In short, I don't know Ragtime well at all. My student was called back for Booker T. Washington/Coalhouse.

The director is trying to convince me that the two roles have the exact same range listed, which is probably true, but I would like to argue that Coalhouse's role is different from Booker T. W's in that Booker T. mostly sings in the low to middle range, wtih the occasional high note, where as Coalhouse sings in the middle of his baritone range with many high notes.

Any detailed info you guys might have will help me immensely!

I don't have the score, otherwise I could look this up myself...

Thanks!

First, congrats to you student - those are two seriously amazing roles.

I can't answer this with absolute authority as I've never actually checked, and I don't have even my CD handy to give it a listen, but I know Ragtime pretty well, and I feel 90% sure that your instinct is correct.

The two characters have very similar ranges, but Coalhouse tends to sit on the higher end, and the last notes of "Make Them Hear You" at the very least are higher than anything Booker T. sings, I'm almost positive. And not only does Coalhouse have to get up there, he has to sustain it with power. So my feeling is that, a person who can comfortably sing everything Coalhouse sings will be able to sing Booker T., but not necessarily the othre way around, if that makes any sense?