尽管从演唱会的人员名单上我们没有发现伯纳德彼得丝(Bernadette Peters)、依莲佩姬(Elaine Page)等无可争议的天后巨星，但朱迪安德鲁斯、李萨明里尼、林达伊德等名角的登场断不会让整台演唱会名不符实。总之，如果你对百老汇著名女演员的名字和她们演唱的曲目十分熟悉，那么这张DVD就是特别为你制作的；否则，台下观众接二连三的鼓掌欢呼一定会把你搞得莫名其妙。

When the unjustly imprisoned Sweeney Todd returns to London, he vows revenge upon those who framed him. Joining forces with Mrs. Lovett he kills and she bakes his customers into her meat pies.

第一幕

亞波羅劇院正舉行著新秀甄選，史特立姊妹的表演把觀眾們帶到演藝界。("I'm Looking for Something")遲到的三人黑人組合"夢幻小女生"主唱艾菲、和音甸娜及蘿奈來到，面對著龐大競爭，("Goin' Downtown")輪到黑人比利上台演唱，只把她們越來越緊張。("Takin' the Long Way Home")終於她們被編排至最後表演，("Move")居迪斯看中三人，特意讓他們輸掉比賽，轉替騷靈歌手占美當和聲。("Fake Your Way to the Top")艾菲之兄施斯也加入他們，為他們寫悅耳的曲子。("Cardillac Car")艾菲和居迪斯成為戀人，然而因為抄襲問題他們的合作不大順利，還好居迪斯有的就是辦法。("Steppin' to the Bad Side Today")

占美追求蘿奈，而居迪斯越發對艾菲感不耐煩，便讓甸娜取代其主音位置。在派對上眾人先開心了一晚，("Party, Party")眾人在邁亞密表演("I Want You Baby")後居迪斯宣佈了"夢幻小女生"將脫離占美，並改名作"夢幻女郎"，由甸娜主唱。艾菲大為不悅，眾人一起安慰她。("Family")占美的經理人馬堤因為占美不肯離開蘿奈及居迪斯的影響而離開，"夢幻女郎"的表演很成功，("Dreamgirls")甸娜在記者會上大出風頭，("Press Conference")而艾菲則冷眼旁觀。("Only the Beginning")正當艾菲漸漸淡出時，("Heavy")三人開始不和，終於居迪斯讓米雪兒取代艾菲，("It's All Over")唯艾菲不服("And I am Telling You I'm Not Going")。但這已無可挽回，"夢幻女郎"已經以新組合開始揚名立萬。("Love Love You Baby")

第二幕

在甸娜的帶領下，"夢幻女郎"已經有巡迴演出了。("Dreams Medley")馬堤現在成了艾菲的經理人，她在夜總會拿到了一個唱歌的職位，又開始了演藝生涯。("I am Changing")正當"夢幻女郎"們讓記者大殺菲林之時，("One More Picture Please")而我們也知道原來甸娜和居迪斯正在蜜運中。("When I First Saw You")又是表演季節，("Got to be Good Times")蘿奈一直想勸服有婦之夫占美跟妻子一刀兩斷，但占美不同意。("Ain't No Party")正當占美表演的時候，("I Meant You No Harm")後台卻發生了很多事，先是米雪兒接受了居迪斯助手韋恩的求婚，("Quinette")以及占美突然跟居迪斯在台上吵嘴。("The Rap")

馬堤勸服了施斯回歸艾菲的大本營("I Miss You Old Friend")，脫離居迪斯控制的他寫出了一首讓艾菲成名的歌曲。("One Night Only")居迪斯讓"夢幻女郎"也唱那首歌，企圖使之壓過艾菲。正當"夢幻女郎"們又在綵排的時候("I'm Somebody")，艾菲、馬堤、施斯連同律師們闖入，讓居迪斯和占美以前的陰謀全數敗露。艾菲一再言明自己理念，("Faith in Myself")甸娜這才看清居迪斯真面目，跟蘿奈及米雪兒決定解散"夢幻女郎"。在最後一次表演，艾菲以嘉賓身份出席，讓"夢幻女郎"第一次，亦是最後一次齊人在台上表演。("Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love")

