Lear deBessonet
RAGTIME Extends Additional Two Weeks on Broadway (Jun 9, 2026)
Photos: Go Inside RAGTIME's Tony Awards After Party (Jun 8, 2026)
What Happened Inside the 2026 Tony Awards Afterparties (Jun 8, 2026)
BIO
Lear deBessonet is the Founder of Public Works and Resident Director at the Public Theater. For Public Works, she has directed pageant-style musical adaptations of The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, and The Odyssey at the Delacorte, each featuring two-hundred New Yorkers from all five boroughs.
Photos
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Productions
Writing
Awards and Nominations
winner
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
winner
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
winner
Lear deBessonet
winner
Lear DeBessonet, Into the Woods
Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
winner
Lear deBessonet, The Good Person Of Szechuan
Videos
Video: Joshua Henry and RAGTIME Cast Celebrate 11 Tony Award Nominations With Surprise Stage Door Performance
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-05-06 18:31:45
Video: Watch Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, & More Perform From RAGTIME at WNYC Event
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-17 16:02:37
Video: Joshua Henry and RAGTIME Cast Perform 'Gettin' Ready Rag'
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-03 11:33:52
Video: Joshua Henry Performs 'Make Them Hear You' From RAGTIME on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-02-16 14:10:05
Video: Inside Opening Night of RAGTIME with Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz & More
by Joey Mervis - 2025-10-17 13:55:04
Video: Joshua Henry & RAGTIME Cast Rehearse 'Gettin’ Ready Rag'
by Michael Major - 2025-09-19 10:52:52
Video: Watch the RAGTIME Cast Perform the Title Song at Lincoln Center
by Michael Major - 2025-05-28 10:45:40
Video: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Stars J. Harrison Ghee, Cheyenne Jackson, and Nikki Renee Daniels Gear Up for City Center
by A.A. Cristi - 2024-01-17 18:52:38
VIDEO: Watch the First Day with The Encores! Orchestra for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-12-23 14:01:59
Video: Cast of INTO THE WOODS Talks Opening Night in Los Angeles
by Alan Henry - 2023-07-03 11:01:07
Video: Go Inside Rehearsals for OLIVER! at New York City Center
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-05-02 16:00:19
Video: Denee Benton Gets Her Wish as INTO THE WOODS' New Cinderella
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-12-18 12:00:20
News
by Stephi Wild - Jun 9, 2026
Lincoln Center Theater's four-time Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of RAGTIME announced a final two-week extension at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, with a new block of tickets now on sale.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 8, 2026
Ragtime celebrated their Tony Award wins for Best Sound Design of a Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. See photos!
by Michael Gioia - Jun 8, 2026
BroadwayWorld takes you inside a handful of the afterparties during Broadway’s biggest night.
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 8, 2026
Last night saw the 79th Annual Tony Awards, celebrating the incredible theater work seen on Broadway this past year. Take a look inside the CBS and Pluto TV broadcasts below, including presenters, performances, and acceptance speeches from shows like The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Ragtime, Titaníque, and more.
by Talking Tonys - Jun 8, 2026
Joshua Henry took home a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Ragtime. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction!
by Talking Tonys - Jun 7, 2026
Caissie Levy took home a Tony Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Ragtime. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 7, 2026
Yesterday they were just nominees, but now... they're winners! BroadwayWorld is backstage at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards and we've got photos of all the evening's winners.
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 7, 2026
The stars are aligning at Rockefeller Center! That's where the best of Broadway comes together today to walk the red carpet ahead of the 79th Annual Tony Awards- the biggest celebration in the American theatre. BroadwayWorld of course will be on hand at Radio City Music Hall all night to keep you up to speed on what's going on onstage, backstage, and behind the scenes!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 4, 2026
You can now see photos and videos from The Entertainment Community Fund's Annual Gala on Monday, June 1, 2026 in New York City, which raised $1.8 million to support their programs and services.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026
Something's coming! The best of Broadway will take the stage Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk. Need a refresher on how to watch and when? We've got you covered!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026
The best of Broadway takes the stage tonight at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk. Stay tuned all night ling for updates from inside the ceremony.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026
The 79th Annual Tony Awards have come and gone! As winners took the stage at the big event, BroadwayWorld brought you full text of all of the acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the humorous, and everything in between.
by Luka Vonier - Jun 2, 2026
Watch in this video as we chat with: Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)), Whitney White (Liberation), Lear deBessonet (Ragtime), Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch (Cats: The Jellicle Ball), and Christopher Gattelli (Schmigadoon!).
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2026
In recognition of National Immigrant Heritage Month, Lincoln Center Theater will honor a remarkable group of visionary leaders for a special evening at Ragtime at the Vivian Beaumont Theater to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month.
by Team BWW - Jun 2, 2026
This is the final chance to vote for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards. The Theater Fans' Choice Awards honor and celebrate the best of New York Theater - as decided by the most important critics, the audience at large - allowing YOU to have your say during the most exciting time of the year for the theater community.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 1, 2026
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics kicked off Pride Month by bestowing Prince Faggot and Ragtime top honors in the group’s fourth annual Dorian Theater Awards.
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 1, 2026
Tony nominees Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis stopped by Good Morning America on Monday to perform 'Wheels of a Dream' from the hit Broadway revival of Ragtime. Watch the powerhouse duo perform the beloved musical number now.
by Team BWW - May 29, 2026
There's just four days left to vote for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards. The Theater Fans' Choice Awards honor and celebrate the best of New York Theater - as decided by the most important critics, the audience at large - allowing YOU to have your say during the most exciting time of the year for the theater community.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 7, 2026
Joshua Henry has won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Ragtime.
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - May 27, 2026
The New Dramatists Annual Spring Luncheon, honoring multi-award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, was held in the Broadway Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis. Check out photos here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Lear deBessonet has written 1 shows including transFigures (Conceiver).
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime, OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (Drama League Awards) for Ragtime, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Ragtime, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Ragtime, Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards) for , Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Good Person of Szechwan, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Good Person of Szechwan and Direction (Obie Awards) for The Good Person Of Szechuan.
Lear deBessonet has won several prestigious awards, including Outstanding Direction of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Ragtime. She also received the Outstanding Direction of a Musical award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Ragtime. In addition, she was honored with the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing from the Drama League Awards, as well as the Outstanding Direction of a Musical award from the Drama League Awards for Into the Woods. Furthermore, she won the Direction award at the Obie Awards for The Good Person of Szechuan.
Videos
