Lynn Ahrens
Birth Place: New York, New York, USA
Latest News on Lynn Ahrens:
BIO
Lynn Ahrens' writing spans the Broadway stage, feature film and network television. She won the Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards and received two Grammy nominations as lyricist of the
Broadway musical Ragtime; in the same year, she received two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and a Gold Record for Twentieth Century Fox's animated feature film Anastasia. She wrote book and lyrics for Seussical (Grammy nomination, one of the most performed shows in America); Once On This Island (London Olivier Award, Best Musical, Tony nominations for Best Book and Score); Lincoln Center Theater's The Glorious Ones (five Drama Desk nominations); Dessa Rose (Audelco Award, Best Musical, Outer Critics Circle nomination); A Christmas Carol (ten years at Madison Square Garden) and Lucky Stiff (Helen Hayes Award, Best Musical). She provided lyrics for My Favorite Year, A Man Of No Importance (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Musical) and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, as well as lyrics for the feature film Camp. For television, she wrote the musical teleplay of A Christmas Carol (Hallmark Entertainment Special, NBC) and is a mainstay songwriter/ singer for the famed series Schoolhouse Rock (ABC-TV) and others. She has received the Emmy Award and four Emmy nominations. Her short stories
and essays have appeared nationally and have been nominated for the Best American Essays and Pushcart anthologies. She serves on the Dramatists Guild Council of America, co-chairs the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program, and is a member of AMPAS. 2008 marks her twenty-fifth year of collaboration with composer Stephen Flaherty.
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STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
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Bookwriter
Lyricist
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Lyricist
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Conceiver
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Awards and Nominations
Lynn AhrensAnastasia
Lynn Ahrens, The Glorious Ones
winner
Lynn Ahrens, A Man of No Importance
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Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
winner
Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
winner
Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
Lynn Ahrens , Once on this Island
Lynn Ahrens , Once on this Island
Videos
Video: Watch 'One Upon A December' from ANASTASIA at La Mirada Theatre
by Michael Major - 2026-06-18 16:01:52
Video: Joshua Henry Is Living to Share His Tony Win with Caissie Levy and the RAGTIME Company
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-08 00:02:59
Video: Caissie Levy Reacts to Tony Win- 'It's All I Ever Dreamed Of'
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-07 23:59:45
Video: Kai Harada on His Tony Win- 'I Do Know What I'm Doing Sometimes!'
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-07 22:34:11
Dillon Klena Takes on Dmitry in ANASTASIA at La Mirada Theatre
by Robert Diamond - 2026-06-07 11:31:52
Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'
by Michael Major - 2026-05-21 14:31:08
Video: Joshua Henry & Nichelle Lewis Perform 'Sarah Brown Eyes' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-05-20 10:29:12
Video: Watch Caissie Levy Record 'Back to Before' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-04-28 11:23:11
Video: RAGTIME Stars Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz & More Perform at WNYC Event
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-17 16:02:37
Video: Brandon Uranowitz, Shaina Taub & More Record 'Success' From the RAGTIME Album
by Michael Major - 2026-04-15 12:18:26
Video: RAGTIME Stars Perform in the Union Square Subway Station
by Michael Major - 2026-04-10 17:00:04
Video: Watch the Cast of RAGTIME Record 'New Music' For Their Cast Album
by Michael Major - 2026-04-03 14:00:15
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: Joshua Henry, Shaina Taub, & Ben Levi Ross Record 'He Wanted to Say' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2026-02-06 12:30:02
News
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 9, 2026
Four young Adelaide performers have been cast as Little Anastasia in the Broadway musical ANASTASIA, joining Rhonda Burchmore and Nancye Hayes AM at Festival Theatre.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 7, 2026
Tony Award-winning songwriting duo Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will be honored with the Ockie Award at the Oscar Hammerstein Museum's Something Wonderful Gala, featuring a concert by Liz Callaway.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 7, 2026
The Shaw Festival will present Perfect Pairings, a new concert series spotlighting iconic musical theatre composer duos, performed by Shaw ensemble members at the new Village Hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 1, 2026
Village Theatre has announced creative leadership teams for its upcoming Mainstage season, featuring Broadway veterans and award-winning directors helming RAGTIME, COME FROM AWAY, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, and the world premiere of LOVE IS DEAD.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 29, 2026
Opera Parallèle and the San Francisco Transgender District will present the 5th annual EXPANSIVE concert at A.C.T.'s Strand Theatre, featuring opera singers Katherine Goforth, Nina Jones, and RuPaul's Drag Race runner-up Sapphira Cristál.