第一幕
小男孩出场，像剪影般介绍着人物，包括母亲、父亲、爷爷及舅舅。另外，黑人拉格泰姆乐手科尔豪斯和他的情人莎拉、从欧洲远渡而来的爸爸及小女孩，还有脱身魔术大师胡迪尼、汽车大师亨利•福特、工人运动先驱、女权主义者爱玛•歌德曼、黑白人和平工作者布克•华盛顿、剧场红星伊芙琳一起出来，各自各精彩。("Prologue: Ragtime")此时父亲要远赴北极探险，母亲为他送行，("Goodbye My Love")有人去有人来，爸爸和小女孩到达梦想之地美国。("Journey On")另一边，舅舅正看着丈夫杀死前情人的女星伊芙琳表演，("The Crime of the Century")并深深着迷。母亲回到家里，却发现一黑人孩子被埋在她家后院里，这惊动了警方，他们找来孩子母亲莎拉，妈妈可怜二人处境，决意收容二人。("What Kind of Woman")深怀大志的爸爸跟大多移民一样，("A Shtetl Iz Amerike")认为成功就在咫尺，("Success")然而他的剪影却卖不出，唯有典当家产带小女孩到波士顿去。
哈林区的酒馆，黑人乐师科尔豪斯深受众人欢迎，("His Name Was Coalhouse Walker")然而因他的不忠让其妻莎拉不知去向，他痛改前非决定要亲自去找她回来。("Gettin' Ready Rag")他在亨利•福特的"教导"下，买了一部新车。("Henry Ford")然而，这却惹来消防队队长——歧视黑人的韦利——的妒忌。
此时爸爸和小女孩在城外遇上母亲和小男孩，双方都对对方有好感。("Nothing Like the City")回到母亲家里，莎拉正在哄孩子睡觉。("Your Daddy's Son")科尔豪斯来到，死缠烂打的他获妈妈同情，让他进屋演奏音乐。("The Courtship")父亲于此时回来突然发现家里多了三个黑人，母亲连忙解释情况。("New Music")终于莎拉被科尔豪斯的音乐打动，下来跟他重修旧好。("Wheels of a Dream")
爱玛目睹工人惨况，说了一番话，这让舅舅深为感动。("The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square")工人之中其中一个便是爸爸，原本他想把小女孩送走，却听得小女孩无助的叫声而赶上火车。为了哄小女孩，他拿出一本小册子，只要揭揭书页那画便像会动一般。列车长对此感兴趣，以一元买走，这却使爸爸看到一条出路。("Gliding")莎拉和科尔豪斯离开父亲母亲的住宅后驾车出外，消费队员故意用器材阻拦，科尔豪斯只好停车暂行离去。回来却发现车子被消防人员用牛粪弄脏并毁损("The Trashing of the Car")，科尔豪斯发誓公义伸张前暂不谈儿女私情。("Justice")莎拉当然不乐见这事发生，便于副总统出来拉选票时找其作主，却被人误会行刺，当场被乱棍打死。("President")在丧礼上科尔豪斯激动不已，决意报仇，众人也对这个社会作出申诉。("Till We Reach That Day")
第二幕
("Entr'acte")
小男孩梦见胡迪尼的魔术，心中产不详之兆。("Harry Houdini, Master Escapist")科尔豪斯摇身一变成了暴动分子，("Coalhouse's Soliloquy")并带领黑人朋友们屠杀消防员及焚烧消防局，除非当局肯接受他的条件。("Coalhouse Demands")为了让自己宁静一点，父亲带小男孩去看棒球赛，却开始觉得上流社会也开始崩溃了。("What a Game")暴乱持续，("Fire in the City")记者包围了父亲母亲的家，在各人乱入之下，父亲母亲决定往亚特兰大避一避风头。("Atlantic City")在那里他们遇到一出电影的导演，他介绍自己作男爵。("Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc")小男孩截住正要往撤拉热窝的胡迪尼要他警告大公。妈妈和男爵很快变成朋友，此时他才透露自己便是爸爸，二人看着自己的孩子玩的开心，都有感宽幸。("Our Children")
回到哈林区，("Harlem Nightclub")科尔豪斯依然为莎拉的死而伤心，他回想以前二人初相识的情景。("Sarah Brown Eyes")舅舅同情科尔豪斯的遭遇，身为炸弹专家的他决意加入暴动队伍。("He Wanted to Say")二人策划下，他们占领了摩根图书馆，扬言要烧毁里面所有珍贵的文物。父亲决定去纽约劝说科尔豪斯，他告诉母亲一切将会很快恢复到之前的样子，但母亲心中明白一个时代已经结束("Back to Before")。父亲请来布克•华盛顿来劝喻科尔豪斯投降，科尔豪斯一向敬佩布克，但他并不赞同布克的非暴力原则。布克提及科尔豪斯的所作所为将会对黑人后代的影响，科尔豪斯开始心软。父亲走进图书馆，自愿作为人质来换取其他黑人撤退的时间。科尔豪斯被父亲感动，决定终止计划。但舅舅并不赞同(“Look What You've Done”)。在送走他的同伴前，他要他们向外面宣扬他们的精神。("Make Them Hear You")高候斯见所有人安全被送走，感谢爸爸照顾莎拉及其子，随后他步出门口，观众们只听到了一阵子弹扫射的声音。
后事由小男孩始逐一交带，舅舅再次参加革命，这次是在墨西哥；爱玛最终被捕后驱逐出境；布克•华盛顿则继续进行教育工作，获得善终；爷爷长眠地下；伊芙琳人老珠黄，渐渐被人淡忘；胡迪尼未能警告大公，结果随大公被暗杀世界大战开始了；父亲在大战中跟二百人一起身葬异地；母亲伤心了一年后接受爸爸求婚，二人和小男孩、小女孩，以及莎拉与科尔豪斯之子(也叫科尔豪斯)，开始了一段新的生活，一个拉格泰姆音乐流行的时代已经成为了过去。(Epilogue: Ragtime/ Wheels of a Dream (Reprise)")

