Nearly a decade after his breakout role in 'Dear Evan Hansen,' Ben Levi Ross is captivating audiences with a powerful performance in the Broadway revival of 'Ragtime.' The musical, directed by Lear deBessonet, is described by both Ross and the director as a piece that 'holds the promise and the wound of America so closely with each other.' Now playing at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York, the production features Ross as Mother's Younger Brother, a character from an upper-class white family in 1902 New York.
Ross plays the brother of Mother (Caissie Levy) and brother-in-law of Father (Colin O'Donnell). Despite his privileged life, Younger Brother feels trapped by monotony, especially after failing to win the affections of vaudeville performer Evelyn Nesbit (Anna Grace Barlow). His encounter with Russian American activist Emma Goldman (Shaina Taub) sparks a political awakening, leading him to ally with the local Black community, including musician Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Joshua Henry) and his wife Sarah (Nichelle Lewis).
The role features two standout numbers: 'The Night that Goldman Spoke in Union Square' and 'He Wanted to Say,' performed with Henry and Taub. Ross's portrayal highlights Younger Brother's nuanced evolution between acts, showcasing his ability to convey hope and change. 'Younger Brother represents a lot of hope, in the sense that people can change,' Ross told HuffPost. 'People have the ability to have their souls and minds changed on a dime when they are opened up to different experiences.'
'Ragtime,' with music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and a book by Terrence McNally, is based on E.L. Doctorow's 1975 novel. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1998 with a cast including Audra McDonald and Lea Michele. Its themes of racism and antisemitism resonate deeply in today's sociopolitical climate. The Lincoln Center production opened in October 2024, shortly after the U.S. presidential election, adding emotional weight for audiences and cast alike.
'Week one was the anxiety pre-election, and week two was however you felt post-election,' Ross recalled. 'What we were doing felt like an act of service. When we got past that first show after the election, we felt the energy from the audience. People are needing this. It's something in my career I don't think I'll ever forget.' Despite some audience members asking if material was added, Ross noted, 'Not a single word was changed from the original production, which is kind of devastating and also beautiful in the sense that audiences reflect on how little has changed.'
'Ragtime' recently earned eight Drama Desk Award nominations, including one for Ross in the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical category. The show is also expected to be a front-runner at the Tony Awards in June. Ross is also seen as Teddy Tascioni on CBS's 'Elsbeth,' recently renewed for a fourth season. In 2024, he starred in 'Gatsby: An American Myth,' a stage adaptation of 'The Great Gatsby' with music by Florence Welch, in Boston. He released a debut solo album under the name Boychik in 2022, reflecting his Jewish and LGBTQ+ identity. 'This is the kind of work I want to be doing for the rest of my career,' Ross said.
