Lynn Ahrens News

Symphony Space's fourth annual PROJECT BROADWAY begins tonight featuring a week of programs from April 22 - April 29. The series this year honors the women who have written, performed in, and inspired some of the great works of the American musical. 

RAGTIME is a vivid portrait of America in the early 20th century, when worlds and cultures collided on issues of race, class, gender equality, and politics. This deeply moving musical features a Tony award-winning score, book, and original Broadway orchestrations. This spectacular production of RAGTIME holds a mirror up to America, and the reflection isn't always pretty. But it is imperative and important that we see ourselves, our past, and our potential future in that mirror, for those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.

Get a first look below at Good Theater's production of Lucky Stiff by Lynn Ahrens (book & lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music), directed by Brian P. Allen.  The production wraps up on April 28 at Good Theater's home the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland. 

Los proximos 6 de mayo en Madrid y 13 de mayo en Barcelona, seis de los mayores nombres del Teatro Musical en nuestro pais homenajearan a Pasek y Paul y a su carrera con el concierto DESDE MI VENTANA.

We got the chance to chat with Tony-nominated director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge about RAGTIME -- its relevance to the current U.S. political climate and what makes it one of the best musicals of the 20th (and 21st century).

BroadwayWorld is giving you the chance to win tickets to six different concerts from Symphony Space's Project Broadway series! Be sure to enter for the chance to see this celebration of the women of Broadway - from hyper-talented lyricists and composers, to incredible performers, to iconic female characters revered and reinterpreted. Check out the links below to enter!

Nashville audiences will be treated to premieres of Tony Award winners Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton, along with revivals of Once On This Island and My Fair Lady, during the upcoming 2019-20 Broadway at TPAC series, which was revealed last night by TPAC president and CEO Kathleen O'Brien - her final season reveal following a storied 30-year career at the performing arts center - in Andrew Jackson Hall.

Beck Center for the Arts is pleased to produce the Youth Theater Production of Seussical in the Mackey Theater May 10 to 19, 2019. This talented cast of 76 Beck Center students reminds us "when you open your mind, oh the thinks you will find lining up to get loose." Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Student Matinee: Thursday, May 16 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets range from $12 for adults and all patrons under the age of 18 are just $10 each. Group discounts are available. Tickets are available at beckcenter.org.

Broadway In Detroit announced today that individual tickets for the tour of the critically-acclaimed Broadway production of ANASTASIA are now on sale! ANASTASIA will make its Detroit debut at the Fisher Theatre, June 11 - 23, 2019. Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 800-982-2787.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature Jenn Colella in PETER PAN, Patti LuPone, DEAR EVAN HANSEN London, and More!

On Sunday, March 31st, Anastasia played its final Broadway performance and closed its doors. Today, I'm saying "Happy Trails" to its cast, crew, and musicians. Anastasia holds a special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to see it six times during its approximately two year run, each time becoming more and more attached to its heartwarming and hopeful story, and grateful for the talented and compassionate artists telling that story eight times a week.

More than 450 business and arts leaders were on hand on Saturday, March 23rd for the Howard County Arts Council's 22nd Annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County. Held at Howard Community College's Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center in Columbia, this year's benefit gala netted approximately $73,000 with an additional $92,302 in donated goods and services in support of the arts in Howard County. Since 1998, more than $1.6 million has been raised through Celebration of the Arts!

Ephrata Performing Arts Center will present RAGTIME, April 25 - May 11, 2019, at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre. RAGTIME is the Tony Award-winning musical with a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty.

Orlando Repertory Theatre (Orlando REP) proudly announces the final production of their 2018/2019 Season with the TYA production of Seussical. Public performances begin Saturday, April 13 and run through Sunday, May 12 with tickets beginning at $15.  Seussical is presented by Universal Orlando Foundation and OUC - The Reliable One.  The 2018/2019 season is generously presented by AdventHealth For Children.

5th Avenue Theatre's production of Marie, Dancing Still officially opened last night, April 5. The show is written by Tony Award-winning authors Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island), and is directed by five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers, Contact). It stars New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck.

Dear Readers, in my capacity as a reviewer and as a musical theater geek at large, I've been privileged to witness more than a few out of town tryouts, those plucky wanna-be Broadway shows taking a shot in another city. Both here at home and abroad, I occasionally get a glimpse at greatness in the making, and yes, some at the 5th Avenue Theatre. I remember marveling at the glory of 'Memphis' and not being able to contain my enthusiasm or stay in my seat during the curtain call of 'Hairspray'. But not all are winners. (I'm looking at you, 'Princesses'.) So, each and every time the 5th Avenue announces their next great new musical, I'm a little trepidatious even when the show is from two of my favorite composers, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, not to mention directed and choregraphed by the indomitable Susan Stroman. So along came 'Little Dancer' which many whom I mentioned it to thought was an Elton John jukebox musical. (Wrong lyric, guys. That's 'Tiny Dancer'.) Then the show was changed to 'Marie', possibly owing to such confusion and finally to 'Marie, Dancing Still'. But whether they want to call it 'Little Dancer', or 'Marie, Dancing Still' or 'How Degas Got His Groove Back', what they have is a bona fide, must see, must cry throughout, accept no substitutes, hit in the making and a definite addition to my list of shows I was honored to catch early on.

5th Avenue Theatre presents Marie: A New Musical. Tony Award-winning authors Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island), five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers, Contact), and acclaimed New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck. Check out a full gallery of photos from the production below!

The British Theatre Academy is to produce Disney's My Son Pinocchio Jr. as part of its second annual summer season takeover at Southwark Playhouse.

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