Stephen Flaherty
Birth Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Photos & Video: Entertainment Community Fund Raises 1.8 Million at Annual Gala - Watch Highlights (Jun 4, 2026)
Photos: Sting and Shaggy Perform for the Broadway Community to Celebrate THE LAST SHIP (Jun 3, 2026)
SCHMIGADOON!, THE BALUSTERS and GIANT Win Top Categories at 2026 Dorian Theater Awards (Jun 1, 2026)
BIO
Stephen Flaherty writes music for theater, film, recordings and the concert stage. He is perhaps best known as the composer of the Broadway musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical (Grammy and Drama Desk nominations), Once on This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award for London's Best Musical), and also contributed music to Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (original songs) and Neil Simon's Proposals (incidental music). He has also written four musicals produced at Lincoln Center Theatre: The Glorious Ones (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations), A Man of No Importanc (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk nomination) and My Favorite Year. Other theater scores include Lucky Stiff and Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein (Chicago's Jefferson Award for Best New Musical). Film credits include Anastasia (Academy Award nominations for Best Score and Best Song, two Golden Globe nominations and a gold record for its soundtrack), Bartok the Magnificent (original score and songs) and the upcoming After The Storm. Concert work includes commissions from the Boston Pops, Carnegie Hall and the Guggenheim Museum. "The Ahrens and Flaherty Songbook," a print anthology, is available through Alfred Music. His songs have been recorded by Aaliyah, Johnny Mathis, Richard Marx and Donna Lewis, Renee Fleming and Bryn Terfel, Donny Osmond, Thalia and Deana Carter, among others. Mr. Flaherty serves on the Dramatists Guild Council, where he co-chairs the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for emerging writers with Lynn Ahrens, his longtime writing partner.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Composer
Composer
Composer
Composer
Conceiver
Composer
Bookwriter
Conceiver
Awards and Nominations
Stephen Flaherty, Anastasia
Stephen Flaherty, Anastasia
Stephen Flaherty, The Glorious Ones
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
winner
Stephen Flaherty, A Man of No Importance
winner
Stephen Flaherty, Seussical the Musical
winner
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
winner
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
winner
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
winner
Stephen Flaherty, Once On This Island
Stephen Flaherty, Once on this Island
Videos
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
Video: SEUSSICAL Original Broadway Cast Reunites For 54 Below Concert Rehearsals
by Michael Major - 2025-10-20 13:35:45
Joshua Henry Receives Emotional Note From Brian Stokes Mitchell on RAGTIME Opening
by Michael Major - 2025-10-20 11:28:25
Video: Watch Joshua Henry & Nichelle Lewis Perform 'Wheels of a Dream' From RAGTIME
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-09-30 10:08:13
Video: Go Inside the First Performance of RAGTIME on Broadway
by Michael Major - 2025-09-29 10:27:25
Video: Watch Caissie Levy & Brandon Uranowitz Rehearse 'Our Children' From RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2025-09-25 15:26:28
Video: Joshua Henry & RAGTIME Cast Rehearse 'Gettin’ Ready Rag'
by Michael Major - 2025-09-19 10:52:52
Video: Broadway Celebrates the Unveiling of Terrence McNally Way
by Joey Mervis - 2025-06-02 10:01:50
Video: Watch the RAGTIME Cast Perform the Title Song at Lincoln Center
by Michael Major - 2025-05-28 10:45:40
Video: Watch 'Your Daddy's Son' From RAGTIME At Goodspeed Opera House
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-05-16 22:49:10
Video: Watch Mamie Parris Sing 'Back to Before' in Goodspeed's RAGTIME
by Michael Major - 2025-05-12 13:20:45
Video: Edward Watts, Mamie Parris & More in RAGTIME at Goodspeed
by Joshua Wright - 2025-05-02 16:11:29
Video: Edward Watts, Mamie Parris & More in Rehearsals for RAGTIME at Goodspeed
by Joshua Wright - 2025-04-25 12:27:04
News
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 Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 3, 2026
Sting and Shaggy performed on O&M’s rooftop to the Broadway community to celebrate their New York return of The Last Ship, beginning performances at the Met next week. See photos!