第一幕
小男孩出场，像剪影般介绍着人物，包括母亲、父亲、爷爷及舅舅。另外，黑人拉格泰姆乐手科尔豪斯和他的情人莎拉、从欧洲远渡而来的爸爸及小女孩，还有脱身魔术大师胡迪尼、汽车大师亨利•福特、工人运动先驱、女权主义者爱玛•歌德曼、黑白人和平工作者布克•华盛顿、剧场红星伊芙琳一起出来，各自各精彩。("Prologue: Ragtime")此时父亲要远赴北极探险，母亲为他送行，("Goodbye My Love")有人去有人来，爸爸和小女孩到达梦想之地美国。("Journey On")另一边，舅舅正看着丈夫杀死前情人的女星伊芙琳表演，("The Crime of the Century")并深深着迷。母亲回到家里，却发现一黑人孩子被埋在她家后院里，这惊动了警方，他们找来孩子母亲莎拉，妈妈可怜二人处境，决意收容二人。("What Kind of Woman")深怀大志的爸爸跟大多移民一样，("A Shtetl Iz Amerike")认为成功就在咫尺，("Success")然而他的剪影却卖不出，唯有典当家产带小女孩到波士顿去。
哈林区的酒馆，黑人乐师科尔豪斯深受众人欢迎，("His Name Was Coalhouse Walker")然而因他的不忠让其妻莎拉不知去向，他痛改前非决定要亲自去找她回来。("Gettin' Ready Rag")他在亨利•福特的"教导"下，买了一部新车。("Henry Ford")然而，这却惹来消防队队长——歧视黑人的韦利——的妒忌。
此时爸爸和小女孩在城外遇上母亲和小男孩，双方都对对方有好感。("Nothing Like the City")回到母亲家里，莎拉正在哄孩子睡觉。("Your Daddy's Son")科尔豪斯来到，死缠烂打的他获妈妈同情，让他进屋演奏音乐。("The Courtship")父亲于此时回来突然发现家里多了三个黑人，母亲连忙解释情况。("New Music")终于莎拉被科尔豪斯的音乐打动，下来跟他重修旧好。("Wheels of a Dream")
爱玛目睹工人惨况，说了一番话，这让舅舅深为感动。("The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square")工人之中其中一个便是爸爸，原本他想把小女孩送走，却听得小女孩无助的叫声而赶上火车。为了哄小女孩，他拿出一本小册子，只要揭揭书页那画便像会动一般。列车长对此感兴趣，以一元买走，这却使爸爸看到一条出路。("Gliding")莎拉和科尔豪斯离开父亲母亲的住宅后驾车出外，消费队员故意用器材阻拦，科尔豪斯只好停车暂行离去。回来却发现车子被消防人员用牛粪弄脏并毁损("The Trashing of the Car")，科尔豪斯发誓公义伸张前暂不谈儿女私情。("Justice")莎拉当然不乐见这事发生，便于副总统出来拉选票时找其作主，却被人误会行刺，当场被乱棍打死。("President")在丧礼上科尔豪斯激动不已，决意报仇，众人也对这个社会作出申诉。("Till We Reach That Day")
第二幕
("Entr'acte")
小男孩梦见胡迪尼的魔术，心中产不详之兆。("Harry Houdini, Master Escapist")科尔豪斯摇身一变成了暴动分子，("Coalhouse's Soliloquy")并带领黑人朋友们屠杀消防员及焚烧消防局，除非当局肯接受他的条件。("Coalhouse Demands")为了让自己宁静一点，父亲带小男孩去看棒球赛，却开始觉得上流社会也开始崩溃了。("What a Game")暴乱持续，("Fire in the City")记者包围了父亲母亲的家，在各人乱入之下，父亲母亲决定往亚特兰大避一避风头。("Atlantic City")在那里他们遇到一出电影的导演，他介绍自己作男爵。("Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc")小男孩截住正要往撤拉热窝的胡迪尼要他警告大公。妈妈和男爵很快变成朋友，此时他才透露自己便是爸爸，二人看着自己的孩子玩的开心，都有感宽幸。("Our Children")
回到哈林区，("Harlem Nightclub")科尔豪斯依然为莎拉的死而伤心，他回想以前二人初相识的情景。("Sarah Brown Eyes")舅舅同情科尔豪斯的遭遇，身为炸弹专家的他决意加入暴动队伍。("He Wanted to Say")二人策划下，他们占领了摩根图书馆，扬言要烧毁里面所有珍贵的文物。父亲决定去纽约劝说科尔豪斯，他告诉母亲一切将会很快恢复到之前的样子，但母亲心中明白一个时代已经结束("Back to Before")。父亲请来布克•华盛顿来劝喻科尔豪斯投降，科尔豪斯一向敬佩布克，但他并不赞同布克的非暴力原则。布克提及科尔豪斯的所作所为将会对黑人后代的影响，科尔豪斯开始心软。父亲走进图书馆，自愿作为人质来换取其他黑人撤退的时间。科尔豪斯被父亲感动，决定终止计划。但舅舅并不赞同(“Look What You've Done”)。在送走他的同伴前，他要他们向外面宣扬他们的精神。("Make Them Hear You")高候斯见所有人安全被送走，感谢爸爸照顾莎拉及其子，随后他步出门口，观众们只听到了一阵子弹扫射的声音。
后事由小男孩始逐一交带，舅舅再次参加革命，这次是在墨西哥；爱玛最终被捕后驱逐出境；布克•华盛顿则继续进行教育工作，获得善终；爷爷长眠地下；伊芙琳人老珠黄，渐渐被人淡忘；胡迪尼未能警告大公，结果随大公被暗杀世界大战开始了；父亲在大战中跟二百人一起身葬异地；母亲伤心了一年后接受爸爸求婚，二人和小男孩、小女孩，以及莎拉与科尔豪斯之子(也叫科尔豪斯)，开始了一段新的生活，一个拉格泰姆音乐流行的时代已经成为了过去。(Epilogue: Ragtime/ Wheels of a Dream (Reprise)")

