4.5 out of 5 stars

With its themes of racial injustice, immigrant discrimination and police brutality at the turn of the 20th Century, the musical “Ragtime,” based on the E.L. Doctorow novel, feels as tragically relevant as ever. Joshua Henry and Cassie Levy, reprising their roles from the 2024 City Center Encores production in this revival transfer, are so strong their Tonys may as well be engraved now. But relative newcomer Nichelle Lewis stands out among the remarkable cast. The production is marred by inconsistent sound mixing and meager design, but Lear DeBessonet’s direction solidifies this as one of the top shows of the season. — Justin McCallum

At Lincoln Center Theater; lct.org. (Review date: Oct. 16, 2025)