Alabama native Anna Grace Barlow, known for her work on the small and silver screens, is making her Broadway debut this season in the current revival of Ragtime at Lincoln Center Theater‘s Vivian Beaumont.
Lear deBessonet’s staging of Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Terrence McNally‘s epic musical officially opened at the Beaumont October 16 following a concert run at New York City Center last year. Barlow has stepped into the role of model, actress, and “girl on the swing” Evelyn Nesbit, who is perhaps best remembered for testifying during the Trial of the Century after her jealous millionaire husband murdered prominent architect Stanford White.
Barlow is sharing the stage with a host of Broadway favorites, including Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., Mother, and Tateh, respectively, plus Colin Donnell as Father, Nichelle Lewis as Sarah, Ben Levi Ross as Mother’s Younger Brother, and Tony winner Shaina Taub as Emma Goldman. While many of the cast members are reprising their roles from New York City Center, triple-threat Barlow is new to the company (Stephanie Styles played Nesbit at City Center).
Television audiences may be familiar with Barlow from her role as Brittney Lovewell on the TV drama The Big Leap. Her other TV credits include Scream Queens, The Goldbergs, Supernatural, The Young and the Restless, and The Fosters, plus guest appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Blue Bloods, Big Sky, NCIS Hawaii’i, Acapulco, Lucifer, and Team Kaylie.
On the silver screen, Barlow most recently starred opposite Joel Courtney in the Lionsgate hit Jesus Revolution. She will also appear in the upcoming A24 film Famous, led by Zac Efron, while her other movie credits include the 2025 indie drama 3, Dramarama, The Never List, Love You Anyway, Snow Falls and Witch Hunt.
In the interview below for the Playbill series How Did I Get
Here—spotlighting not only actors, but directors, designers, musicians,
and others who work on and off the stage to create the magic that is
live theatre—Barlow reveals which of her Ragtime stars she has been obsessed with for years and how her current Broadway role completes a college-made bucket list.
Anna Grace Barlow in Ragtime
Matthew Murphy
Where did you train/study?
Anna Grace Barlow: I attended Pace University’s musical theatre program for one whole year before
I went for a quick visit to L.A. and didn’t come back for a decade. My
training on the West Coast was very on-camera focused—scene study and cold reading classes, plus lots of private audition coaching. I
really switched gears and collected some invaluable tools from a lot of
different people.
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
I
grew up training in the youth programs at Red Mountain Theatre Company.
Our director, Keith Cromwell, was a very formative mentor for me. He
was big on discipline, etiquette, and respect for theatre as an art
form. He held us to a high standard and constantly brought real Broadway
performers and industry people all the way to Alabama to teach us. He
made what was, at first, an extracurricular activity feel like it could be
a real career, and taught us what was expected in the highest-caliber
professional settings. I don’t think I would’ve thought pursuing this
was possible if not for him.
You are making your Broadway debut with Ragtime. Has Broadway always been a goal?
Even
reading that is crazy. My Broadway debut! Ahhhh! Broadway was
definitely my first and biggest dream. I was your classic theatre kid
with a collection of Playbills and posters, doing musicals back-to-back
all through middle and high school. All I wanted was to live in New York
and perform.
And
life is so funny—your path takes you in a direction, sometimes away
from your original dream, and, of course, over time you dream new dreams!
But this dream of Broadway has always been there in the back of my
heart. I’ve always held onto hope that the opportunity would come back
around someday. I’m so humbled and grateful to get to realize that dream
now, and at this point in my life. It’s even sweeter than I thought
it’d be!
What’s it been like joining and working with this company, most of whom were in the previous City Center production?
It’s
just the best group of people. I feel really honored to be a part of
this. I actually didn’t get to see the City Center production last year
because it was the week of my wedding! But I am a die-hard Stephanie
Styles fan, and these are big shoes to fill, but I’ve felt so supported
in making Evelyn my own.
Beyond
that, it’s been amazing to watch Lear deBessonet and our choreographer
Ellenore Scott really get to take their time to workshop and flesh out
everything even more this time around. Also, it’s massively inspiring to
watch Joshua, Brandon, Caissie, Nichelle, Shaina, Ben, Colin, John [Clay III], and
Rodd [Cyrus] re-approach their roles, play, and discover even more. Everyone is
totally blowing me away. I’m in heaven.
Did you learn anything about Evelyn Nesbit that was particularly surprising as you prepared for this role? Do you have a favorite moment in the show for her?
Oh, I know way too much about Evelyn
Nesbit. There is so much information out there about her: her
historical context in the real world (she wrote two memoirs!), her story
arc in E.L. Doctorow’s novel (so meaty), and then ultimately what made
it into the stage adaptation, which is obviously perfect.