一个深受压抑的人，一个给他一个幸福结局的无拘无束的年轻人，以及他们一路上毁掉的所有生活。

Opening：Lily的幽灵歌唱着在她保护下的花园，托钵僧唱着不知语言的歌曲，孩子们唱着关于Mary的花园的歌谣。
场景：印度，小女孩Mary Lennox一觉醒来，家人都在霍乱中死去，当地官员发现了这个无依无靠的孩子，在她面前将会是怎么样的命运呢？（Scene: India，There's A Girl）
场景: Misselhwaite 庄园的图书室，Archibald Craven，Mary的姨父，和他弟弟Neville Craven医生的谈话。由于Archibald是Mary的唯一监护人，Mary将被送到英国来和他们一起生活，这让Archibald感到困扰。Neville认为，可以为Mary找间适当的寄宿学校，而Archibald觉得，Mary是Lily的外甥女，她可以住在他们家里。（Scene: The Library At Misselhwaite Manor）
场景：约克郡的车站，月台，Craven的女管家Mrs.Medlock来接Mary回家。一路上，Medlock向Mary介绍她的姨父，一个驼背而乖僻的人，与Lily结婚后，走出了孤僻，但后来Lily不幸过世，使他重新陷入痛苦之中。他的庄园坐落在约克郡的荒原中，与主人、周围环境一般荒凉阴郁。（A Train Plataform In Yorkshire /The House Upon The Hill）
Mary 来到了她姨父的家，却只见到了Neville医生，就被直接领到了她的房间。晚上，Mary睡不着，似乎听到有人在哭泣。Archie在夜里游荡，呼唤着他死去的妻子Lily，似乎听到Lily的灵魂在召唤。而Lily的幽灵也仿佛感到了他的彷徨无助。（I Heard Someone Crying）
场景：Mary的起居室，女管家派来了一个跟Mary年纪差不多的女孩，Martha，来照料她。两个人攀谈起来，Martha说起这里有个迷宫一样的树丛，里面封锁着一个花园，还有会说话的鸟儿，很多神奇的故事。（Scene: Mary's Sitting Room / If I Had A Fine White Horse）
另一边厢，Archibald在回忆与Lily的相爱（A Girl in the Valley）。
场景：舞厅，Mary在这里碰到了她的姨父，她跟他谈起她的姨母，谈起她所听到的哭泣声，但Archie沉浸在自己的回忆里。（Scene: The Ballroom）
Mary离开Archibald，到外面去玩，她追逐着一只知更鸟，遇见了园丁Ben，他照管着那迷宫一般的树篱。他告诉Mary，在迷宫树篱里面，有一座神秘花园，自从女主人死去之后，就被封锁起来。并且介绍了Martha的兄弟Dickon给她认识。（It's A Maze / Scene: The Greenhouse）
Dickon是个懂得与自然交流的孩子，他呼唤着春天，让冬天展翅飞走。（Winter's on the Wing）。他教会Mary与知更鸟交谈，在知更鸟的指引下，她找到了花园的钥匙，但是花园的入口被草丛遮蔽，无法找到。远远地，Martha在叫她，Mary 只好离开。（Scene: The Edge Of The Moor / Show Me the Key）
Mary来到了Archibald的图书室，Archibald问Mary想要些什么，Mary回答道想要一点泥土，去栽种种子，创造一个花园。这个小小的要求让Archibald浮想联翩：为什么她什么都不要，不要那些不会死亡的东西，只要求一点泥土，去栽种那些花朵，让她爱上它们的美丽，然后看着它们死去？（Scene: Archibald's Library / A Bit of Earth）
这晚，外面刮起了一场暴风雨，（Storm 1）在风雨再次来袭的间隙，Craven兄弟在图书室里各怀心事，两人都从Mary身上看到了Lily的影子，她有着一双与Lily一模一样的褐色眼睛。在Archibald的记忆中，那双眼睛带给他爱与欢乐，在那双眼睛里，有一座城堡，他是勇敢的骑士，而她是那优雅的公主。而Neville一直暗恋着Lily，他渴望着那双眼睛能看他一眼，只是在Lily的眼中，爱的从来都是他哥哥而不是他。而现在，Lily已经不在，他们只能透过这个女孩的眼睛，去回忆去幻想Lily的存在。（Lily's Eyes）
暴风雨中，Mary再次听到哭泣声，她决定要找出其中的原因。（Storm 2）最后她在一个房间里发现了一个男孩。起初，双方都吓了一跳。经过互相介绍之后，发现他们原来是表兄妹，男孩告诉Mary，他叫Colin Craven，是Archibald的儿子，但一直卧床不起，几乎没有人来看他，包括他的父亲。（Scene: Colin's Room）而他总是梦见有一个肩膀浑圆的人来看他，手里拿着一本书。而他也会梦见，那个人和他一起在荒原上骑马，挽着他的手在一个秘密花园里漫步。他会问很多很多问题，而那本书里肯定藏有答案。（Round-Shouldered Man）
