Title: Ragtime
Location: The Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center
Written By: book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Summary: A stunning revival of the 1998 12-time Tony nominated musical based on the E.L. Doctorow novel that tells a very American story at the turn of the last century, that's never felt more urgent.
Highlights: This was the only ticket I bought ahead of time and my only must-see show, and it set the bar high for this NYC trip. It's long been one of my favorite musicals (I'm still not over Theater Latte Da's production just before the 2016 election), and this revival in what is probably my favorite Broadway theater for musicals is absolute perfection. The cast (43 human souls singing their hearts out), the staging (by LCT's artistic director Lear deBessonet), the simple yet evocative design, the 28-piece pit orchestra creating such a lush rich sound, everything about it is designed to wring out every drop of emotion and meaning from this brilliantly written musical. From the opening number (one of the best in musical theater history that perfectly sets up the story and characters) to the devastating ending, I was fully captivated in the story, often with tears welling up behind my eyes, or spilling out. The set is sparse as it often is on the huge Vivian Beaumont thrust stage, utilizing the many trap doors to create elevation or raise or lower set pieces (or people), a stairway or doorway flown in to hint at the location. Projections are used thoughtfully and sparingly, more to evoke emotion than as literal locations, with a stunning effect of pillowy clouds that become the American flag that is dropped to the floor in an instant. The Statue of Liberty is occasionally visible in the background, reminding us of the promise of the American Dream that fails our characters. This story is such a beautiful encapsulation of America with the three seemingly disparate communities - the wealthy white family in the suburbs, the Black community in Harlem, the immigrants just trying to survive - all interacting and eventually forming a family that is America. The labor protests, the armed agents acting violently towards citizens, the unfair treatment of the Black man by the justice system, women demanding a voice and a choice in their own destiny, everything about this show is so relevant today.
Highlights in this exceptional cast are many (and include the Guthrie's Cliff from last year's Cabaret, Jason Forbach in a number of roles). Joshua Henry is a singular talent, he has a voice like no other, and all the emotionality and stage presence to go with it in his portrayal of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. (crossing my fingers he finally gets the Tony he deserves). Nichelle Lewis nearly brought the house down with her gut-wrenching rendition of "Your Daddy's Hands," and her duet with Joshua on "Wheels of a Dream" resulted in a mid-show standing ovation. Cassie Levy beautifully portrays Mother's growth from subservient wife to a woman with agency, Brandon Uranowitz is both heartbreaking and funny as the determined immigrant father who gives his daughter a better life than the one they left behind, Ben Levi Ross is the charming aimless Younger Brother who finds his purpose, Colin Donnel's Father is at first infuriating but eventually redeems himself, and Shain Taub (just returned from a leave for mental heath reasons, good for her for prioritizing herself) is a treat as the tough strong social activist Emma Goldman. Ragtime opened last October and was initially scheduled to close in January, but was extended through June, and now again through August, due to popular demand. Let's hope this song continues even longer.
*Once again, I'm using an abbreviated Fringe-style summary for my NYC 2026 trip, since I am in the greatest city in the world with much more exciting things to do than write! Click here to see all of my Broadway-related blog posts.
