Nichelle Lewis on being nominated for her first Tony Award
The Ragtime actress is nominated alongside four other cast members, plus multiple members of the creative team.
Nichelle Lewis is in good company. Not only was the actress just nominated for her first Tony Award for her performance as Sarah in the Broadway revival of Ragtime, she will also join four other cast members as Tony nominees onstage tonight: Brandon Urownitz, Caissie Levy, Ben Levi Ross, and her onstage partner Joshua Henry.
“I think it’s going to be the most beautiful, inspiring, encouraging performance that we’ve had yet,” Lewis told New York Theatre Guide of the upcoming May 5 show. “I feel so proud of each and every person who has put on this show, the cast, the team, just literally everybody.”
The Virginia native played Sarah in New York City Center’s 2024 Encores! Gala production, which transferred to the Vivian Beaumont Theater last fall. Sarah’s story is an emotional rollercoaster of love, fear, and reconnection ending in tragedy. “It’s amazing to be telling her story, and to also get to feel what she feels every night, which is just so much hope and joy,” Lewis said. “And of course she feels sadness, but I think it’s because of that sadness and because of her journey that she has such hope and joy.”
Sarah is one of the great musical theatre roles for Black actresses of the last thirty years and was originated by six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald. “So many amazingly beautiful Black women have played this role and done it so incredibly, and I just feel honored to be a part of this legacy,” Lewis said of the role’s history.
In addition to the actresses who have come before her, Lewis has had a young fanbase cheering her on as well. “This school that I went to and sang for, apparently all the kids are watching, and it was so amazing to see that they’re supporting me,” Lewis said. “It’s just so exciting to see that I’m inspiring these kids and I’m inspiring people to chase their dreams.”
Lewis also honors her recently departed grandmother with her performance. As Sarah, “I wanted to give something that was raw and share parts of myself that I feel just come from within me and also come from my knowledge of what I know life is as a Black woman, and what I know it was for my ancestors,” she said. “I would say that’s the thing that I’m most proud of.”
Get Ragtime tickets on New York Theatre Guide.
Photo credit: Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry in Ragtime on Broadway. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ragtime playing?
Ragtime is playing at Vivian Beaumont Theater - Lincoln Center Theater. The theatre is located at 150 West 65th Street, New York, 10023.
How long is Ragtime?
The running time of Ragtime is 2hr 50min. Incl. 15min intermission.
How do you book tickets for Ragtime?
Book tickets for Ragtime on New York Theatre Guide.
What's the age recommendation for Ragtime?
The recommended age for Ragtime is Ages 10+. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted..
What is Ragtime about?
Ragtime is a sprawling story of New York at the dawn of the twentieth century as three families from different backgrounds collide in search of the American Dream.
What are the songs in Ragtime?
The songs feature music inspired by the ragtime genre itself along with soaring solos, duets, and big ensemble numbers including "New Music," "Til We Reach That Day," "Journey On," "Back to Before," and "Wheels of a Dream."
Who wrote Ragtime?
Ragtime is written by a trio of venerable Broadway legends: a lush score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and a stirring book by Terrence McNally.
Who directs Ragtime?
Tony Award nominee Lear deBessonet directs, marking her inaugural production as Lincoln Center Theater's new Artistic Director.
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