It’s
been really fun to dig and learn as much as I can about her, and so
fulfilling for my actor brain to get to take this wealth of knowledge
and use it to inform the choices I can make for her moments. I’m having
so much fun. I gotta bring my A-game.
As for a fun fact: I think it’s so interesting that Evelyn was paid by Thaw’s family to testify, and what she testified was very, very rehearsed. So it’s been fun to play with that for “Crime of the Century!”
As for my favorite moment of hers in the show—all of them. It changes. Right now I get really excited for “Atlantic City.”
Do you have any dream stage roles and/or actors you would like to work with?
I
will be so honest and tell you I am living a dream right now working
with Caissie Levy. It’s truly a “meet your heroes” moment. I have not
played it cool around her either; she knows I am obsessed with her, and
she is just the coolest and the kindest. Watching her perform every day
is so surreal for me. Her interpretation of Mother feels so fresh and
unique and perfect and distinctly Caissie. It’s an inspiration to watch.
I know Ghost like the back of my hand, and I saw Murder Ballad at
least 10 times, so… I’m really soaking up this experience with her.
I’d love to work with her again! I’d also love to work with Jeremy
Jordan, Jessie Mueller… Keanu Reeves! I’d love to do a straight play
next.
Tell me about a time you almost gave up but didn’t.
I
have been free from the desire to give up for a long time now. I love
acting and creating too much! Of course, I have discouraging moments like
everyone else, but I believe so wholeheartedly that I’m meant to do
this. I also have the best support system: my parents, my husband, my
sisters… None of them would let me give up.
Anna Grace Barlow is living her Broadway dream
Steven C. Boroughs
Is there a person or people you most respect in your field and why?
Being
back in the theatre world has reminded me how amazed I am by true
vocalists—people who were just born to sing. People like Joshua Henry!
They make it look so easy, but vocalists are true athletes. And it’s
hard! The voice can be fickle. After spending many years focusing on
acting only, it’s so fun (and also scary) to be back singing so
frequently again. I’m trying to steal everyone’s little vocal secrets,
and I’m working with Aimée Steele to get me into tip-top shape to sing
this incredible score. Mad respect to those who make it look so easy!
Tell me about a job/opportunity you really wanted but didn’t get. How did you get over that disappointment?
How
much time do you have? I fall in love with scripts and characters so frequently. And even after more than a decade of “nos,” it doesn’t hurt
any less to hear. I still want things. And you know what? I let myself
want things. I also really try to soak up the tape or the audition: that
period of time where the role is mine.
I
always give myself a moment or a day to grieve, but then I remind
myself what’s meant for me won’t pass me by. Because at the end of the
day, every “no” has led me to exactly where I am right now—and I
wouldn’t change a thing!
What advice would you give your younger self or anyone starting out?
Being
an actor or performer can be so all-encompassing. There was a time it
was my whole identity! I’ve found over time that developing and
deepening my life outside of performing has brought me so much general
happiness that isn’t tied to how my acting career is going.
Also, I believe experiencing life outside of acting gives you more to pull from emotionally. It’s been so important for me!
What is your proudest achievement as an actor?
I
remember making an acting bucket list for myself about 15 years
ago. To me, these three goals were in my wildest dreams. I wanted to be
in one movie in movie theatres, I wanted to play a series regular on a
TV show, and I wanted to be in a Broadway show. To college-me, that
sounded like an insane list.
And while I have so much more I want to do and accomplish as an actor, completing that dream trifecta with Ragtime is
a moment I’m letting myself be really proud of. Getting to perform this
piece of theatre with this group of people is beyond what I ever
imagined I’d get to do. I am in awe and so proud to be here. So
basically, I’m living my proudest achievement!
And
like I said, I’m always dreaming new dreams. Every time I scratch
something off my acting bucket list, I add five more goals. I really do
feel like I’m just getting started.
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Photos: Ragtime on Broadway
Photos: Ragtime on Broadway
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Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, and company of Ragtime
Matthew Murphy
Caissie Levy and Brandon Uranowitz in Ragtime
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John Clay III and company of Ragtime
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Anna Grace Barlow in Ragtime
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Joshua Henry and company of Ragtime
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Nichelle Lewis and Joshua Henry in Ragtime
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Joshua Henry, Ben Levi Ross, and company of Ragtime
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Brandon Uranowitz and Tabitha Lawing in Ragtime
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Nick Barrington, Rodd Cyrus, and company of Ragtime
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Nichelle Lewis in Ragtime
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Brandon Uranowitz in Ragtime
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Nick Barrington and Colin Donnell in Ragtime
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