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jun 27, 2026
Summer Stock Stage's production of RAGTIME has sold out all performances, with capacity audiences filling seats for the show featuring a 30-piece orchestra. NEWSIES is next on the season lineup at Schrott Center for the Arts.
by Michael Major - Jun 25, 2026
La Mirada Theatre has released new footage of Dillon Klena performing 'My Petersberg' in their production of Anastasia. He now takes on the role for the La Mirada run after his brother, Derek Klena, originated it on Broadway. Watch the video now!
by Stephen Sorokoff - Jun 24, 2026
Songwriter Julie Gold sang her own music, with guest Stephen Flaherty, in LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE..THE MUSIC OF JULIE GOLD at the Laurie Beechman on June 23. See photos from the night
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jun 21, 2026
Los Altos Youth Theatre has announced its Summer 2026 production of “Anastasia: Youth Edition,” directed by Brittany “B” Harder. With a talented cast of 23 young performers, ages 10 to 17, this enchanting musical will transport audiences from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the excitement of 1920s Paris.
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 20, 2026
Lincoln Center Theater's Broadway revival of Ragtime just welcomed a very special guest to the Vivian Beaumont Theatre! Earlier this week, the one and only Oprah saw the Tony-winning revival and visited the cast backstage. Check out photos here.
by Michael Major - Jun 18, 2026
Watch a 'One Upon A December' from Anastasia at La Mirada Theatre. The video features Lena Ceja as Anya, along with Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role originally originated on Broadway by his brother, Derek Klena.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 18, 2026
The Broadway revival of Ragtime, which recently won four 2026 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, will host a voter registration drive every Wednesday in July from 5:30-7:30pm in the Lincoln Center Theater Lobby.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 17, 2026
Award-winning playwright and lyricist Gretchen Cryer, known for I'M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND TAKING IT ON THE ROAD, will lead a master class as part of Theatre Now New York's Industry Nights series in Midtown Manhattan.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 17, 2026
The new musical AFLOAT, directed by Schele Williams and written by Zoe Sarnak and Emily Kaczmarek, will receive an invitation-only developmental reading at Open Jar Studios featuring Gianna Harris, Alysia Velez, and Liam Pearce among others.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 15, 2026
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts has named Jason Daunter as its new Theatre Director. Mr. Daunter’s responsibilities include planning, organizing, and managing all aspects of the theatre, its rehearsal hall, and the staff.
by Michael Quintos - Jun 11, 2026
I'll say this now: this Summer's most beguiling, most enchanting theatrical surprise is perhaps the brand new, gorgeously opulent regional production of ANASTASIA - THE MUSICAL, now on stage at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through June 20, 2026. A visual stunner punctuated by remarkable musicality and an impressive acting ensemble, this epically-staged, winningly triumphant local iteration is an impressive presentation, from its thrilling technical aspects and grandiose (yet still grounded) storytelling to its superb, talent-bursting cast led by a fierce star turn by Lena Ceja in the title role that audiences will remember for a long time.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 11, 2026
Marc Kudisch, George Salazar, and Taylor Trensch are among the cast set for a developmental reading of The (Disaster) Marathon of 1904, a new musical comedy about the chaotic 1904 St. Louis Olympic marathon, presented by New Next Now at Open Jar Studios.
by Sidney Paterra - Jul 3, 2026
2026 is halfway over, which means that the 2026/27 Broadway season has just begun! Now that the 79th Annual Tony Awards have concluded, all eyes are already on the lineup for the new Broadway season and many Broadway productions have already revealed full details of their upcoming engagements.
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 Stephi Wild - Jun 9, 2026
Ragtime is returning to the New Stage Theatre. Based on the novel by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Lynn Ahrens has written 17 shows including Lucky Stiff (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Once On This Island (Bookwriter), My Favorite Year (Lyricist), A Christmas Carol (Lyricist), Ragtime (Lyricist), Patti LuPone: Matters of the Heart (Lyricist), Seussical (Conceiver), A Man of No Importance (Lyricist), Dessa Rose (Lyricist), Chef's Theater: A Musical Feast (Songs), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (Lyricist), The Glorious Ones (Lyricist), Rocky (Lyricist), In Your Arms (Title Song Lyrics), Anastasia (Lyricist), Marie, Dancing Still (Bookwriter & Lyricist), Knoxville (Lyricist).
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Anastasia, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for The Glorious Ones, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for A Man of No Importance, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime, Best Musical (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Ragtime, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Ragtime, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Once on this Island and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Once on this Island.
Lynn Ahrens has won several prestigious awards, including Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for A Man of No Importance and Ragtime. Additionally, she received the Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Ragtime.