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 A.A. Cristi - May 28, 2026
Pittsburgh CLO will celebrate its 80th anniversary with a gala on June 12 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The event will honor Carol Hefren Tillotson and feature a special anniversary concert highlighting the organization's history.
by Stephi Wild - May 27, 2026
The Off Broadway Alliance has announced the winners of the 15th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, including Mexodus, Cold War Choir Practice, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and more. Checkout the full list here!
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!
by Bruce Glikas - May 22, 2026
The Outer Critics Circle announced the winners of the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards, and celebrated the winners of the 2025-2026 Broadway and Off-Broadway season at a ceremony. Check out photos here!
by Michael Major - May 21, 2026
La Mirada Theatre has released new video footage of Lena Ceja rehearsing 'Journey to the Past' from their upcoming production of Anastasia. The production features Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role first played on Broadway by his brother Derek Klena.
by Adela González Pérez - May 21, 2026
Las grandes producciones, regresos históricos y experiencias inmersivas que definen la cartelera estival en las tres capitales del teatro musical.
by Stephi Wild - May 21, 2026
Pittsburgh Public Theater has terminated all of its staff as the merger with Pittsburgh CLO proceeds. Between 9 and 12 staff members were told that their positions have been eliminated and they were to prepare to leave the same day.
by Joshua Wright - May 20, 2026
San Diego Musical Theatre has released first look footage of SEUSSICAL, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's fantastical musical extravaganza, now playing through June 7, 2026 at SDMT Stage.
by Michael Major - May 20, 2026
Lincoln Center Theater and Concord Theatricals Recordings have released new video footage of Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis performing 'Sarah Brown Eyes' from the recently released Ragtime cast recording.
by A.A. Cristi - May 19, 2026
Last night, Lincoln Center Theater honored Emmy Award-winning Producer Susan Downey and Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr. at their annual spring Gala at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Go inside the event in new photos and video.
by Jennifer Broski - May 19, 2026
The best of Broadway was on 65th Street for Lincoln Center Theater's staged concert performance of Man of La Mancha. Check out photos from the red carpet here!
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - May 18, 2026
The best of the New York City theatre community gathered at Town Hall for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards. Stars in attendance included John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Alex Brightman, Beth Leavel, Donna McKechnie, and more. Check out photos here!
by Jennifer Broski - May 16, 2026
Earlier this week, the Tony nominees gathered at the Sofitel New York to meet the press for the first time and BroadwayWorld was there to speak with all of them! Check out photos from behind the scenes with the nominees as they chatted with Richard Ridge and passed on our very own Tiny Tony.
by Nicole Rosky - May 15, 2026
The best of Broadway and off-Broadway were on hand at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to celebrate 92nd Annual Drama League Awards, hosted by Emmy Award winner Frank DiLella. Check out a full list of winners here.
by Tyler Hinton - May 14, 2026
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND in the Lindsay Legacy Theater at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater is a joyous celebration of Caribbean culture, the bounties of the earth, and love in all its forms.
by Josh Sharpe - May 16, 2026
The nominations are here for the 2026 Tony Awards. This year, a high number of titles have onscreen counterparts, and we have rounded up how to watch these versions at home, from The Lost Boys to Schmigadoon!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Stephen Flaherty has written 17 shows including Lucky Stiff (Composer), Once On This Island (Composer), My Favorite Year (Composer), Ragtime (Composer), Patti LuPone: Matters of the Heart (Composer), Seussical (Conceiver), A Man of No Importance (Composer), Dessa Rose (Composer), Chef's Theater: A Musical Feast (Songs), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (Composer), Loving Repeating (Composer), The Glorious Ones (Composer), Rocky (Composer), In Your Arms (Music), Anastasia (Composer), Marie, Dancing Still (Composer), Knoxville (Composer).
Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Anastasia, Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Anastasia, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for The Glorious Ones, Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for Ragtime, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for A Man of No Importance, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Seussical the Musical, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime, Outstanding Music (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, The American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier 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.
Stephen Flaherty has received several prestigious awards for his work, including: - Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for A Man of No Importance - Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Seussical the Musical - Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime - Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Ragtime - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Ragtime - The American Express Award for Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for Once On This Island.
Videos