Mary和Colin的谈话被发现了，她被逐出房间，Mary悲愤地冲到外面，在暴风雨里，她彷徨而迷乱，但Lily的灵魂引领着她，找到了秘密花园的入口。（Final Storm）
ACT TWO
找到了秘密花园的Mary，幻想着这是个她可以隐藏自己的地方，她可以自由自在地做回她自己。（The Girl I Mean To Be ）
与此同时，Neville去找他哥哥，告诉他必须把Mary送走，因为她使他们过去做的一切都前功尽弃。但Archibald不同意。（House Upon The Hill (Transition) / Scene: Archibald's Dressing Room）他对Neville说，他梦见自己来到秘密花园，看见Mary和Lily站在一起，却不敢接近，不敢和她们说话。Neville觉得，他哥哥是不敢说出自己心里的话，他是想要过去的一切从来没有发生过，但这根本不可能。如今唯一的办法，是把勾起这回忆的女孩送走，割断一切回忆，才能够重新获得自由，就像他忘掉过去一样。两兄弟争论起来。而在另一边，Lily和她妹妹Rose的幽灵回到过去的时光，Rose坚决反对Lily嫁给Archibald，认为他身有残疾，且生性孤僻，即使不为自己着想，也应当想想孩子，难道她愿意孩子成为像Archie一样的残疾吗？但Lily决心已下，什么都不能阻止。两姐妹也争论起来。（Quartet）最后，Archibald决定自己离开，到巴黎去。（There's A Man (Transition)）
临走之前，Archibald到Colin的房间，向熟睡的孩子讲那昨晚没讲完的故事。原来，Colin所梦见的人，其实是他父亲，在故事里倾诉着对他的爱。他告诉他亲爱的孩子：过去我战胜了恶龙，赢得了公主的爱，就有了健康快乐的你，但如今另一条恶龙出现，使你不得不困在病床上，我只能离开，把你交托给我的弟弟，一位伟大的巫师，当他战胜恶龙，你就能恢复健康，我就会回来，与你一起在山坡上奔跑……（Race You to the Top of the Morning）
虽然找到了花园的入口，Mary仍然情绪低落，因为她发现这个花园死气沉沉，一点生机都没有，但Dickon鼓励她，在他们约克方言里，有一个词叫做“Wick”，如果说一个东西“Wick”，那就是，它依然含有生命，即使看起来已经死去，但是只要细心照料，就可以让它重新焕发生机。于是她和Dickon决定重新培育这个花园。（Wick）
Mary告诉Conlin，她找到了他母亲的花园，并且希望他能去看看母亲所钟爱的花园，但Conlin却犹豫不决，因为他自己没有办法站起来。（Scene: Colin's Room）
这时Lily的幽灵出现，鼓励Colin，到她的花园去，她会保护他的安全。而Colin也因此鼓起勇气，渴望着到母亲的花园中，开始新的生命。（Come to My Garden / Lift Me Up）
为了让Colin能恢复勇气，恢复健康，Mary和Dickon唱起了带有魔力的咒语，奇迹出现了，Colin真的能够站起来，尝试行走。（Come Spirit， Come Charm）在一旁的Lily、Mary父母的幽灵都为那一点栽种生命的泥土所产生的神奇效力感到欣慰。（A Bit of Earth (Reprise)）
场景：图书室。Neville准备将Mary送到寄宿学校去，Mary说，现在Colin正需要她，她不能离开。Neville指责她不该继续骚扰Colin，她不知道Colin的病情有多严重。Mary生气地说，是Neville把Colin锁在房间里才使他病情加重，他想让Colin死去，从而自己得到这座庄园。盛怒之下的Neville打了Mary一个耳光，并打算尽快将她送走。（Scene: The Library）
场景：Mary的房间，Mary因此而灰心丧气（Scene：Mary's Room），而Martha鼓励她坚持到底，并提议她写信给远在巴黎的Archibald。（Hold On）Mary在Martha的帮助下，给Archibald写了一封信，她在信中只是简单地告诉他，家里大家都很好，请他快快回家，快快回来看看那座花园。Archibald读着信，却感到孤独而迷惘。远在巴黎的他，觉得所谓的“家”只是一座房子，巴黎的街道，陌生得如同迷宫，他无法进食、无法入睡。（Letter Song）
他依然无法摆脱对Lily的思念，处处都看到她的幻影，他自问，既然Lily已经离他而去，他是否还可能在这个世界上继续生存？（Where In the World）这时，Lily的幽灵出现在他面前，请求他的原谅，她不知道自己的离开使他如此悲伤。并且劝慰他，去爱他们的孩子，他们共同的爱，以这样一种新的方式来延续对她的爱。（How Could I Ever Know）
春天来了，绿意盎然的花园里，孩子们在吵吵嚷嚷，惊喜地谈论着眼前美丽的景象。Archibald回到家里，目睹了这一切，看到了他健康快乐的儿子Colin。Colin告诉他，这都是Mary他们的功劳。Archibald决定收养Mary，他们将永远在一起，花园永远都属于她。而在旁守护的Lily以及Mary父母的幽灵，完成了他们的任务，唱着歌渐渐隐去。（Finale）
全剧终

