Lynn Ahrens News

Omaha Performing Arts has announced an extraordinary 2019/2020 season of performances and a new Tony Award-winning Broadway season, featuring four Omaha premieres and several returning favorites.

Artistic Director Blake Robison announced Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2019-20 season today, which includes plays from Karen Zacarias and Anna Ziegler, a new stage adaptation of a Margaret Atwood novel, a recent Broadway comedy hit and a world premiere from the award-winning, multi-cultural performance ensemble Universes.

Listening to ragtime means embracing music with patience and consideration, allowing the melodies to overwhelm you with the emotion of their story. To get a sense of this experience, one only has to see Music Theatre of Denton's production of RAGTIME.

The winners of the 2019 Richard Rodgers Awards for Musical Theater were announced today by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Pasadena Playhouse's vibrant re-thinking of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's masterpiece, 'Ragtime' is a triumph of innovation and imagination. The show has been extended until March 7.

An industry reading of new Comedic Horror Musical THE COMMUTERS (AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES OF TRANSIT) is to be presented as part of the Dramatic Guild's 'Friday Night Footlights Series' this Friday, February 22nd at 7:30pm.

Derby Dinner Playhouse will open THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES on February 23, 2019 as part of their Children's Musical Theatre Series.

Before the holidays, the cast welcomed Australian pop star Cody Simpson in the role of Dmitry.He joined Christy Altomare as Anastasia, and John Bolton, Judy Kaye, Vicki Lewis and Max von Essen. Below, check out the new marquee at the Broadhurst, featuring the show's new leading duo- Altomare and Simpson!

A classic musical based on a novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow, with a stunning book by Terrance McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens is something of a poignant resonance that the audience of Friday evening's performance was to bear witness to. Leading the cast of a whopping 45 people was Orchestra Conductor Joseph Scarborough. From the moment the overture began you were swept away into a moment in history not much unlike the current climate in which we find ourselves today. The actors hit the stage donning varying shades of white period pieces and they looked stunning. Props to the costume crew and Beverly Mercer for the stunning display that carried on throughout the production, donning actors/actresses in period wear is no easy feat and this is one truly worth commending.

You might not be familiar with the latest Dutch Apple production, Lucky Stiff. The 1988, Off-Broadway show might best be described as 2 parts Weekend at Bernie's, 1 part Brewster's Millions, with a splash of The Bucket List thrown in for good measures. Those who appreciate broad, farcical comedies will also probably enjoy this show.

Music Theatre of Denton is bringing RAGTIME the Musical to Campus Theatre as our first production of the 2019 Season, weekends of February 22 and March 1. We are extending an opportunity for you to review us for publication for either our Friday or Saturday evening, or Sunday matinee performances. To reserve your comp ticket please email mtd@musictheatreofdenton.com and include your selected date; we will respond back with ticket confirmation.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California is extending its an all new version of Ragtime: The Musical through Saturday March 9.  With strong critical acclaim and audience reviews, performances have already been selling out.  Six more performances have been added March 5-9.

How do you scale down an epic musical like RAGTIME for a smaller stage and a different time? When it opened at the Shubert Theatre in Century City in 1997, the cast numbered nearly fifty, the same as it would for its Broadway debut later that year. The stage was enormous and the production filled every inch of it. I still remember how the sheer volume of the choral numbers gave me chills.

Whether you're a history buff, grew up with the film or are a newcomer to the mysterious story of the lost princess, you will find something to love. Run, don't walk to catch this instant musical theatre classic before it leaves Austin on February 17th.

THE GREEN ROOM 42 - Broadway's newest intimate concert venue - will celebrate its second birthday with the return of Tony Award winner Lillias Whitewith a Valentine's Day show tonight, Thursday, February 14 at 7:00 PM. White opened the room on Valentine's Day in 2017 and returned last year for the club's special first anniversary. With music direction by Alvin Hough, Jr. (The Color Purple and Once On This Island) and direction by Will Nunziata (Our Guy, Cy and Kander & Ebb's The Act), the evening will explore the power of self-love through soul, sass, and song. Tunes include those written by Smokey Robinson, Cy Coleman, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, William Finn, Hoagy Carmichael, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens, and more.

A Nederlander Presentation is thrilled to announce the 2019-2020 season -full of Broadway's biggest shows currently dazzling audiences in New York, all coming to the San Diego Civic Theatre, and sponsored by San Diego County Credit Union.

Broadway's original 'Coalhouse' Brian Stokes Mitchell dropped in on Pasadena Playhouse's production of Ragtime! See photos from his visit below!

The fantastical, magical musical smash hit Seussical comes to life at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, running February 8 through March 31, 2019 with a press opening on Saturday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. Created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Tony Award-winning team behind the acclaimed musicals Ragtime and Once on this Island), the whimsical production is based on more than 14 beloved stories by children's author Dr. Seuss. Seussical is directed and choreographed by William Carlos Angulo, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

Broadway in Portland is pleased to announce its 2019/20 Season with a schedule full of classics, brand-new productions, and hit musicals direct from Broadway.

Theatre enthusiasts packed the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts last night to hear Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Executive Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley reveal the lineup for the company's 50th season, which launches this summer. Kelley's 50th and final season as Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley includes triumphant returns of TheatreWorks favorites, bold premieres developed at the company's annual New Works Festival, and celebrated works from the nation's leading playwrights.