New York City Center's staging of the Tony-nominated Stephen Flaherty–Lynn Ahrens–Terrence McNally musical Ragtime begins October 30. And the theatre has released the first footage of the cast performing on stage, including Caissie Levy singing "Back to Before" and Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis singing Wheels of a Dream. Watch the video above.
The hit musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel of the same name is the New York venue's annual gala presentation, and the two-week engagement kicks off October 30 with a benefit performance—honoring original Ragtime star Brian Stokes Mitchell and philanthropist Denise Littlefield Sobel—followed by dinner at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. The show runs until November 10.
The cast is led by Colin Donnell as Father, Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Nichelle Lewis as Sarah, Caissie Levy as Mother, Ben Levi Ross as Younger Brother, Shaina Taub as Emma Goldman, and Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh.
Video: See Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis Sing 'Wheels of a Dream' From Ragtime
They are joined by John Clay III as Booker T. Washington, Rodd Cyrus as Harry Houdini, Matthew Lamb as The Little Boy, Tabitha Lawing as The Little Girl, and Stephanie Styles as Evelyn Nesbit as well as ensemble members Nicholas Barrón, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Billy Cohen, Aerina DeBoer, Ta’Nika Gibson, Olivia Hernandez as Kathleen, Marina Kondo, Jeff Kready as Henry Ford, Tiffany Mann as Sarah’s Friend, Morgan Marcell, Tom Nelis as Grandfather, Ramone Nelson, Kent Overshown, John Rapson as J.P. Morgan, Destinee Rea, Deandre Sevon, Kathy Voytko, Jacob Keith Watson as Willie Conklin, Alan Wiggins, and Henry Witcher.
New York City Center Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet directs the limited run. The production also has music direction by James Moore, who conducts the 28-piece orchestra; choreography by Ellenore Scott; scenic design by David Rockwell; costume design by Linda Cho; lighting design by Adam Honoré; and sound design by Kai Harada. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Craig Burns.
This sweeping, powerful adaptation of Doctorow’s novel features music by Flaherty, lyrics by Ahrens, and a book by McNally.
Ragtime mixes fictional characters and historical ones in telling the story of Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Black man who buys a Model T Ford, setting off a chain of events that involve all levels of New York City society—along with magician Harry Houdini, industrialist Henry Ford, celebrity Evelyn Nesbit, Black leader Booker T. Washington, architect Sanford White, revolutionary Emma Goldman, Admiral Peary, a Latvian immigrant who becomes a movie director, and a not-so-quiet family in suburban New Rochelle, New York.
The original Broadway production featured a cast led by Audra McDonald as Sarah, Mitchell as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Marin Mazzie as Mother, Mark Jacoby as Father, Steven Sutcliffe as Mother's Younger Brother, Peter Friedman as Tateh, Judy Kaye as Emma Goldman, Jim Corti as Harry Houdini, Lynette Perry as Evelyn Nesbit, Tommy Hollis as Booker T. Washington, and Larry Daggett as Henry Ford.
The musical was nominated for 12 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It took home four awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for McDonald, and Best Orchestrations for William David Brohn.
Expanding City Center’s mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, the run of Ragtime includes a Lynne & Richard Pasculano Student Matinee for grades 6–12 (November 7), a post‐show Community Night (November 8 at 7:30 PM), and a performance offering ASL Interpretation (November 7 at 7:30 PM).
The previously announced Encores! season will feature Urinetown (February 5–16, 2025), Love Life (March 26-30), and The Wild Party (April 30-May 11).
For ticket information and additional details about the City Center season, visit NYCityCenter.org.
In the rehearsal room for Ragtime
Stephanie Styles and company of Ragtime
Jenny Gersten
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Jenny Gersten
Lear deBessonet
Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis
Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis
Joshua Henry
Nichelle Lewis
Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis
Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis
Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry
Company of Ragtime
Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry
Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry
Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry
Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry
Nichelle Lewis, Joshua Henry, and company of Ragtime
Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry
Joshua Henry, Nichelle Lewis, Caissie Levy, Matthew Lamb, Colin Donnell, Shaina Taub, and company of Ragtime
Joshua Henry, Nichelle Lewis, Caissie Levy, Matthew Lamb, Colin Donnell, Shaina Taub, Tabitha Lawning, Brandon Uranowitz, Rodd Cyrus, and company of Ragtime
Matthew Lamb and Colin Donnell
Shaina Taub, Tabitha Lawning, Brandon Uranowitz, Rodd Cyrus, and company of Ragtime
Nichelle Lewis, Caissie Levy, Matthew Lamb, and company of Ragtime
Joshua Henry, Nichelle Lewis, Caissie Levy, Matthew Lamb, Colin Donnell, Shaina Taub, Tabitha Lawning, Brandon Uranowitz, and company of Ragtime