In May 1921, Shuffle Along, a new musical conceived by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles with music and lyrics by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, became the unlikeliest of hits, significantly altering the face of the Broadway musical as well as that of New York City.

This production presents both the 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work.

话剧《大师班》讲述女歌唱家Maria Callas，这个极具魅力、权威、富有传奇色彩且刻薄的大师班声乐讲师。在看到一个又一个，或是令人沮丧或是令人印象深刻的学生来到她的面前，她也开始回忆自己辉煌的人生。她回忆自己年轻时候就像一只丑小鸭，仇恨对手和那些无情的报纸，回忆她的成功和绯闻，最高潮是一段为艺术献身的独白。

话剧《大师班》讲述女歌唱家Maria Callas，这个极具魅力、权威、富有传奇色彩且刻薄的大师班声乐讲师。在看到一个又一个，或是令人沮丧或是令人印象深刻的学生来到她的面前，她也开始回忆自己辉煌的人生。她回忆自己年轻时候就像一只丑小鸭，仇恨对手和那些无情的报纸，回忆她的成功和绯闻，最高潮是一段为艺术献身的独白。

Place: Catfish Row, a fictitious large black tenement based on Cabbage Row, on the waterfront of Charleston, South Carolina.
Time: The early 1920s.
Act 1
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a summer evening
The opera begins with a short introduction which segues into an evening in Catfish Row. Jasbo Brown entertains the community with his piano playing. Clara, a young mother, sings a lullaby to her baby ("Summertime") as the working men prepare for a game of craps ("Roll them Bones"). One of the players, Robbins, scorns his wife Serena's demands that he not play, retorting that on a Saturday night, a man has the right to play. Clara's husband, the fisherman Jake, tries his own lullaby ("A Woman is a Sometime Thing") with little effect. Little by little, other characters in the opera enter Catfish Row, among them Mingo, another fisherman, and Jim, a cotton-hauling stevedore who, tired of his job, decides to give it up and join Jake and the other fishermen. Porgy, a disabled beggar, enters on his goat cart to organize the game. Peter, an elderly "honey man" [honey vendor] returns, singing his vendor's call. Crown, a strong and brutal stevedore, storms in with his woman, Bess, and buys cheap whiskey and some "Happy Dust" off the local dope peddler, Sportin' Life. Bess is shunned by the women of the community, especially the pious Serena and the matriarchal cookshop owner Maria, but Porgy softly defends her. The game begins. One by one, the players get crapped out, leaving only Robbins and Crown, who has become extremely drunk. When Robbins wins, Crown attempts to prevent him from taking his winnings. A brawl ensues, which ends when Crown stabs Robbins with Jim's cotton hook, killing him. Crown runs, telling Bess to fend for herself but that he will be back for her when the heat dies down. Sportin' Life gives her a dose of happy dust and offers to take her with him when he goes to New York, but she rejects him. He flees, and Bess begins to pound on doors, but is rejected by all of the residents of Catfish Row, with the exception of Porgy, who lets her in.
Scene 2: Serena's Room, the following night
The mourners sing a spiritual to Robbins ("Gone, Gone, Gone"). To raise money for his burial, a saucer is placed on his chest for the mourners' donations ("Overflow"). Bess enters with Porgy and attempts to donate to the burial fund, but Serena rejects her money until Bess explains that she is now living with Porgy. A white detective enters and coldly tells Serena that she must bury her husband the next day, or his body will be given to medical students (for dissection). He suddenly accuses Peter of Robbins's murder. Peter denies his guilt and says Crown was the murderer. The Detective orders Peter to be arrested as a material witness, whom he will force to testify against Crown. Serena laments her loss in "My Man's Gone Now". The undertaker enters. The saucer holds only fifteen dollars of the needed twenty-five, but he agrees to bury Robbins as long as Serena promises to pay him back. Bess, who has been sitting in silence slightly apart from the rest of those gathered, suddenly begins to sing a gospel song and the chorus joyfully join in, welcoming her into the community. ("Oh, the Train is at de Station")
