Ragtime (musical)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:51:06 AM Wikipedia source
Ragtime is a musical with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally. It is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by E. L. Doctorow. Set in the early 20th century, Ragtime tells the story of three groups in the United States: African Americans, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician; upper-class suburbanites, represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; and Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Jewish immigrant from Latvia. The show also incorporates historical figures such as Harry Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T. Washington, J. P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Stanford White, Harry Kendall Thaw, Admiral Peary, Matthew Henson, and Emma Goldman.
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Tables
| Character | Toronto | Los Angeles | Broadway | US Tour | Chicago | West End | Broadway Revival | London Revival | London Revival | Broadway Revival |
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2003 | 2009 | 2012 | 2016 | 2025 | |||
| Coalhouse Walker Jr | Brian Stokes Mitchell | Alton Fitzgerald White | Hinton Battle | Kevyn Morrow | Quentin Earl Darrington | Rolan Bell | Ako Mitchell | Joshua Henry | ||
| Tateh | Peter Friedman | John Rubinstein | Peter Friedman | Michael Rupert | Peter Kevoian | Graham Bickley | Robert Petkoff | John Marquez | Gary Tushaw | Brandon Uranowitz |
| The Mother | Marin Mazzie | Marcia Mitzman Gaven | Marin Mazzie | Rebecca Eichenberger | Donna Bullock | Maria Friedman | Christiane Noll | Rosalie Craig | Anita Louise Combe | Caissie Levy |
| Sarah | Audra McDonald | LaChanze | Audra McDonald | Darlesia Cearcy | LaChanze | Emma Jay Thomas | Stephanie Umoh | Claudia Kariuki | Jennifer Saayeng | Nichelle Lewis |
| The Father | Mark Jacoby | John Dossett | Mark Jacoby | Cris Groenendaal | Joseph Dellger | Dave Willetts | Ron Bohmer | David Birrell | Earl Carpenter | Colin Donnell |
| The Mother's Younger Brother | Steven Sutcliffe | Scott Carollo | Steven Sutcliffe | Aloysius Gigl | John Frenzer | Matthew White | Bobby Steggert | Harry Hepple | Jonathan Stewart | Ben Levi Ross |
| Emma Goldman | Camille Saviola | Judy Kaye | Theresa Tova | Mary Gutzi | Susie McKenna | Donna Migliaccio | Tamsin Carroll | Valerie Cutko | Shaina Taub | |
| Evelyn Nesbit | Lynette Perry | Susan Wood | Lynette Perry | Amy Bodnar | Rebecca Thornhill | Savannah Wise | Katie Brayben | Joanna Hickman | Anna Grace Barlow | |
| Harry Houdini | Jim Corti | Jason Graae | Jim Corti | David Bonanno | Hal Fowler | Jonathan Hammond | Stephane Anelli | Christopher Dickins | Rodd Cyrus | |
| The Little Boy (Edgar) | Paul Dano | Blake McIver Ewing | Alex Strange | Nathan Keen | Andrew Keenan-Bolger | Thomas Brown Loye Jordan Calvert Matthew Protheroe | Christopher Cox | Fin Banks Rory Fraser Ewan Harris | Ethan Quinn Samuel Peterson | Nick Barrington |
| The Little Girl | Lea Michele | Danielle Wiener | Lea Michele | Amy Carrey | Jessica Stauffer | Natasha Jules Bernard Sarah Bowling Ruby Williams | Sarah Rosenthal | Lily Burgering Lila Heller Oriana Pooles | Alana Hinge Riya Vyas | Tabitha Lawing |
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 1998 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Book of a Musical | Terrence McNally | Won | ||
| Best Original Score | Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens | Won | ||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Peter Friedman | Nominated | ||
| Brian Stokes Mitchell | Nominated | |||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Marin Mazzie | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Audra McDonald | Won | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Frank Galati | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Graciela Daniele | Nominated | ||
| Best Orchestrations | William David Brohn | Won | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Eugene Lee | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Santo Loquasto | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Won | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Terrence McNally | Won | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Peter Friedman | Nominated | ||
| Brian Stokes Mitchell | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Marin Mazzie | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Steven Sutcliffe | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | Frank Galati | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Graciela Daniele | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | William David Brohn | Won | ||
| Outstanding Lyrics | Lynn Ahrens | Won | ||
| Outstanding Music | Stephen Flaherty | Won | ||
