Broadway Star Caissie Levy Spots Celeb 'Rocking Out' at 'Ragtime'

Levy dishes on seeing a famous face in the audience during a performance of the classic musical.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Broadway actress Caissie Levy, who starred in the recent revival of "Ragtime", revealed that she spotted a big-name celebrity "rocking out" in the audience during one of the show's performances. Levy shared the details of the celebrity sighting with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa, though she did not disclose the identity of the famous attendee.

Why it matters

Caissie Levy's anecdote about a celebrity enjoying a performance of "Ragtime" provides a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of Broadway and the reactions of famous audience members to live theater. It also highlights the enduring appeal and cultural significance of the classic musical, which explores themes of diversity and social change in early 20th century America.

The details

During an interview with USA TODAY, Caissie Levy, who played the lead role of Mother in the recent Broadway revival of "Ragtime", shared that she spotted a well-known celebrity "rocking out" in the audience during one of the show's performances. Levy did not reveal the identity of the famous attendee, but her anecdote provides a rare look at how celebrities experience live theater.

  • Caissie Levy starred in the Broadway revival of "Ragtime" in 2026.

The players

Caissie Levy

A Broadway actress who starred in the recent revival of the musical "Ragtime".

Ralphie Aversa

A reporter for USA TODAY who interviewed Caissie Levy about her experience in "Ragtime".

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What they’re saying

“I feel like it's showing us the lesson we're learning in the news cycle every day, which is the need to listen to one another and to open ourselves up to ideas that might not come naturally to us,”

— Caissie Levy (USA TODAY)

The takeaway

Caissie Levy's anecdote about a celebrity enjoying a performance of the classic musical "Ragtime" highlights the enduring appeal of live theater and the ability of great art to transcend boundaries and bring people together, even famous faces, in shared experiences.