'Ragtime' Broadway review — an impeccably performed revival of a stirring megamusical
Read our review of Ragtime on Broadway, Lincoln Center Theater's revival of the award-winning 1998 musical now starring Caissie Levy, Joshua Henry, and Brandon Uranowitz.
Summary
- Ragtime is a musical that intertwines the stories of three people from different social groups in early 20th-century New York
- This production has a strong ensemble cast and soaring songs like "Wheels of a Dream" and "Back to Before
- " Audiences have praised the performances and the show's epic scale
- Ragtime is recommended for fans of megamusicals and shows with historical and political themes
Among the joys of seeing Ragtime at Lincoln Center Theater are the striking visual reminders of where evocative theatrical magic can take you in this sprawling early-1900s story that revolves around three distinct yet intersecting groups: well-off white Mother (Caissie Levy) and Father (Colin Donnell), Latvian Jewish immigrant Tateh (Brandon Uranowitz), and Black musician Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Joshua Henry) and his love, Sarah (Nichelle Lewis).
As such, we land at an upscale home in New Rochelle, conjured by a tree and a floating gable. The deck of a ship, courtesy of boarding stairs rolled into place. Ellis Island, courtesy of an image of the Statue of Liberty. A beach in Atlantic City, rendered by a huge, pillowy cloud billowing over a woman’s head (okay, this scene actually looks a little strange), and more.
In director Lear deBessonet’s stirring new Broadway production, first seen in 2024 at New York City Center, these minimalist yet striking scenic design elements by David Korins help achieve a vital balance. They contrast the sweeping scale of the musical saga writ large, if not extra-large, by Terrence McNally (book), Stephen Flaherty (music), and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics).
The bare-bones staging keeps the focus squarely where it counts: on the cast of nearly 40, who are uniformly topflight and in sync when it comes to sparking emotional electricity. The simplicity of the production provides breathing room in a megamusical that often exhilarates, but also drains because of its tendency to always think bigger.
Yes, the show soars during several thrilling power ballads and group numbers like the title song, “New Music,” “Wheels of a Dream,” and “Back to Before.” But by the 3-hour mark, the steady procession of emphatic and declamatory numbers becomes a sort of sonic wallpaper that loses impact. As an audience member, I always fall prey to Ragtime’s power-anthem overload; it has happened during all three Broadway runs.
It’s a broad story canvas stretched to the max, but the performances are uniformly tight and persuasive. Amid the three main narratives — of the fictional Mother, Coalhouse, and Tateh — are those of icons like Houdini (who descends from the ceiling into the action), Booker T. Washington, and Henry Ford for historical heft.
As a privileged wife restless to break out from her rigid prescribed role, Levy’s down-to-earth portrait makes her the show's MVP. Henry and Uranowitz are reliably excellent as two men with markedly different fates. Shaina Taub sets off bright sparks in the supporting role of real-life anarchist Emma Goldman, while Ben Levi Ross makes a big impression as Mother’s idealistic Younger Brother.
As the characters’ lives collide, a world wracked by racism, anti-immigrant hate, social inequality, and violence comes into unsettling view. You don’t have to squint to see Ragtime’s enduring relevance. That’s a great thing about the show, though not about the state of current events.
Ragtime summary
Based on the 1975 novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow, the musical interlaces three main stories of early-1900s New Yorkers: a white upper-class family’s shifting life, Black pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr.’s fight for justice, and immigrant Tateh’s rise from poverty to success. The stories reflect America’s social and cultural upheavals of the time, but the show’s themes of justice, identity, and hope make it timeless.
Ragtime at Lincoln Center Theater marks the show’s third Broadway run, following its 1998 premiere and 2009 revival.
What to expect at Ragtime
The vast stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theater is dark and bare save for two striking images as you take your seat at Ragtime. The show’s title in neon (did we need sign to remind us?) is one of them. The other is an upright piano, which is key to the story. At one point, the instrument is declared out of tune — a fitting symbol for an America torn by racism, inequality, and divisiveness as shown on stage. Set in the early 20th century, it speaks to 2025 with the urgency and topicality of headline news.
What audiences are saying about Ragtime
At Show-Score, the online theatre review aggregator, Ragtime earned an impressive 96% approval rating from audience members in the run-up to opening night.
- “This is one of the truly great theater experiences. Brilliantly directed and performed.” - Show-Score user Milton
- “Had never seen it before and enjoyed it. Great performances but at 3 hours long it’s really too long. Could easily trim this down to 2.5 [hours].” - Show-Score user BwayBaby
- “Yes, I know it’s early but this is one of the most stacked casts to grace the stage, led by a standing-ovation worthy performance by Joshua Henry [...] There are lots of side characters that can make for a bit of an exhausting journey through history.” - Show-Score user Brian_3112
Read more audience reviews of Ragtime on Show-Score.
Who should see Ragtime
- Theatregoers who saw the earlier New York runs of the Ragtime musical in 1997 and 2009 will want to see how this rendition stacks up.
- Fans of megamusicals with a large cast with multiple central characters and broad, historical or political themes will be drawn to this take on the genre.
- Fans of E.L. Doctorow’s award-winning 1975 novel Ragtime, which was also adapted into a 1981 Miloš Forman film, will appreciate how it is handled on stage.
Learn more about Ragtime on Broadway
Between its robust score, showcase moments for the cast, and evergreen resonance, Ragtime is easy to heartily recommend.
Photo credit: Ragtime on Broadway. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)
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