| Outstanding Set Design | Eugene Lee and Wendall K. Harrington | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Santo Loquasto | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer | Nominated | ||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle Award | Best Musical | Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens and Terrence McNally | Runner-up | |
| 1999 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated | |
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2004 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Graham Bickley | Nominated | ||
| Kevyn Morrow | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Musical | Maria Friedman | Won | ||
| Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Matthew White | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Stafford Arima | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Howard Harrison | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Peter Kylenski | Nominated | ||
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2010 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Christiane Noll | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Bobby Steggert | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Marcia Milgrom Dodge | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Derek McLane | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Donald Holder | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christiane Noll | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Bobby Steggert | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | Marcia Milgrom Dodge | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Set Design | Derek McLane | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Acme Sound Partners | Won | ||
References
- Hodges, Andrea (July 12, 1996). "Casting Finalized for 'Ragtime' Leads" Playbill.http://www.playbill.com/article/casting-finalized-for-ragtime-leads-com-68119#
- Within a year of Ragtime's Broadway opening, Livent would go bankrupt, and Drabinsky would later be convicted of fraud f
- Ahrens + Flahertyhttps://ahrensandflaherty.com/works/ragtime/
- Haithman, Dianne (June 8, 1997). "A Musical to the Tune of $10 Million" Los Angeles Times.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-08-ca-1120-story.html
- Viagas, Robert; Lefkowitz, David (June 16, 1997). "Stars Shine at L.A. 'Ragtime' Premiere June 15" Playbill.http://www.playbill.com/article/stars-shine-at-la-ragtime-premiere-june-15-com-329189#
- Brantley, Ben (January 19, 1998). "Theater Review; 'Ragtime': A Diorama With Nostalgia Rampant" The New York Times, retrhttps://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/19/theater/theater-review-ragtime-a-diorama-with-nostalgia-rampant.html
- Lyman, Rick (June 8, 1998). "'Art' Wins Best Play in Tonys; 'Lion King' Gets Best Musical", The New York Times, p. A1
- Lyman, Rick (June 5, 1998). "The Broadway Season's Last Hurrah, Live From Radio City Music Hall", The New York Times, p
- Mandelbaum, Ken. "The Insider." Broadway.com. Retrieved January 8, 2006. Archived November 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machttp://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=507552
- Windeler, Robert (November 5, 1999)."SFX Shutters 'Ragtime,' Ex-Livent Crown Jewel" BackStage."[dead link]http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4591424-1.html
- "Stars in the House Reunites Ragtime's Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Judy Kaye, More March 26"https://www.playbill.com/article/stars-in-the-house-reunites-ragtimes-audra-mcdonald-brian-stokes-mitchell-judy-kaye-more-march-26
- "2004 Oliver Award Winners and Nominations (for 2003 season)" Archived August 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, albemarlhttp://www.albemarle-london.com/awards/AwardWinners.php?Award_Type=Laurence%20Olivier%20Awards&Year=2004
- Byrne, Tim (November 3, 2019). "Ragtime review" TimeOut.https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ragtime-review
- "Ragtime" Archived June 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, kennedy-center.orghttp://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showevent&event=TJTSF
- 3F "Kennedy Center Ragtime Is Aiming for Broadway" Archived June 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Playbill.http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130149-Kennedy_Center_Ragtime_Is_Aiming_for_Broadway
- Jones, Kenneth (January 10, 2010). "Say Goodbye to Music: The Era of Ragtime Ends Jan. 10" Playbill.https://archive.today/20120917175206/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/135790
- Healy, Patrick (May 13, 2010). Tony Nomination for Costume Design Withdrawn From 'Ragtime' "The New York Times.https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/tony-nomination-for-costume-design-withdrawn-from-ragtime/
- Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth (May 4, 2010). "2010 Tony Nominations Announced; Fela! and La Cage Top List" Playbill.http://www.playbill.com/news/article/139245-2010-Tony-Nominations-Announced-Fela-and-La-Cage-Top-List
