Ragtime Revival Set to Open at Lincoln Center with Stellar Cast and Renewed Power

Broadway audiences are on the brink of witnessing one of the most anticipated revivals of the decade as Ragtime prepares for its official opening at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater on October 16. Following a critically acclaimed run at New York City Center, the production has generated immense buzz for its emotional storytelling, powerhouse performances, and sweeping score.

Originally staged in Toronto in 1996 before transferring to Broadway, Ragtime is based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel and the 1981 film adaptation. The musical explores the American experience at the turn of the 20th century, weaving together the lives of three families, a wealthy white household from New Rochelle, a Black couple confronting racial injustice, and an immigrant artist seeking a new life in the United States. Together, their stories paint a vivid portrait of a nation in transition.

This revival brings a fresh lens to the show’s timeless themes of hope, identity, and social change. Joshua Henry takes on the role of the passionate musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., with Nichelle Lewis as Sarah, Caissie Levy as the compassionate Mother, and Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh, an immigrant artist navigating the promise and peril of the American dream. The ensemble has reportedly been met with nightly mid-show standing ovations during previews, signaling a triumphant return for the beloved musical.

With its lush score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally, Ragtime continues to resonate nearly three decades after its first Broadway debut. This revival at Lincoln Center promises not only to honour its legacy but to reintroduce its urgent message of justice and unity to a new generation of theatregoers.