Lynn Ahrens News

A staged reading of the new musical version of ANASTASIA -- featuring book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens -- will be held in New York City today, June 12, 2015.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is proud to announce Tony Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home) as the NYMF 2015 Honorary Chair.

The Hill Country Community Theatre is pleased to announce principal casting for the musical Seussical.  Featuring the delightful music of the award-winning composing team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Seussical reminds us of the first lesson of Dr. Seuss: Always Believe.  Seussical will be directed Wendy Ferrell and will open July 16.     

Dramatists Guild Fund President Gretchen Cryer and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce that The Legacy Project is available for download on iTunes beginning today Tuesday, June 9.

Join us July 30 - August 1 for the hit show SEUSSICAL JR., where Dr. Seuss's best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in this fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once On This Island, and Ragtime).

The 2015 Lilly Awards were held on June 1, 2015 and celebrated and honored women of distinction in American theater. The Lilly Awards are given out by The Lilly Award Foundation. This years event was hosted by 2015 Tony Award nominee LISA KRON (Fun Home) and it was held at Playwrights Horizons.

The 2015 Lilly Awards were held on June 1, 2015 and celebrated and honored women of distinction in American theater. The Lilly Awards are given out by The Lilly Award Foundation. This years event was hosted by 2015 Tony Award nominee LISA KRON (Fun Home) and it was held at Playwrights Horizons. 

The Lilly Awards Foundation, celebrating and honoring women of distinction in American theater, held their 6th Annual Lilly Awards Ceremony last night, June 1, 2015 at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street) that was hosted by twice nominated 2015 Tony Award nominee Lisa Kron (Fun Home).

The 2015 winners of the Lilly Awards, celebrating and honoring women of distinction in American theater, were recently announced by The Lilly Awards Foundation. The winners will be celebrated at the 6th Annual Lilly Awards Ceremony tonight, June 1, 2015 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street) and hosted by double 2015 Tony Award nominee Lisa Kron (Fun Home).

Theater lovers have a sizzling menu of choices for their viewing pleasure this Summer in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area ~ from delightful old chestnuts to spirited and timeless musicals. Here are the picks of the crop.

DANIELLE BROOKS, who plays 'Taystee' on the hit TV show, Orange Is the New Black, will make her Broadway debut as 'Sofia' in the upcoming Broadway musical revival of THE COLOR PURPLE. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Ms. Brooks joins the previously announced JENNIFER HUDSON and CYNTHIA ERIVO in the critically acclaimed staging from London's Menier Chocolate Factory.

I like Megan Hilty because she laughs a lot. She's fun! A young star of stage and screen-- having established herself as "Glinda" in Wicked on Broadway (2005-06) and subsequently becoming a TV star playing complicated and talented Ivy Lynn in the NBC hit musical drama Smash-Hilty opened her current run at the Cafe Carlyle Tuesday night to an excited, adoring audience. On stage with her band, directed by musical savant Matt Cusson--sporting a jaunty Newsies-style cap--at the keyboard (and including her husband Brian Gallagher on guitar, Ryan Hoagland on percussion, and Dennis Michael Keefe on upright bass), Hilty's effervescence was palpable, a heady mixture of genuine glee and sleep deprivation, as she effusively exclaimed her delight at being back at the Carlyle, following her last run when she was six-months pregnant. Now she has an eight-month old daughter. While her initial intention was to create a show about motherhood, the show ended up as a night of standards and Smash selections, giving the people what they know and love.

The 2015 winners of the Lilly Awards, celebrating and honoring women of distinction in American theater, were announced today by The Lilly Awards Foundation.  The winners will be celebrated at the 6th Annual Lilly Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 1, 2015 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street) and hosted by double 2015 Tony Award nominee Lisa Kron (Fun Home).  The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Lilly Awards website (www.thelillyawards.org) and HowlRound TV (www.Howlround.com/tv). #lillyawards #howlround

Bloodshed is par for the course during Tony Awards season, especially as it reaches its peak in the last handful of weeks leading up the big annual ceremony feting theatre's best, so today we take a look back at some of the absolute most brutal and tight Tony Award races for Best Musical in history. Although comparing a group of musicals - alike as dissimilar as they may be - may be an unfair proposition in practice, there is only one way a winner is decided when the Tony Awards rolls around and it unfortunately always finds fan favorites, critical darlings and a few commercial hits vying for top honors. There can only be one Best Musical - well, except for 1960 when there were actually two mainstage entertainments given the prize; THE SOUND OF MUSIC and FIORELLO, with no less than GYPSY ending up an also-ran. Who will claim the trophy on June 7? Tune in then to see!

Prospect Theater Company is pleased to announce its 2015 annual gala, a Concert Evening Celebrating Women Making Musicals. This special one-night-only event will be held today, May 16 with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway and Prospect stars.

Prospect Theater Company is pleased to announce additional cast members for its 2015 annual gala, a Concert Evening Celebrating Women Making Musicals. This special one-night-only event will be held at The Times Center today, May 16 with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway and Prospect stars. The evening's program includes a diverse array of songs written or co-written by women, including encores of work from Prospect productions. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Prospect's ongoing mission to develop and produce new musical theater works by emerging artists.

The York Theatre Company presents a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with  NEO 11 on Monday, June 15, 2015 The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).  Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a champagne and dessert reception to toast the evening.

James Snyder got this week off to a great start when he brought James Snyder: Prince Charming to Birdland as part of the venue's ongoing Broadway at Birdland concert series. Existing partly as a way to promote the upcoming production of Ever After at Paper Mill Playhouse, this intimate cabaret concert was really just a great excuse to get to hear one of Broadway's favorite leading men sing a collection of songs.

Prospect Theater Company is pleased to announce additional cast members for its 2015 annual gala, a Concert Evening Celebrating Women Making Musicals. This special one-night-only event will be held at The Times Center on Saturday, May 16 with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway and Prospect stars. The evening's program includes a diverse array of songs written or co-written by women, including encores of work from Prospect productions. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Prospect's ongoing mission to develop and produce new musical theater works by emerging artists.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons has announced details for its 2015 special online Auction.  Bidding for the auction, which will feature an eclectic array of items and unique opportunities, begins today, Tuesday, May 5 at www.CharityBuzz.com/PlaywrightsHorizons. Online bidding will continue through Tuesday, May 19.