Annie Star Lilla Crawford & Newsies' Lewis Grosso Join Ragtime Concert

What once was Lea, now is Lilla! Broadway's own little orphan Annie, Lilla Crawford, will play The Little Girl in the upcoming concert performance of Ragtime at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall on February 18. (Fun fact: Glee star Lea Michele played the role in the original production in 1998.) Newsies' Lewis Grosso will play The Little Boy. The star-studded production will be headlined by Tony winners Lea Salonga (Mother) and Tyne Daly (Emma Goldman) as well as Tony nominees Patina Miller (Sarah) and Norm Lewis (Coalhouse Walker Jr.).

Directed by Stafford Arima, Ragtime's cast also includes Michael Arden as Younger Brother, Phillip Boykin as Booker T. Washington, Tony nominee Kerry Butler as Evelyn Nesbit, Matt Cavenaugh as Henry Ford, Tony winner Jarrod Emick as Willie Conklin, Manoel Felciano as Tateh, Tony winner Dick Latessa as Grandfather, Jose Llana as Harry Houdini, Michael McCormick as J.P. Morgan, Howard McGillin as Father and NaTasha Yvette Williams as Sarah's Friend.

Ragtime tells the story of three very different families living in New York in the early 20th century. Featuring lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and a book Terrence McNally, Ragtime is based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel of the same name. The musical originally opened at Broadway’s Ford Center for the Performing Arts on January 18, 1998. The show earned four Tony Awards (Best Book, Best Score, Best Orchestrations and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Audra McDonald as Sarah). In addition to McDonald, the production starred Marin Mazzie, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Peter Friedman. Ragtime was revived on Broadway in 2009, starring Christiane Noll, Quentin Earl Darrington and Stephanie Umoh.