Lynn Ahrens
Birth Place: New York, New York, USA
Video: Joshua Henry and RAGTIME Cast Perform 'Gettin' Ready Rag' (Mar 3, 2026)
SEUSSICAL Returns to The Circuit Playhouse (Mar 3, 2026)
Elvira Tortora Reprises THE BOOKMAKER'S DAUGHTER At Chelsea Table + Stage (Mar 2, 2026)
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
Productions
Writing
Composer
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Conceiver
Bookwriter
Conceiver
Lyricist
Bookwriter
Awards and Nominations
Lynn AhrensAnastasia
Lynn Ahrens, The Glorious Ones
winner
Lynn Ahrens, A Man of No Importance
winner
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: 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: Jordan Donica Sings 'Goodbye, Old Girl' from DAMN YANKEES
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-28 16:56:06
Exclusive: Rob McClure Sings 'Those Were The Good Old Days' from DAMN YANKEES
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-28 14:18:06
Video: Cast of DAMN YANKEES Performs 'Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO'
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-24 10:48:54
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: Ana Villafañe & Jordan Donica of DAMN YANKEES Perform 'Two Lost Souls' at Arena Stage
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-07 10:01:16
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: Sergio Trujillo On Reimagining DAMN YANKEES At Arena Stage
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-09-09 21:57:07
Video: DAMN YANKEES Star Quentin Earl Darrington Performs National Anthem At Nationals Park
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-08-22 16:33:57
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
News
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 3, 2026
During Monday's special Broadway-themed episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, P!nk's daughter Willow went behind the scenes of Broadway's Ragtime to chat with the cast and crew about the production and share a musical number from the show. Check it out now.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 3, 2026
The beloved musical SEUSSICAL will return to The Circuit Playhouse, bringing Dr. Seuss's characters to life on stage once more. Performances run March 13th - April 12th, 2026.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 2, 2026
Elvira Tortora will reprise her 2024 Bistro Award-winning and MAC Award-nominated show The Bookmaker's Daughter at Chelsea Table + Stage on Saturday, April 11, at 7:00 PM.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 27, 2026
The Stage Door Foundation revealed the artists and productions who will debut NEW NEXT NOW, a ground-breaking pipeline for the development of new musicals.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 24, 2026
The 2026 Helen Hayes Award nominations have been announced, recognizing outstanding achievement in Washington-area professional theatre. Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, and dozens of regional companies are represented across performance, direction, design, and production categories. The awards highlight the breadth of theatre work presented throughout the D.C. metropolitan area.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 16, 2026
Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry took over The View stage on Monday to perform a powerful rendition of Make Them Hear You from the musical revival of Ragtime. Check out his performance now.
by Caroline Powell - Feb 13, 2026
Atlanta’s fastest-growing performing arts organization, City Springs Theatre Company (CSTC) has announced its ninth season of musicals at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center (SSPAC).
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 13, 2026
On Presidents Day, the cast of Broadway's Ragtime will take the stage on The View for a special performance from the hit revival. Tune in to watch the performance, airing Monday, February 16, at 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT on ABC.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 12, 2026
Broadway musical ANASTASIA will premiere in Brisbane's Lyric Theatre at QPAC from September 2026. The crowd-favourite musical made its Australian debut in December at Melbourne's Regent Theatre wowing audiences and critics alike.
by Charles Kirsch - Feb 10, 2026
As the recipient of two Tony Awards for Best Director of a Musical in the past three years, there’s no question that Michael Arden is at the top of his game. Between thrilling and inventive revivals of Parade and Once On This Island, and exciting new work like Maybe Happy Ending and the upcoming The Lost Boys, Arden has shown a remarkable ability to create theatrical magic.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 9, 2026
Broadway legends Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will receive the prestigious Luminary Award from Asolo Repertory Theatre in 2026, recognizing their significant contributions to theater.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Feb 8, 2026
The Broadway production of Ragtime was a glorious accomplishment, a riveting testament to the original American musical and to all that America itself could be. The show ran for 834 performances at the Ford Center, closing in the final year of the 20th century. It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, taking home four.
by Michael Major - Feb 6, 2026
Ragtime has released a video of Joshua Henry, Shaina Taub, and Ben Levi Ross recording 'He Wanted to Say' from the acclaimed revival. The track is featured on the recently released cast recording, which dropped in January.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 5, 2026
Tickets for Broadway musical Anastasia's Adelaide season, at Festival Theatre from August 2026, are on sale this week. The crowd-favourite musical made its Australian debut in December at Melbourne's Regent Theatre.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 27, 2026
Dramatists Guild Foundation has revealed the 2026 class of National Fellows. The Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows Program unites playwrights and musical theater writers in the learning process for a year-long intensive.
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 27, 2026
Caissie Levy, who is currently playing the role of 'Mother' in the Broadway revival of Ragtime, visited TODAY on Tuesday for a performance of 'Back to Before' as part of the Citi Concert Series. Check it out now!
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 22, 2026
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND will be presented at the Historic Cheney Hall in Manchester this spring. The musical features book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty and is inspired by The Little Mermaid.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 20, 2026
Actors Theatre of Indiana's (ATI) Lucky Stiff will open January 30 thru February 15. The cast has been announced that will be part of this wildly funny, fast-paced musical murder mystery.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 20, 2026
Tony Award-winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens will offer a Master Class on Monday, January 26th at 6:30pm as part of Theatre Now New York's Industry Nights. Learn more here!
by Gillian Blum - Jan 12, 2026
The cast and creative team of Broadway’s current revival of Ragtime had their first listen of the show’s official Broadway cast album at a listening party.
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 the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for A Man of No Importance. She also received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Ragtime. Additionally, she won the Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Ragtime.
Videos