- Paulson, Michael 'Ragtime' Is Returning to Broadway New York Times, May 6, 2025https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/theater/ragtime-broadway.html
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/05/ragtime-fall-2025-lincoln-center-theater-1236386848/
- Culwell-Block, Logan Lincoln Center Theater's Ragtime Finds Full Cast Playbill, August 21, 2025https://playbill.com/article/lincoln-center-theaters-ragtime-finds-full-cast
- Culwell-Block, Logan Photos: See Broadway's New Ragtime Revival, Opening October 16 at Lincoln Center Theater Playbill,https://playbill.com/article/an-era-exploding-ragtime-begins-broadway-return-september-26
- Culwell-Block, Logan Ragtime Revival Extends to June 2026 Playbill, November 6, 2025https://playbill.com/article/ragtime-revival-extends-to-june-2026
- Regent's Park Open Air Theatrehttps://openairtheatre.com/production/ragtime-the-musical
- Charing Cross Theatrehttp://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/ragtime
- whatsonstagehttps://web.archive.org/web/20160818234214/http://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/shows/ragtime_90131/cast/
- Charing Cross Theatrehttp://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/ragtime
- WhatsOnStage.comhttp://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/ragtime-casting-earl-carpenter-charing-cross_41589.html
- Arts Educational Schools, Londonhttps://artsed.co.uk/whats-on/ragtime/
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/back-to-before-ragtime-concert-with-patina-miller-lea-salonga-norm-lewis-plays-avery-fisher-hall-com-202161
- Broadway.comhttp://www.broadway.com/buzz/167047/patina-miller-and-more-to-star-in-ragtime-concert-with-lea-salonga-and-norm-lewis/
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/ragtime-concert-at-avery-fisher-hall-gleams-with-broadway-stars-and-musical-riches-com-202708
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/audra-mcdonald-and-brian-stokes-mitchell-will-reunite-for-concert-version-of-ragtime
- Theater Mania.comhttps://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/kelli-ohara-to-join-ragtime-concert_90754.html
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/kelli-ohara-to-play-mother-in-concert-performance-of-ragtime
- Ragtime Reunion Concert Will Stream Via PBShttps://playbill.com/article/ragtime-reunion-concert-will-stream-via-pbs
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/laura-michelle-kelly-brandon-victor-dixon-set-for-site-specific-ragtime-concert
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/all-star-ragtime-concert-will-be-presented-on-ellis-island
- BroadwayWorldhttp://www.broadwayworld.com/article/RAGTIME-Eyes-Full-Immersive-Ellis-Island-Production-in-2017-20160809
- BroadwayWorldhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Site-Specific-RAGTIME-ON-ELLIS-ISLAND-To-Hold-Developmental-Sound-Workshop-This-March-20180221
- American Theatre Wing, [1] Working in the Theatre: Ragtime on Ellis Island, November 23, 2016https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWQnzbGYpgY
- The Wizhttps://www.broadway.com/buzz/204777/the-wizs-nichelle-lewis-joins-ragtime-as-sarah-replacing-joaquina-kalukango/
- BroadwayWorld.comhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ben-Levi-Ross-Shaina-Taub-Joy-Woods-Colin-Donnell-Join-RAGTIME-at-New-York-City-Center-20240724
- Tony Winner Joaquina Kalukango, More Join Cast of City Center Ragtimehttps://playbill.com/article/tony-winner-joaquina-kalukango-more-join-cast-of-city-center-ragtime
- BroadwayWorld.comhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/article/RAGTIME-THE-WILD-PARTY-More-Set-for-New-York-City-Center-2024-2025-Season-20240514
- "'Ragtime' Festival Theatre" Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine shawfest.com, accessed April 28, 2012http://www.shawfest.com/playbill/ragtime/story/
- Ragtime 5thavenue.org Archived September 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machinehttps://www.5thavenue.org/show/ragtime/
- Bruscini, Veronica (May. 1, 2018). BWW "Review: Trinity Rep's Season Closes with Resounding 'Ragtime'" Broadway World.https://www.broadwayworld.com/rhode-island/article/BWW-Review-Trinity-Reps-Season-Closes-with-Resounding-RAGTIME-20180501
- "Book Tickets for Shows"https://nymt.org.uk/book-tickets-for-shows/ragtime/
- Ahrens + Flahertyhttps://ahrensandflaherty.com/works/ragtime-symphonic-suite-stephen-flaherty/
- Music Theatre Internationalhttp://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000228
- Various - Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)https://www.discogs.com/release/3322466-Various-Ragtime-The-Musical-Original-Broadway-Cast-Recording
- Music Theatre Internationalhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150822062957/http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000260
- New York Drama Critics' Circlehttps://www.dramacritics.org/dc_pastawards.html