RAGTIME 2025 Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/25/25 at 12:00am

It was the music of something beginning…

On the wheels of a dream (and a highly praised production at Encores! last year), a second Broadway revival of Ragtime takes shape at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Leading the cast of the historical epic are Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz, with featured turns from Colin Donnell, Nichelle Lewis, Ben Levi Ross, Shaina Taub, Anna Grace Barlow, John Clay III, and Rodd Cyrus. Ragtime features a bombastic score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, with a book by Terrence McNally; this production features choreography by Ellenore Scott with direction from Lear deBessonet. Previews begin tomorrow (September 26) before an October 16 opening; it will run through January 4.

“Ragtime is a sweeping musical adaptation of E.L. Doctorow’s novel that follows three fictional families in pursuit of the American Dream at the dawn of the 20th century: Black pianist Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and his beloved Sarah, Jewish immigrant Tateh and his little girl, and a wealthy white family led by matriarch Mother. All grasping for the same dream, if only they can hold on to it.”

Who’s excited?!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/25/25 at 6:47pm

As discussed before, this revival will feature a 28-piece orchestra, making it the largest band on Broadway at the moment. James Moore returns as conductor after leading the 1998 and 2009 productions. 

• 2 Keyboards
• 4 Woodwinds
• 2 Trumpets
• 2 French Horns
• 2 Trombones
• Tuba
• Percussion
• Drums
• Guitar / Banjo
• Harp
• 6 Violins (incl. Concertmaster)
• 2 Viole
• 2 Celli
• Bass

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/25/25 at 7:07pm

Is he required to conduct this score?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/25/25 at 7:09pm

The Bandstand said: "Is he required to conduct this score?"

 

Why are you SO weird??

 

[ELP]

Posted: 9/25/25 at 8:27pm

The Bandstand said: "Is he required to conduct this score?"

What????

[TBone]

Posted: 9/25/25 at 8:51pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "It was the music of something beginning…

Who’s excited?!"

Me! I'll be there tomorrow night and to say I'm excited is an understatement. :-)

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 11:00am

My best friend and I have center orchestra seats for late October and I’m counting the days! I’ve been pleading for this show to be revived for years and there couldn’t be a more perfect time for it or a more perfect cast. It will be my first performance at any Lincoln Center venue as well! 

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 12:11pm

There is nothing anyone can say to temper my excitement for this.  I have a trip planned in January that was fully based around hearing this glorious score live for the first time.  And then add in Joshua Henry........  January 4th can't come soon enough.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 12:31pm

FYI, they're not offering rush tickets this weekend per the box office. But I'm planning to try next weekend.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 3:05pm

Press releases galore for this show today!

Cast album on the way, and now a performance on Stephen Colbert this Monday the 29th.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 3:47pm

ACL2006 said: "FYI, they're not offering rush tickets this weekend per the box office. But I'm planning to try next weekend."

 

Alll 3 performances sold out this weekend

[ELP]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 4:25pm

TBone said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "It was the music of something beginning…

Who’s excited?!"

Me! I'll be there tomorrow night and to say I'm excited is an understatement. :-)"

Please report back. Have tix in Nov!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 4:33pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "As discussed before, this revival will feature a 28-piece orchestra, making it the largest band on Broadway at the moment."

This prompted me down an IBDB rabbit hole. Does WICKED still have 23 + conductor, same as when it opened? If so, that's the next-largest orchestra on Broadway, followed by a few shows in the 18-20 range (Aladdin, Lion King, DBH, Great Gatsby).

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 4:56pm

I know they no longer use piccolo at the top of the show and replaced it with percussion.  Not sure if it changed the amount of people in the Pitt

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 6:29pm

MERCH

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 6:50pm

The Bandstand said: "I know they no longer use piccolo at the top of the show and replaced it with percussion. Not sure if it changed the amount of people in the Pitt"



Pretty sure that's a piccolo. And you can hear it in the audio. 

Updated On: 9/26/25 at 06:50 PM

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 7:12pm

Was talking about Wicked

[Dom P]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 9:13pm

JSquared2 said: "The Bandstand said: "Is he required to conduct this score?"



Why are you SO weird??

"That's like asking why is thier air, we'll never know"

 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 9:39pm

Dying for reports.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 10:23pm

Christopher Gattelli is billed as "creative consultant." Often that title means "uncredited direction," but in this case the director is also the producer...perhaps he provided some additional choreo?

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 10:51pm

She’s not much of a director and has often had artistic help from ghost “artistic” types.  Usually a director or stager on top of a choreographer.   She is more of a managerial director.  This tracks

Updated On: 9/26/25 at 10:51 PM

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 11:00pm

I completely agree with that.  Her production of Into the woods was crap.  I hope she just manages and leads LCT and brings in good directors to do the directing. 

[bear88]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 11:16pm

I cannot assess Lear deBessonnet’s other work, but I thought her handling of Into The Woods was fine. She had an excellent cast, from start to the end of the tour, but she was smart enough to let them shine. Unlike Thomas Kail with Sweeney Todd, she trusted the material and made it work.

I don’t know how she will do with Ragtime, of course. And I won’t know unless it extends.

 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 11:30pm

Sweeney was much better than the non-creative Woods.  Woods benefitted from the pandemic.  No one had jobs and took a good show regardless of director.

Updated On: 9/26/25 at 11:30 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 9/26/25 at 11:38pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "As discussed before, this revival will feature a 28-piece orchestra, making it the largest band on Broadway at the moment."

This prompted me down an IBDB rabbit hole. Does WICKED still have 23 + conductor, same as when it opened? If so, that's the next-largest orchestra on Broadway, followed by a few shows in the 18-20 range (Aladdin, Lion King, DBH, Great Gatsby)."

The Lion King also has 23 + conductor. A great resource for current Broadway orchestras is broadwaymusicians.com.