Ragtime

(1938–2020)

Terrence McNally (Book) was an American playwright, librettist, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer, described by The New York Times as “the bard of the American Theater.” One of the few playwrights of his generation to successfully pass from the avantgarde to mainstream acclaim, McNally redefined American playwriting for six decades and was the recipient of five Tony Awards (Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, and the 2019 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement). He received the 2011 Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award (Vice President of the Guild from 1981 to 2001), the 2015 Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award, and inductions into the American Theater Hall of Fame (1996) and the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2018). McNally’s legacy lives on through his final creative act—the Terrence McNally Foundation—which champions early career playwrights and LGBTQ+ causes, as McNally did throughout his life. 

Lynn Ahrens (Lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (Music) have been collaborators since 1983. For Broadway’s Ragtime, they won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Score. They were nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes for the animated feature film Anastasia, which they subsequently adapted for Broadway. They are four-time Grammy nominees. Additional Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional: Once on This Island (Olivier Award, Best Musical; 2018 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical); Seussical; Rocky; My Favorite Year; Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life; A Man of No Importance (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Musical); Dessa Rose; The Glorious Ones; Lucky Stiff; Little Dancer; Knoxville. Ahrens and Flaherty are Lifetime Council Members of the Dramatists Guild of America and co-founders of the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for Emerging Writers. They are recipients of the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2015 they were inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. They honor their Ragtime collaborators—Frank Galati, Terrence McNally, and Bill Brohn. ahrensandflaherty.com 

E.L. Doctorow (Author of original novel Ragtime) was an American novelist, editor, and professor, best known for his works of historical fiction. He wrote 12 novels, three volumes of short fiction, and a stage drama, including the award-winning novels Ragtime (1975), Billy Bathgate (1989), and The March (2005). Doctorow was the recipient of numerous writing awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award which he was awarded three different times (for Ragtime, Billy Bathgate, and The March). At the time of his death, President Barack Obama called him “one of America’s greatest novelists.” 

Photo by Keith Meyers / The New York Times / Redux

James Moore (Music Director) Broadway: Miss Saigon, On the Town, Gigi, Follies, South Pacific, Ragtime, Steel Pier, Company. National tours: The Producers; Kiss Me, Kate; Crazy for You; And the World Goes ‘Round. Encores! Off-Center: Road Show. The Public Theater: The Pirates of Penzance (gala performance at The Delacorte). Regional credits include Mame starring Christine Baranski (The Kennedy Center), Titanic (Signature Theatre), and 13 productions at the famed St. Louis Muny, including Sweeney Todd; West Side Story; Gypsy; 1776; and Hello, Dolly! Symphonic: The Boston Pops, The National Symphony, The Calgary Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, The Santa Barbara Symphony. Recordings: On the Town, Follies. Music Supervisor for the North American touring company of Les Misérables. Master and Bachelor of Music degrees in vocal performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Endless gratitude to Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.  

Ellenore Scott (Choreographer) is a BIPOC, New York-based choreographer and director. Broadway: Funny Girl, Mr. Saturday Night, Grey House. Off-Broadway: The Lonely Few, I Can Get It For You Wholesale, Little Shop of Horrors, Titanique (Lucille Lortel nomination). Other choreography credits: Titanique (Australian, Canadian, and West End productions), Funny Girl (First National Tour), So You Think You Can Dance? (Season 17), Single All the Way (Netflix), Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical. Scott’s work has also been seen at McCarter Theatre, The Bushwick Starr, The Old Globe, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Cherry Lane Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. TV Performances: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Smash, The Blacklist, Glee!, and Finalist and All-Star on SYTYCD. Scott serves as the Vice President of the SDCF Board. @helloellenore 

Lear deBessonet (Director) is a Tony nominated director and the Artistic Director of Encores! Directing credits include Once Upon a Mattress (Broadway, Encores!), Into the Woods (Broadway, Encores!, National Tour), Lionel Bart’s Oliver! (Encores!), Annie Live! (NBC), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare in the Park), The Odyssey (The Public Theater) and Good Person of Szechwan (The Public Theater/Foundry). She is the Founder of Public Works at The Public Theater, where she served as the Resident Director from 2012-2020, and the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Arts for EveryBody. She received the Drama League Founders Award and Best Director of a Musical 2023, Obie Award, Ammerman Award, Lilly Award, and multiple Drama Desk and OCC nominations. 

Proud Black pianist; Sarah's love and the father of her child, fighting for justice. 

Coalhouse's love and mother of their child; closely tied to Mother as she navigates societal issues.  

Upper-class woman who evolved from traditional values; married to Father .

Wealthy but disillusioned; Mother’s husband, struggling with family and societal changes. Runs a fireworks company. 

Idealistic young man who is searching for purpose; infatuated with Evelyn Nesbit and struggles with his identity in a changing world. Works at a fireworks company with Father. 

Curious and innocent son of Mother and Father; represents hope and is influenced by his interactions with Tateh and Coalhouse. 

Latvian Jewish immigrant who dreams of success for himself and his daughter, The Little Girl .

 Latvian Jewish immigrant who is Tateh’s daughter; new to America and very cautious.

Influential Black leader and orator; advises on education and economic empowerment, impacting Coalhouse’s aspirations. He is a real historical figure. 

Legendary magician and escape artist; representing ambition and the pursuit of freedom. Hungarian Jewish immigrant. He is a real historical figure. 

Visionary industrialist; represents progress and innovation, interacts with Coalhouse in the context of industry. He invented the Model T car that Coalhouse drives. He is a real historical figure.  

Wealthy capitalist; represents the epitome of wealth and success; built and owns the Morgan Library. He is a real historical figure.

Famous actress and model; object of desire for Mother’s Younger Brother and  subject of the “Crime of the Century.” She is a real historical figure.  

Fierce activist; mentors Mother’s Younger Brother and challenges societal norms, influencing his beliefs. Lithuanian Jewish immigrant. She is a real historical figure.  

Irish American firefighter who lives in New Rochelle; biased and bigoted.