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Ragtime Revival at Lincoln Center Earns 11 Tony Nominations, Highlights American Dream Themes
A ragged rhythm of hope reverberates through Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater as the Broadway revival of Ragtime gathers an impressive 11 Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical and top honors for Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy.
Directed by Lear deBessonet, this third Broadway run of the show has become a touchstone for critics, who have described the production as a collection of “unanimous raves,” according to the source. The musical, crafted by Terrence McNally (book), Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), and Stephen Flaherty (music) and based on E. L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel, follows three disparate strands in early‑20th‑century America: the African‑American musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., the upper‑class suburban matriarch Mother, and the Eastern‑European immigrant Tateh. Their quests for the American Dream collide, exposing racial, economic, and cultural tensions that still resonate.
The original 1998 production, starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald, opened to mixed reviews. In contrast, the revival’s energy and contemporary relevance have struck audiences and reviewers alike. “I think why ‘Ragtime’ is having a moment right now…our world and our country are very fractured,” said Levy, linking the story’s themes of hope and conflict to today’s social climate.
Uranowitz, who portrays Tateh, underscored the immigrant narrative: “I play a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe, but I think so much of the immigration story is speaking to people right now, because of the immigration issues happening in our country literally at this moment.” Henry, as Coalhouse, reflected on the character’s optimism in 1908: “One of the heartbreaking aspects of that joyous moment is, we’re in around 1908 and you’re like, ‘Wow. How can this Black man and woman be so hopeful about what they don’t see?’”
The revival’s visual palette draws from the grandeur of the Gilded Age. The cast rehearsed in New York City’s Morgan Library, a structure built by financier J.P. Morgan, whose architecture the source notes “represents the grandeur of the Gilded Age, a period of American history that lends itself especially to drama.”
Musically, the score blends ragtime piano with early‑20th‑century styles, and the number “Wheels of a Dream,” performed by Henry and Nichelle Lewis, stands out as the show’s most celebrated song. A cast recording will capture these performances and is slated for digital release on January 9 2026.
The revival’s timing dovetails with the United States’ approach to its 250th anniversary. Ahrens said the show’s themes “are about what it means to be American” and that the production “examines that.” The musical’s exploration of hope and pain has struck a chord with audiences who see parallels to contemporary social and political divisions.
Ragtime remains in the Vivian Beaumont Theater through the end of the 2025‑2026 Broadway season. Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, and the rest of the cast will perform until the final curtain call, keeping the production at the center of discussions about American identity and the enduring power of musical theater.
Directed by Lear deBessonet, this third Broadway run of the show has become a touchstone for critics, who have described the production as a collection of “unanimous raves,” according to the source. The musical, crafted by Terrence McNally (book), Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), and Stephen Flaherty (music) and based on E. L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel, follows three disparate strands in early‑20th‑century America: the African‑American musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., the upper‑class suburban matriarch Mother, and the Eastern‑European immigrant Tateh. Their quests for the American Dream collide, exposing racial, economic, and cultural tensions that still resonate.
The original 1998 production, starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald, opened to mixed reviews. In contrast, the revival’s energy and contemporary relevance have struck audiences and reviewers alike. “I think why ‘Ragtime’ is having a moment right now…our world and our country are very fractured,” said Levy, linking the story’s themes of hope and conflict to today’s social climate.
Uranowitz, who portrays Tateh, underscored the immigrant narrative: “I play a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe, but I think so much of the immigration story is speaking to people right now, because of the immigration issues happening in our country literally at this moment.” Henry, as Coalhouse, reflected on the character’s optimism in 1908: “One of the heartbreaking aspects of that joyous moment is, we’re in around 1908 and you’re like, ‘Wow. How can this Black man and woman be so hopeful about what they don’t see?’”
The revival’s visual palette draws from the grandeur of the Gilded Age. The cast rehearsed in New York City’s Morgan Library, a structure built by financier J.P. Morgan, whose architecture the source notes “represents the grandeur of the Gilded Age, a period of American history that lends itself especially to drama.”
Musically, the score blends ragtime piano with early‑20th‑century styles, and the number “Wheels of a Dream,” performed by Henry and Nichelle Lewis, stands out as the show’s most celebrated song. A cast recording will capture these performances and is slated for digital release on January 9 2026.
The revival’s timing dovetails with the United States’ approach to its 250th anniversary. Ahrens said the show’s themes “are about what it means to be American” and that the production “examines that.” The musical’s exploration of hope and pain has struck a chord with audiences who see parallels to contemporary social and political divisions.
Ragtime remains in the Vivian Beaumont Theater through the end of the 2025‑2026 Broadway season. Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, and the rest of the cast will perform until the final curtain call, keeping the production at the center of discussions about American identity and the enduring power of musical theater.
