Nearly 30 years after its Broadway debut, Terrence McNally’s acclaimed “ Ragtime ,” a panoramic look at a tumultuous historical moment, is returning to the Great White Way for a new era.

When the musical adaptation of E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel was unveiled in 1996, it grappled with social issues that continue to plague Americans today. From upward mobility to racism and class stratification, the production highlights what it means to pursue progress in an ever-evolving nation.

With the United States once again at a turning point in its history, Tony Award-nominated director Lear deBessonet knew it was the perfect opportunity to bring the sweeping musical to Lincoln Center.

“You can watch a film at home that just rattles you to your core, but you’re by yourself,” she says. “That’s d

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