Lynn Ahrens
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.
Date of Birth: October 01, 1948 (78)
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.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Awards and Nominations
Lynn Ahrens, Anastasia
Lynn Ahrens, The Glorious Ones
winner
Lynn Ahrens, A Man of No Importance
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Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
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Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
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Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime
Lynn Ahrens, Once on this Island
Lynn Ahrens, Once on this Island
Videos
Photos/Video: DAMN YANKEES Reveals Broadway Return at Yankee Stadium
by Stephi Wild - 2026-09-28 05:29:44
Video: Salomé Dolidze Sings ANASTASIA's 'Journey to the Past' at Don't Tell Mama
by Rachel Stone - 2026-09-19 12:09:48
Video: Kayla Ferrucci Sings 'Back to Before' (RAGTIME) at Don't Tell Mama
by Rebecca Kaplan - 2026-08-12 10:00:32
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
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 8, 2026
Rubicon Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical RAGTIME, directed by J. Scott Lapp, at its Ventura venue with an extended run through November.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 7, 2026
Broadway Dreams will celebrate its landmark 20th Anniversary with Night of 100 Stars: The Broadway Dreams 20th Anniversary Gala, honoring actress and singer Lea Michele and casting director Rachel Hoffman.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 7, 2026
American Conservatory Theater announced the appointment of OBIE Award-winning director Elizabeth Williamson as its new artistic director. Williamson, who previously led Geva Theatre in Rochester, has worked on Broadway productions including THE INHERITANCE, SOME LIKE IT HOT, and ANASTASIA.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 5, 2026
Theatre Now New York will present a Master Class with composer Anna K Jacobs, followed by songs from four writing teams and a reception at their ongoing Industry Nights series.
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 1, 2026
Gingold Theatrical Group will present its Golden Shamrock Award to liberal activist and clinical psychologist Dr. Mary L. Trump at a gala dinner featuring performances and fundraising for the Off-Broadway company's Shaw-focused programming.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 1, 2026
The new musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will open at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket with direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, starring Tiler Peck and Julian Ovenden.
by - Oct 1, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is October 1, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Oct 11, 2026
The upcoming production of the 1955 musical written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (music and lyrics) and Douglass Wallop and George Abbott (book) will star Neil Patrick Harris as Applegate, Julianne Hough as Lola, and Austin Scott as Young Joe Hardy. It will play Broadway’s Marquis Theatre, which incidentally, hosted the first revival of the show from 1994-1995. The 2027 production will be the second Broadway revival for the perennially popular property which has been a favorite in schools and communities since it made a splash during musical theatre’s Golden Age.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
Asolo Repertory Theatre will develop My Favorite Year, with a score by the Tony Award-winning team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and book by Joseph Dougherty, in a workshop.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 28, 2026
Live from Yankee Stadium, the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical classic Damn Yankees announced it will make its return to Broadway. Check out photos and videos from the announcement here!
by Joshua Wright - Sep 27, 2026
Damn Yankees is heading back to Broadway. Producers Lia Vollack, Haley Swindal, and Julie Boardman announced today that the seven-time Tony and Emmy Award-winning musical will return this spring, starring Tony Award and five-time Emmy Award winner Neil Patrick Harris as Applegate, Emmy Award winner Julianne Hough in her Broadway musical debut as Lola, and Austin Scott (Hamilton) as Young Joe.
by Jay Irwin - Sep 27, 2026
Dear Readers, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad production of “Ragtime” and the current production at Village Theatre is no exception. That’s not to say it’s bullet proof, I’m sure a bad production has existed somewhere out there, but as long as you understand the heart of the show and more importantly you have killer voices to fill out the roles, then you should be golden. But why would you do the show if you didn’t have those qualifications? And the Village production has both in spades.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 24, 2026
The annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction will be held indoors at Hammerstein Ballroom due to nor'easter forecasts, with over 60 tables, live and silent auctions, and 50 special guests participating.
by Jeffrey Kare - Sep 22, 2026
From September 22nd-27th, the national tour of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB will be gracing the stage of the Durham Performing Arts Center. I recently got to speak with Josh Tower, who's one of the understudies in the show. He has previously been seen on Broadway and on tour in RAGTIME, THE LION KING, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, SCHOOL OF ROCK, and HAMILTON. Yet before all of that, he went to graduate school at the University of North Carolina.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 19, 2026
Salomé Dolidze performs 'Journey to the Past' from Anastasia in a new performance video filmed at Don't Tell Mama, part of a program titled A Dream (Role) Come True.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 2, 2026
Theatre Now New York is accepting submissions for its 14th annual Festival of 10-Minute Musicals, with 10 finalists to be selected for a presentation next spring.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 24, 2026
Doylestown Theatre Academy is registering performers ages 8-18 for A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL, with performances set at Lenape Middle School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 21, 2026
92NY's Theater for Young Audiences will present a new season featuring RED RIDING HOOD, SEUSSICAL, VIOLET'S MAGIC GLASSES, and ANNIE, with performances scheduled for families in New York.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 18, 2026
The creators behind the new Netflix movie 'Don’t Say Good Luck,' a love letter to theater kids featuring music from the Broadway musical 'Waitress,' are already thinking of what’s next.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 17, 2026
Once On This Island will kick off Birmingham Village Players' 104th season, featuring a double-cast Ti Moune and a story rooted in Caribbean folklore and myth.
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.
