'Ragtime' resonates with audiences 30 years after Broadway debut

Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' musical 'Ragtime' is finding a powerful new resonance with audiences nearly three decades after its 1998 Broadway premiere. The show, which tracks the intertwined lives of three families in New York at the turn of the 20th century, is currently in its third Broadway run at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater. While initially perceived by many as a historical period piece, Flaherty notes that audiences today connect with it as a "contemporary story." This shift in perception, according to lyricist Ahrens, highlights the musical's enduring relevance. "Three is the charm," she remarked, suggesting this revival is particularly impactful. The musical, with a book by the late Terrence McNally, is adapted from E.L. Doctorow's 1975 novel. It offers a sweeping portrayal of the American experience, encompassing Black families in Harlem, Jewish immigrants on the Lower East Side, and affluent white residents in Westchester County. The narrative weaves together fictional characters with historical figures such as Emma Goldman, Booker T. Washington, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, and Harry Houdini. The production's ability to balance "immense tragedy as well as great optimism," coupled with deep actor performances, has been consistently moving audiences to standing ovations, sometimes mid-performance. This emotional impact is driving repeat attendance, with theatergoers eager to share the experience across generations. Brandon Uranowitz, nominated for best lead actor for his role as the Jewish immigrant Tateh, observed, "They’re like, ‘I’m coming back with my parents,’ ‘I’m coming back with my grandchildren,’ ‘I’m coming back with my grandparents.'" He believes the show "is sort of speaking to this generational reckoning that we’re having with America and our national identity."

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Three is the charm.