Rehearsals are underway for New York City Center's upcoming staging of the Tony-nominated Stephen Flaherty–Lynn Ahrens–Terrence McNally musical Ragtime.

In the video above, watch the 28-piece orchestra rehearse the musical's "Prologue," conducted by music director James Moore, who says the Flaherty–Ahrens score is his favorite.

As previously reported, the hit musical based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel of the same will be the New York venue's annual gala presentation. The two-week engagement will kick off October 30 with a benefit performance—honoring original Ragtime star Brian Stokes Mitchell and philanthropist Denise Littlefield Sobel—followed by dinner at the Ziegfeld Ballroom.

The cast will be led by Colin Donnell as Father, Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Joaquina Kalukango as Sarah, Caissie Levy as Mother, Ben Levi Ross as Younger Brother, Shaina Taub as Emma Goldman, and Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh.

They will be joined by John Clay III as Booker T. Washington, Rodd Cyrus as Harry Houdini, Matthew Lamb as The Little Boy, Tabitha Lawing as The Little Girl, and Stephanie Styles as Evelyn Nesbit as well as ensemble members Nicholas Barrón, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Billy Cohen, Aerina DeBoer, Ta’Nika Gibson, Olivia Hernandez as Kathleen, Marina Kondo, Jeff Kready as Henry Ford, Tiffany Mann as Sarah’s Friend, Morgan Marcell, Tom Nelis as Grandfather, Ramone Nelson, Kent Overshown, John Rapson as J.P. Morgan, Destinee Rea, Deandre Sevon, Kathy Voytko, Jacob Keith Watson as Willie Conklin, Alan Wiggins, and Henry Witcher.

New York City Center Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet will direct the limited run, which will continue through November 10, with music direction by Moore, choreography by Ellenore Scott, scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Linda Cho, lighting design by Adam Honoré, and sound design by Kai Harada. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Craig Burns.

Video: See Lear deBessonet and Brian Stokes Mitchell Give a TED Talk

This sweeping, powerful adaptation of Doctorow’s novel features music by Flaherty, lyrics by Ahrens, and a book by McNally.

Ragtime mixes fictional characters and historical ones in telling the story of Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Black man who buys a Model T Ford, setting off a chain of events that involve all levels of New York City society—along with magician Harry Houdini, industrialist Henry Ford, celebrity Evelyn Nesbit, Black leader Booker T. Washington, architect Sanford White, revolutionary Emma Goldman, Admiral Peary, a Latvian immigrant who becomes a movie director, and a not-so-quiet family in suburban New Rochelle, New York.

The original Broadway production featured a cast led by Audra McDonald as Sarah, Mitchell as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Marin Mazzie as Mother, Mark Jacoby as Father, Steven Sutcliffe as Mother's Younger Brother, Peter Friedman as Tateh, Judy Kaye as Emma Goldman, Jim Corti as Harry Houdini, Lynette Perry as Evelyn Nesbit, Tommy Hollis as Booker T. Washington, and Larry Daggett as Henry Ford.

The musical was nominated for 12 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It took home four awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for McDonald, and Best Orchestrations for William David Brohn.

Expanding City Center’s mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, the run of Ragtime includes a Lynne & Richard Pasculano Student Matinee for grades 6–12 (November 7), a post‐show Community Night (November 8 at 7:30 PM), and a performance offering ASL Interpretation (November 7 at 7:30 PM).

The previously announced Encores! season will feature Urinetown (February 5–16, 2025), Love Life (March 26-30), and The Wild Party (April 30-May 11).

For ticket information and additional details about the City Center season, visit NYCityCenter.org.