Ragtime Opens on Broadway

The Broadway revival of Ragtime celebrates its opening night at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Based on E.L. Doctorow’s acclaimed epic novel, this sweeping historical musical features a Tony-winning score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and a Tony-winning book by Terrence McNally. Marcia Milgrom Dodge directs and choreographs.

Ragtime turns back the clock to the dawn of the 20th century—a time when anything was possible and ragtime music filled the air. New York City was the land of opportunity. A poor Jewish immigrant sells his “moving picture” books on the street. A wealthy Victorian couple welcomes a runaway into their home. A Harlem jazz pianist turns an issue of justice into a revolution. Their personal journeys come alive as historic figures (among them escape artist Harry Houdini, auto tycoon Henry Ford, educator Booker T. Washington, and infamous entertainer Evelyn Nesbit) offer guidance and diversion. Together, their stories celebrate the struggle between tradition and independence all in pursuit of the American dream.