Stephen Flaherty
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).
Date of Birth: September 18, 1960 (66)
Birth Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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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.
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Awards and Nominations
Stephen Flaherty, Anastasia
Stephen Flaherty, Anastasia
Stephen Flaherty, The Glorious Ones
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
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Stephen Flaherty, A Man of No Importance
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Stephen Flaherty, Seussical the Musical
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Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
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Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
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Stephen Flaherty, Ragtime
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Stephen Flaherty, Once On This Island
Stephen Flaherty, Once on this Island
Videos
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
Photos: MAN OF LA MANCHA Cast Takes Bows at Lincoln Center Theater Spring Gala
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-05-19 23:29:26
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 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 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 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 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 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.
by - Aug 13, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 13, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Aug 12, 2026
See Kayla Ferrucci sing a soaring cover of 'Back to Before' from Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty's RAGTIME from the August 1 performance of A Dream (Role) Come True. The show returns 8/29. Watch in this video.
by Sidney Paterra - Aug 16, 2026
Broadway says goodbye to Lincoln Center Theater's Broadway revival of Ragtime, which concludes its limited engagement at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, following 21 previews and 348 regular performances. The theatre will soon be home to A Few Good Men, which begins performances on October 8.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 6, 2026
Birmingham Village Players will open its 104th season with ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, followed by four more productions including OKLAHOMA! and AMADEUS.
by Barry Lenny - Aug 6, 2026
This is a production that enthrals.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 4, 2026
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and Palm Beach Symphony will present a special matinee concert, celebrating America's 250th anniversary with Brian Stokes Mitchell and more.
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.
