Lynn Ahrens News

At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing...and anything is possible. RAGTIME returns to the road in an all-new touring production that Bloomberg News hails as 'explosive, thrilling and nothing short of a masterpiece.' North America will be swept away by this ravishing and relevant production, with performances starting Tuesday, October 27 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. BroadwayWorld has as first look at the cast in action below!

At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing…and anything is possible.  RAGTIME returns to the road in an all-new touring production that Bloomberg News hails as "explosive, thrilling and nothing short of a masterpiece." North America will be swept away by this ravishing and relevant production, with performances starting Tuesday, October 27 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas.  BroadwayWorld has as first look at the cast in action below!

The York Theatre Company has announced today Broadway's Klea Blackhurst (York's Call Me Madame) Mario Cantone (Assassins), Erin Davie (York's Silk Stockings, Side Show), Matt McGrath (Nice Work If You Can Get It), and Mary Louise Wilson (On the Twentieth Century), along with the acclaimed Yale Wiffenpoofs, have joined the roster of illustrious special guest performers who will gather to honor Broadway and Hollywood legend Angela Lansbury at 2015 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 16, 2015 at Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street). 

Quest Theatre Ensemble will bring its visual artistry and immersive theatricality to the Alan Menken-Lynn Ahrens musical version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This version with music by Menken, the multiple Oscar winning composer of Disney musicals Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Newsies; and lyrics by the Tony award-winning lyricist of Ragtime, Seussical and Once on this Island, was a hit for ten consecutive seasons at New York's Madison Square Garden and was later filmed by television in a production starring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge. Quest's production will be directed by Quest Ensemble Director Andrew Park. A Christmas Carol will run from November 20 - December 20, 2015.

The Dramatists Guild Fund welcomes a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala tonight! As previously announced, actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss will host and perform at DGF's annual gala GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS at Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway at 36th Street) this evening, October 26 (cocktail reception at 6:30pm, dinner and celebration at 7:30pm).

'[Thank you] to an incredible cast of British and American actors who make the Atlantic look like a little creek you can just kind of pop across,' said Dame Helen Mirren upon receiving her 2015 Tony Award. The stage and screen star reprised her critically-acclaimed performance in THE AUDIENCE after a West End run in 2013, and she was just one of many to 'pop across' an ocean for a stab at Broadway.  An unprecedented amount of British talent took over Broadway last year, bringing us such productions as THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, WOLF HALL: PARTS 1 & 2, and SKYLIGHT.   It doesn't seem like the trend is ending anytime soon. This fall, Broadway will welcome a slew of British actors- some of whom will be making their US stage debuts in incoming productions. And it's not just performers. We're getting some complete British imports in shows like A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and KING CHARLES III. Below, we're taking a moment to shine a spotlight on this season's British imports.

The Dramatists Guild Fund will welcome a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala next week!

The Dramatists Guild Fund hosted its annual presentation of new work by DG Fellows at Playwrights Horizons on October 19, 2015. The evening featured excerpts from work by the 2014-2015 class, including Naveen Bahar Choudhury, Camille Darby, Sophie Jaff, Dana Levinson, Kristine M. Reyes, Tim Rosser, Charlie Sohne, Mark Sonnenblick, Aurin Squire, Kathleen Tagg, James A. Tyler, Stacey Weingarten and Ben Wexler. Scroll down for photos from the presentation, including guests Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, Jayne Houdyshell and more!

Christian Youth Theater-North Idaho (CYT-North Idaho) is in final preparations for it's fall production, A Christmas Carol, the Broadway Musical, opening at the S.A. Kroc Community Theater (1765 W. Golf Course Road in Coeur d'Alene) on November 6.

Quest Theatre Ensemble will bring its visual artistry and immersive theatricality to a season of both new and established works for the 2015-16 season, Artistic Director Andrew Park announced today.

The fantastical, magical musical Seussical will open November 11 and run through December 30, 2015 with a press opening on Saturday, November 21 at The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. Created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Tony Award-winning team behind the acclaimed musical Ragtime) the whimsical production is based on more than 14 beloved stories by children's author Dr. Seuss. Seussical is directed and choreographed by Jeff Award-winner Rachel Rockwell, with musical direction by Ryan T. Nelson.

A TENDER and beautifully woven tale of love, friendship and coming to terms with who we are is the basis of a musical being brought to life in November and December.

Cafe Carlyle is pleased to welcome back acclaimed husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey for a four-week engagement, November 3-28. They'll make their annual fall pilgrimage to The Carlyle with an all-new show entitled My Generation. My Generation features selections from Mitchell to McCartney, Simon to Sondheim. Additionally, they'll be performing tracks from John's acclaimed new album, Midnight McCartney.

The Coral Springs Center for the Arts is launching a star-packed 2015-2016 season next month with an exciting, diverse, audience-wowing array of hit shows, comic legends and musical superstars, according to Kevin Barrett, the Center's General Manager. 

Join the Cat in the Hat as he takes you on a journey into the fantastical, bombastical and songtastical world of Dr Seuss. After a successful international tour in 2014, SEUSSICAL will burst back on to stage in 2015, opening at Spa, Bridlington prior to flying out to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and ending in Singapore.

(mostly)musicals returns to the E Spot Lounge on Wednesday, October 7 with TAKE FLIGHT, the company's 14th entry in a series of themed cabarets. Check your baggage at the door, and enjoy first class accommodations, plenty of leg room, and full meal service available. And get a sneak peek at rehearsals below!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director) will honor Broadway and Hollywood legend Angela Lansbury with the 2015 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 16, 2015 at Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street). 

Over the weekend, Jason Danieley took the stage for his Feinstein's/54 Below solo debut. Opening night well-wishers, included Danieley's wife, Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me, Kate, Ragtime); Tony Award winnerChita Rivera (The Visit, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink); and Tony Award winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island). Check out photos from his preview performance below!

This weekend, on Oct. 3, Jason Danieley took the stage for his Feinstein's/54 Below solo debut. Opening night well-wishers, included Danieley's wife, Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me, Kate, Ragtime); Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (The Visit, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink); and Tony Award winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island). Check out photos from last night's performance below!

Earlier this week, Broadway Actor Jason Danieley revealed details of his wife and fellow performer Marin Mazzie's battle with cancer. Last night was all about celebrating though as he took the stage for his Feinstein's/54 Below solo debut. Opening night well-wishers, included Danieley's wife, Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me, Kate, Ragtime); Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (The Visit, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink); and Tony Award winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island).