Act 2
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a month later, in the morning
Jake and the other fishermen prepare for work ("It take a long pull to get there"). Clara asks Jake not to go because it is time for the annual storms, but he tells her that they desperately need the money. This causes Porgy to sing from his window about his new, happy-go-lucky outlook on life. ("I got plenty o' nuttin"). Sportin' Life waltzes around selling "happy dust", but soon incurs the wrath of Maria, who threatens him. ("I hates yo' struttin' style"). A fraudulent lawyer, Frazier, arrives and farcically divorces Bess from Crown. When he discovers Bess and Crown were not married, he raises his price from a dollar to a dollar and a half. Archdale, a white lawyer, enters and informs Porgy that Peter will soon be released. The bad omen of a buzzard flies over Catfish Row and Porgy demands that it leave now that he finally has found happiness. ("Buzzard keep on flyin' over".)
As the rest of Catfish Row prepares for the church picnic on nearby Kittiwah Island, Sportin' Life again offers to take Bess to New York with him; she refuses. He attempts to give her some "happy dust" despite her claims that she's given up drugs, but Porgy grabs his arm and scares him off. Sportin' Life leaves, reminding Bess as he goes that her men friends come and go, but he will be there all along. Bess and Porgy are now left alone, and express their love for each other ("Bess, You Is My Woman Now"). The chorus re-enters in high spirits as they prepare to leave for the picnic ("Oh, I can't sit down"). Bess is invited to the picnic by Maria, but she demurs as Porgy cannot come (due to his disability, he cannot get on the boat), but Maria insists. Bess leaves Porgy behind as they go off to the picnic. Porgy watches the boat leave ("I got plenty o' nuttin" reprise).
Scene 2: Kittiwah Island, that evening
The chorus enjoys themselves at the picnic ("I ain't got no shame"). Sportin' Life presents the chorus his cynical views on the Bible ("It Ain't Necessarily So"), causing Serena to chastise them ("Shame on all you sinners!"). Everyone gets ready to leave. As Bess, who has lagged behind, tries to follow them, Crown emerges from the bushes. He reminds her that Porgy is "temporary" and laughs off her claims that she has been living decently now. Bess wants to leave Crown forever and attempts to make him forget about her ("Oh, what you want wid Bess?") but Crown refuses to give her up. He grabs her and will not let her go to the boat, which leaves without her, and then forcefully kisses her. He laughs at his conquest as her resistance begins to fail, and commands her to get into the woods, where his intentions are only too clear.
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a week later, just before dawn
A week later, Jake leaves to go fishing with his crew, one of whom observes that it looks as if a storm is coming in. Peter, still unsure of his crime, returns from prison. Meanwhile, Bess is lying in Porgy's room delirious with fever, which she has had ever since returning from Kittiwah Island. Serena prays to remove Bess's affliction ("Oh, Doctor Jesus"), and promises Porgy that Bess will be well by five o'clock. As the day passes, a strawberry woman, Peter (the Honey Man) and a crab man each pass by with their wares ("Vendors' Trio"). As the clock chimes five, Bess recovers from her fever. Porgy tells Bess that he knows she has been with Crown, and she admits that Crown has promised to return for her. Porgy tells her she is free to go if she wants to, and she tells him that although she wants to stay, she is afraid of Crown's hold on her. Porgy asks her what would happen if there was no Crown, and Bess tells Porgy she loves him and begs him to protect her. Porgy promises that she will never have to be afraid again ("I Loves You, Porgy").
