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Lynn Ahrens

Birth Place: New York, New York, USA

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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.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Chef's Theater: A Musical Feast
[Off-Broadway]
2004
Performer

Productions

RagtimeRagtime
 
[Off-Broadway, 2024]
Lyricist
A Journey to the PastA Journey to the Past
 
[West End, 2022]
MUSIC AND LYRICS
AnastasiaAnastasia
 
[US Tour, 2018] Cancelled [Replacement]
Lryics[Replacement]
RockyRocky
 
[Broadway, 2014]
Lyricist

Writing

Knoxville
Lyricist
Marie, Dancing Still
Bookwriter & Lyricist
Anastasia
Lyricist
In Your Arms
Title Song Lyrics
A Christmas Carol
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Dessa Rose
Bookwriter
Lyricist
The Glorious Ones
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lucky Stiff
Bookwriter/Lyricist
Lyricist
Once On This Island
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Ragtime
Lyricist
Seussical
Lyricist
Conceiver
Bookwriter
Conceiver
Lyricist
Bookwriter

Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Lynn AhrensAnastasia

Drama Desk Awards - 2007 - Outstanding Lyrics

Lynn Ahrens, The Glorious Ones


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Lyrics

Lynn Ahrens, A Man of No Importance


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Lyrics

Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Lyrics

Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime

New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 1998 - Best Musical

Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime


winner
Tony Awards - 1998 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime

Tony Awards - 1991 - Best Book of a Musical

Lynn Ahrens , Once on this Island

Tony Awards - 1991 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Lynn Ahrens , Once on this Island

Videos

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News


Joan Rivers Play, COME FROM AWAY, ANASTASIA & More Set for Cape Playhouse 2025 Summer Photo
Joan Rivers Play, COME FROM AWAY, ANASTASIA & More Set for Cape Playhouse 2025 Summer Season
by Joshua Wright - Feb 18, 2025

Discover the Cape Playhouse's 2025 'Season of Hope,' featuring productions like BUDDY, RENT, ANASTASIA, and more. The season will run June 4 to September 20 at the historic Cape Playhouse in Dennis, MA.
Review: ROCKY THE MUSICAL al TEATRO BRANCACCIO Photo
Review: ROCKY THE MUSICAL al TEATRO BRANCACCIO
by Ettore Farrattini - Feb 14, 2025

Continua con un’altra bella produzione la stagione ‘24/’25 del Teatro Brancaccio con la trasposizione in scena del celebre film Rocky che fece di Sylvester Stallone una delle più brillanti stelle di Hollywood nel 1976.
Oceanside Theatre Company Unveils ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Cast and Creative Team Photo
Oceanside Theatre Company Unveils ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Cast and Creative Team
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 13, 2025

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) has announced the cast of its first production of the 2025 season, Once on This Island, a breathtaking and deeply moving musical that tells a timeless story of love, sacrifice, and destiny.
Cast Set for LUCKY STIFF at Beyond August Productions Photo
Cast Set for LUCKY STIFF at Beyond August Productions
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 12, 2025

Beyond August Productions has revealed the full cast for its production of Lucky Stiff, coming in June 2025 to The Rosette Theater in Hyde Park, Central Austin. Learn more!
Theatre Now to Host Master Class with Mindi Dickstein Photo
Theatre Now to Host Master Class with Mindi Dickstein
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 10, 2025

Theatre Now will host a Master Class with Jonathon Larson Award-winning writer Mindi Dickstein. The evening will include songs by Theatre Now Musical Writers Lab members Jonathan Keebler & Bob Kelly, plus more.
Review: SEUSSICAL at The Carnegie Photo
Review: SEUSSICAL at The Carnegie
by Ana-Brit Asplen - Feb 6, 2025

The Carnegie and CCM bring together an exceptional cast and creative team to demonstrate a unique interpretation of Seussical, focusing heavily on the importance of imagination, storytelling, and unconventional thinking.
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE Comes To SpeakEasy Stage This Month Photo
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE Comes To SpeakEasy Stage This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 5, 2025

SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the award-winning musical A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, featuring a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.  
Video: Christy Altomare, John Bolton, Alex Joseph Greyson & More Are Bringing Back AN Photo
Video: Christy Altomare, John Bolton, Alex Joseph Greyson & More Are Bringing Back ANASTASIA
by Joey Mervis - Feb 5, 2025

Rumor has it that Anastasia will be back in NYC this winter when it arrives at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. The one-night-only event arrives as a part of Manhattan Concert Productions' Broadway Series. Watch this video to find out more about how they are preparing for the event and what audiences can expect.
Boston Symphony Orchestra Unveils 2025 Tanglewood Season Photo
Boston Symphony Orchestra Unveils 2025 Tanglewood Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2025

