Brotherhood and Legacy with Joshua Henry

Before our interview even began, Joshua Henry greeted me with a dap that said everything about the energy of the night. It was more than a hello, it was a moment of brotherhood between two generations connected by love for Broadway and the stories that shape us.

Henry shared that taking on Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime is both personal and deeply emotional. “That’s me as a 19-year-old listening to this score for the first time,” he said, recalling when he first heard Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald on the original cast recording. “I’m having a lot of flashback moments today, being blown away by this incredible score. And I’m slowly taking in the breath that this is my lock now, this is my job.”

That sense of legacy runs deep. Henry, who once performed alongside Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald in Shuffle Along, reflected on the wisdom he carries from those who came before him. “I remember talking to Stokes, he’s just the master of charm,” Henry said. “I asked him, ‘How do you do these interviews? You always exude this confidence.’ And he told me, ‘You have to understand that when people see you, they love to see you. You don’t have to be false. You don’t have to put on a mask. Just use the most charming part of yourself.’”

That advice has clearly stayed with him. As Henry steps into Ragtime on Broadway, he embodies what that dap represented, a passing of strength, grace, and authenticity. It is a continuation of legacy, a celebration of brotherhood, and a reminder that every generation stands on the shoulders of the one before. For more information on Ragtime visit www.lct.org/shows/ragtime.