Additional principal casting has been announced for New York City Center's upcoming staging of the Tony-nominated Stephen Flaherty–Lynn Ahrens–Terrence McNally musical Ragtime.
As previously reported, the hit musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel of the same will be the New York venue's annual gala presentation. The two-week engagement will kick off October 30 with a benefit performance—honoring original Ragtime star Brian Stokes Mitchell and philanthropist Denise Littlefield Sobel—followed by dinner at the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
Newly joining the production are Colin Donnell (The Shark Is Broken) as Father, Ben Levi Ross (The Connector, Gatsby) as Younger Brother, recent Tony winner Shaina Taub (Suffs) as Emma Goldman, and Joy Woods (The Notebook) as Sarah. The foursome join the previously announced Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Caissie Levy as Mother, and Tony winner Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh. Additional casting is to be announced.
Though Taub and Woods are in shows that are currently running on Broadway, they will take time off from Suffs and Notebook, respectively, to star in Ragtime (which is a common practice since City Center productions are usually limited runs). As a representative from Suffs told Playbill, "Ragtime is a show that has influenced Shaina’s work immensely and everyone at Suffs is excited for her to have this opportunity!"
Artistic Director Lear deBessonet will direct the limited run, which will continue through November 10, with music direction by James Moore and choreography by Ellenore Scott. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Craig Burns.
Video: See Lear deBessonet and Brian Stokes Mitchell Give a TED Talk
This sweeping, powerful adaptation of Doctorow’s novel features music by Flaherty, lyrics by Ahrens, and a book by McNally.
Ragtime mixes fictional characters and historical ones in telling the story of Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Black man who buys a Model T Ford, setting off a chain of events that involve all levels of New York City society—along with magician Harry Houdini, industrialist Henry Ford, celebrity Evelyn Nesbit, Black leader Booker T. Washington, architect Sanford White, revolutionary Emma Goldman, Admiral Peary, a Latvian immigrant who becomes a movie director, and a not-so-quiet family in suburban New Rochelle, New York.
The original Broadway production featured a cast led by Audra McDonald as Sarah, Mitchell as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Marin Mazzie as Mother, Mark Jacoby as Father, Steven Sutcliffe as Mother's Younger Brother, Peter Friedman as Tateh, Judy Kaye as Emma Goldman, Jim Corti as Harry Houdini, Lynette Perry as Evelyn Nesbit, Tommy Hollis as Booker T. Washington, and Larry Daggett as Henry Ford.
The musical was nominated for 12 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It took home four awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for McDonald, and Best Orchestrations for William David Brohn.
Expanding City Center’s mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, the run of Ragtime includes a Lynne & Richard Pasculano Student Matinee for grades 6–12 (November 7), a post‐show Community Night (November 8 at 7:30 PM), and a performance offering ASL Interpretation (November 7 at 7:30 PM).
The previously announced Encores! season will feature Urinetown (February 5–16, 2025), Love Life (March 26-30), and The Wild Party (April 30-May 11).
For ticket information and additional details about the City Center season, visit NYCityCenter.org.