Tanglewood has revealed details of its 2025 season, opening in late June. The 2025 Tanglewood season features more than 100 performances. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
BroadwayCon 2025 Unveils Additional Programming & Moves to Marriott Marquis Photo
BroadwayCon 2025 Unveils Additional Programming & Moves to Marriott Marquis
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 28, 2025

BroadwayCon has revealed a change of venue and additional programming for the 2025 event, taking place next week from February 7-9. Learn more about the upcoming events!
20 Great Audition Songs for Baritones & Basses Photo
20 Great Audition Songs for Baritones & Basses
by Sarah Lasko - Jan 22, 2025

If you’re a baritone or bass singer looking to refresh your go-to audition material, here’s a list of musical theatre songs to help you showcase your range and talent to the folks behind the audition table. 
Theatre Now Awarded NAMT Writers Residency Grant Photo
Theatre Now Awarded NAMT Writers Residency Grant
by Stephi Wild - Jan 21, 2025

Theatre Now New York has been awarded a Writers Residency Grant through the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT).
L Morgan Lee and Kate Baldwin Will Host MAESTRA MUSIC'S AMPLIFY 2025 Photo
L Morgan Lee and Kate Baldwin Will Host MAESTRA MUSIC'S AMPLIFY 2025
by Stephi Wild - Jan 16, 2025

Maestra Music has announced Amplify 2025, directed by Jessica Ryan, hosted by L Morgan Lee, co-hosted by Kate Baldwin, and featuring special guests such as Jordan Fisher, Zeniba Now,  Jessica Vosk. 
Review: LUCKY STIFF at Florida Rep Photo
Review: LUCKY STIFF at Florida Rep
by Fran Thomas - Jan 15, 2025

If you can’t find something funny in the musical farce Lucky Stiff by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, you are as dead as poor Uncle Anthony. That gentleman has passed on in New Jersey, and he has willed six million dollars to his British nephew Harry Witherspoon, who has never even met him.
Photos: OUR TOWN's Jim Parsons Receives Sardi's Portrait Photo
Photos: OUR TOWN's Jim Parsons Receives Sardi's Portrait
by Bruce Glikas - Jan 8, 2025

Jim Parsons, who is currently starring on Broadway in Our Town and is most known for starring in the CBS hit The Big Bang Theory, recently received his portrait at Sardi's. BroadwayWorld was there for the unveiling and you can check out photos here!
Review: RAGTIME Rides on the Wheels of a Dream at The Ruth Photo
Review: RAGTIME Rides on the Wheels of a Dream at The Ruth
by Tyler Hinton - Jan 6, 2025

RAGTIME rides on the wheels of a dream of founders, artists, and donors as it opens the brand-new home of the former Hale Center Theater Orem. The magnificent musical is the inaugural production in the Smith Grand Theater at the beautifully designed, spacious yet intimate Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater (The Ruth) on the dōTERRA campus in Pleasant Grove.
Photo: Lynn Ahrens Visits ANASTASIA Cast at the Bucks County Playhouse Photo
Photo: Lynn Ahrens Visits ANASTASIA Cast at the Bucks County Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 30, 2024

Tony award winning lyricist, Lynn Ahrens, visited the cast of Bucks County Playhouse’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical” after the matinee on Sunday, December 29. Check out a photo here!
7 Underrated Christmas Songs From Broadway Shows Photo
7 Underrated Christmas Songs From Broadway Shows
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 25, 2024

Tired of the same old tried and true holiday songs? Check out a few underrated faves from Anastasia, Elf the Musical, Rent and more!
Review: God Bless The Argyle Theatre's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL Photo
Review: God Bless The Argyle Theatre's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL
by Nicholas Pontolillo - Dec 22, 2024

What did our critic think of A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL at The Argyle Theatre?
Theatre Now Announces New Cabaret Series Beginning In 2025 Photo
Theatre Now Announces New Cabaret Series Beginning In 2025
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 17, 2024

Starting in 2025, Theatre Now will present a monthly cabaret series at SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St., NYC. Verse Intro Cabaret will feature performances of songs by 2 writing teams from Theatre Now's prestigious Musical Writers Lab.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Lynn Ahrens written?

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).

What awards has Lynn Ahrens been nominated for?

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.

What awards has Lynn Ahrens won?

Lynn Ahrens has won several prestigious awards. She received the Outstanding Lyrics award at the Drama Desk Awards for A Man of No Importance and Ragtime. Additionally, she won the Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for Ragtime.

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