B'way Review: Ragtime

Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and 
Brandon Uranowitz in Ragtime.
Credit: Matthew Murphy

Ragtime has been never been more relevant and Lear deBessonet’s epic production for Lincoln Center Theater where she has recently been installed as artistic director, fills the vast Vivian Beaumont stage with passion, pageantry and an uncompromising view of the American dream. The musical is especially timely now as the Trump administration attempts to retell our national story from a fraudulently rosy perspective. 

E.L. Doctorow’s sleek, ironic novel emerged as a best-seller in 1975 as the Watergate scandal forced us to reevaluate our past. Through the intertwined stories of three disparate families in the early 20th century, Doctorow explored the American experience both glorious and shameful. American-American ragtime pianist Coalhouse Walker, Jr. attempts to live the American Dream, but when crushed by racism, he resorts to vengeful violence. Latvian immigrant Tateh forges a new identity and emerges from poverty to stake a claim in the infant media of moving pictures. A nameless wealthy white family, who has built their fortune on patriotic firework displays (get the symbolism?), finds it must adjust to the rapidly changing times or be left behind. 

B'way Update: Chess Revival; Ragtime Casting

Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and 
Nicholas Christopher will star in Chess.

Tony winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rogue), Emmy nominee Lea Michele (Funny Girl) and Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) will star in the first Broadway revival of Chess at a Shubert Theater TBA this fall. This musical about an international romance against the backdrop of a world chess championship match will feature a new book by Emmy winner Danny Strong (Dopesick) and music and lyrics by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice. Tony winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) directs.

Chess began life as a concept album released in 1984. The show opened in London's West End in 1986 and ran for three years.  The original Broadway production was much changed from the British edition and opened on Broadway in 1988 with a new book by Richard Nelson. It only ran for 68 performances. The show has been presented in varying forms in revivals and concert versions in Australia and Sweden. The score which features such hits as "One Night in Bangkok," "I Know Him So Well," "Pity the Child," and "You and I," is regarded as the show's strongest point with the book cited as a stumbling block.

In additional news, Lincoln Center Theater has announced additional casting for its revival of Ragtime. Joining the previously announced Tony® nominee Joshua Henry (deBessonet’s Into the Woods, Carousel), Olivier® and Grammy® nominee Caissie Levy (Hair, Frozen), and Tony Award-winner Brandon Uranowitz (Leopoldstadt, LCT’s Falsettos) are Colin Donnell (Anything Goes, NBC’s “Chicago Med”), Nichelle Lewis (The Wiz), Ben Levi Ross (Dear Evan Hansen, Gatsby at A.R.T.), Tony Award-winner Shaina Taub (Suffs, Public Works’ Twelfth Night at the Delacorte), John Clay III (New York, New York), and Rodd Cyrus (Encores! The Light in the Piazza). 

B'way Update: Ragtime Revival

Tabitha Lawing and Brandon Uranowitz
in Encores' production of Ragtime.
Credit: Joan Marcus

According to Philip Boroff of Broadway Journal, Lincoln Center Theater will present a revival of Ragtime, the 1998 Tony-winning musical based on the novel of early 20-century America by E.L. Doctorow, at the Vivian Beaumont. The musical will be directed by Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods, Once Upon a Mattress) in her debut as artistic director of LCT. Previews begin Sept. 25 in advance of an Oct. 16 opening. 

deBessonet staged a concert version of the show for Encores! at City Center in the fall of 2024 with a cast headed by Joshua Henry (Carousel), Caissie Levy (Frozen), Brandon Uranowitz (Tony winner for Leopoldstadt), Shaina Taub (Tony winner for Suffs), Colin Donnell, Nichelle Lewis, and Ben Levi Ross. No word yet on casting for the LCT production. 

Ragtime was the first production at the newly-opened Ford Center for the Performing Arts in 1998 (since renamed the Lyric) and won Tonys for Terrence McNally's book and the score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. It was revived in 2009.