About the work
Ragtime is a musical by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) with a book by Terrence McNally, premiered on Broadway in 1998. Based on E. L. Doctorow's acclaimed 1975 novel, it won four Tony Awards, including Best Score and Best Book.
Plot
In turn-of-the-century America, the fates of three groups intertwine: a wealthy white family from suburban New Rochelle, the Black pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. and his beloved Sarah, and the Jewish immigrant Tateh and his daughter. When Coalhouse becomes the victim of racist violence and Sarah dies, the once gentle musician turns radical. Historical figures such as Houdini, Henry Ford, and Emma Goldman cross the action, which paints a panorama of a nation in upheaval.
Cultural significance
Ragtime is regarded as one of the most ambitious American musicals of the 1990s, bringing the great themes of race, immigration, and social change to the stage with symphonic force. The opening number, which sets the three worlds against one another in ragtime style, is considered a masterpiece of musical exposition. The work is regularly revived and grows ever more topical through its engagement with racism.