Clara watches the water, fearful for Jake. Maria tries to allay her fears, but suddenly the hurricane bell begins to ring.
Scene 4: Serena's Room, dawn of the next day
The residents of Catfish Row are all gathered in Serena's room for shelter from the hurricane. They drown out the sound of the storm with prayers and hymns ("Oh, Doctor Jesus") while Sportin' Life mocks their assumption that the storm is a signal of Judgment Day. Clara desperately sings her lullaby ("Summertime" [reprise]). A knock is heard at the door, and the chorus believes it to be Death ("Oh there's somebody knocking at the door"). Crown enters dramatically, having swum from Kittiwah Island, seeking Bess. He shows no fear of God, claiming that after the long struggle from Kittiwah, God and he are friends. The chorus tries to drown out his blaspheming with more prayer, and he taunts them by singing a vulgar song. ("A red-headed woman"). Suddenly, Clara sees Jake's boat float past the window, upside-down, and she runs out to try to save him, handing her baby to Bess. Bess asks that one of the men go out with her, and Crown taunts Porgy, who cannot go. Crown goes himself, yelling out as he leaves "Alright, Big Friend! We're on for another Bout!" The chorus continue to pray as the storm rises.
Act 3
Scene 1: Catfish Row, the next night
A group of women mourn Clara, Jake, and all of those who have been killed in the storm ("Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted"). When they begin to mourn for Crown as well, Sportin' Life laughs at them and is told off by Maria. He insinuates that Crown may not be dead, and observes that when a woman has a man, maybe she's got him for keeps, but if she has two men, then it's highly likely she'll end up with none. Bess is heard singing Clara's lullaby to her baby, whom she is now taking care of. ("Summertime" [reprise]). Once Catfish Row is dark, Crown stealthily enters to claim Bess, but is confronted by Porgy. A fight ensues that ends when Porgy kills Crown. Porgy exclaims to Bess, "You've got a man now. You've got Porgy!"
Scene 2: Catfish Row, the next afternoon
The detective enters and talks with Serena and her friends about the murders of Crown and Robbins. They deny knowledge of Crown's murder, frustrating the detective. Needing a witness for the coroner's inquest, he next questions an apprehensive Porgy. Once Porgy admits to knowing Crown, he is ordered to come and identify Crown's body. Sportin' Life tells Porgy that corpses bleed in the presence of their murderers, and the detective will use this to hang Porgy. Porgy refuses to identify the body, but is dragged off anyway. Bess is distraught, and Sportin' Life puts his plan into action. He tells her that Porgy will be locked up for a long time, and points out that he is the only one still here. He offers her happy dust, and though she refuses, he forces it on her. After she takes a whiff, he paints a seductive picture of her life with him in New York ("There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York"). She regains her strength and rushes inside, slamming the door on his face, but he leaves a packet of happy dust on her doorstep, and settles down to wait.
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a week later
On a beautiful morning, Porgy is released from jail, where he has been arrested for contempt of court after refusing to look at Crown's body. He returns to Catfish Row much richer after playing craps with his cellmates. He gives gifts to the residents, and pulls out a beautiful red dress for Bess. He does not understand why everyone seems so uneasy at his return. He sees Clara's baby is now with Serena and realizes something is wrong. He asks where Bess is. Maria and Serena tell him that Bess has run off with Sportin' Life to New York ("Oh Bess, Oh Where's my Bess?"). Porgy calls for his goat cart, and resolves to leave Catfish Row to find her. He prays for strength, and begins his journey. ("Oh, Lawd, I'm on my way")