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Lynn Aherns

LYNN AHERNS

  (1948 - )
Nationality:    USA
email:    n/a     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC  represented by John Buzzetti

Lynn was born on October 1st 1948. She has collaborated with Stephen Flaherty on many musicals. Ragtime which was nominated for twelve Tony awards and which won best score for Tony Flaherty. She was also nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for the animated Twentieth Century Fox film Anastasia. She wrote the teleplay of her 1994 musical adaption of A Christmas Carol, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Aherns. She is a mainstay writer and performer for ABC-TV's Schoolhouse Rock. Aherns also wrote lyrics for the title song for After the Storm, the documentary film about young Hurricane Katrina survivors putting on Once On This Island.

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of Lynn Aherns's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Chita Rivera: the Dancer's Life         Christmas Carol, A         Dessa Rose         Emperor's New Clothes, The         Glorious Ones, The         In Your Arms         Little Dancer         Lucky Stiff         Man Of No Importance, A         My Favorite Year         Once On This Island         Ragtime         Rocky         Seussical         Twice Upon A Time: Dr Seuss' the Lorax

Chita Rivera: the Dancer's Life

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Written by Terrence McNally; Original Songs by: Lynn Aherns And Stephen Flaherty. Featuring songs with lyrics by Milton Leeds, James Taylor, Irving Berlin, Lawrence Holofcener, Sheldon Harnick, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Lee Adams, Fred ebb, Dorothy Fields, edward eliscu, StElla Unger And Jerry Bock; Featuring songs by Victor Young, Alberto Domingues, James Taylor, Irving Berlin, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Strouse, John Kander, Cy Coleman, Astor Piazzolla, Billy Rose And Lawrence Holofcener.

1st Produced:
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, NY     11 Dec 2005

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

Music:
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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Christmas Carol, A

Christmas Carol, A
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Notes:
Music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Lynn Aherns; book by Lynn Aherns And Mike Ockrent. Based on the book by Charles Dickens

1st Produced:
Paramount, New York     Dec 1994

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: Columbia (67048) 1995

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Dessa Rose

Dessa Rose
Dessa Rose is a slave. the plantation owner murders the Father of her unborn baby. Dessa and some of the other slaves are sold as they are being sent away they revolt and kill some of their guards. Dessa is captured and sentenced to hang - after she has given birth - as the baby is a valuable piece of property. Dessa Rose manages to escape with the help of Nathan and some other friends. She is taken to a remote plantation run by Ruth a white woman. Ruth allows runaways to work on her plantation while she looks after them before they can escape to the North. Dessa Rose and Ruth fall in love

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty. Lyrics by Lynn Aherns

1st Produced:
Mitz E Newhouse Theater, New York     21 Mar 2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: Jay (1392)

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical. - - Gay/Lesbian musical

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  5            Other:  doubling

Further Reference:

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Emperor's New Clothes, The

Synopsis:
emperor Marcus III wonders how to run an empire when he's only 14. He's reading "How to be a Better emperor," but he's still flattered into an historic state of self-deception!"

Notes:
Lyrics by Lynn Aherns And composed by Stephen Flaherty. Under the title Twice Upon A Time, the world premiere double bill offers the Lorax And the emperor's New Clothes, inspired by stories by Dr. Seuss And Hans Christian Andersen, respectively

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
One act Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Glorious Ones, The

Synopsis:
Set in 17th-century Italy, the Glorious Ones concerns a theatre group in the world of commedia dell'arte and theatre of the Italian Renaissance. It's a sung valentine to the actor's life, with its joys, hardships and sorrows, set during a period when the comic theatre was beginning to shed its vulgar roots and evolve toward a greater refinement. the Glorious Ones travel the length and breadth of Italy, playing commedia dell'arte in the streets and palaces with equal vigour. Founded by the ingenious madman Flaminia Scala, the small company of players endures passionate affairs, riots, disgrace - all manner of triumph and hardship. Pantalone the miser, sunny armanda the dwarf and gossip loving Columbina view their myriad shared adventures through markedly different eyes. Yet not one of them is prepared for the strange twisting of the road brought about by the mysterious arrival of IsabElla andreini, who is about to change their wayward troupe. . ..

Notes:
Based on the novel by Francine Prose, book And lyrics by Lynn Aherns, music by Stephen Flaherty

1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
musical

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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In Your Arms

Synopsis:
A company that has amassed an astounding 18 Tony Awards, 4 Pulitzer Prizes, 6 Pulitzer finalist distinctions, 3 Emmys, and 2 Academy Awards joins forces at the Globe for an exuberant world premiere dance-theatre musical! Ten of America's best theatrical storytellers (the minds behind such hits as The Full Monty, Driving Miss Daisy, M. Butterfly, and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) join director-choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, The King and I) and composer Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) to create a ravishing evening that glides, leaps, and twirls through the giddy extremes of romantic love. This unique event ranges across eras and cultures and tells its stories through the universal language of dance, from classical ballet to swing to tap to ballroom to jazz to flamenco and more. In Your Arms is as intoxicating as a sunset cocktail and as exhilarating as a first kiss.

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Vignettes by Douglas Carter Beane, Nilo Cruz, Christopher Durang, Carrie Fisher, David Henry Hwang, Rajiv Joseph, Terrence McNally, Marsha Norman, Lynn Nottage, and Alfred UhryDirection and Choreography by Christopher Gattelli; Lyrics by Lynn Aherns; Conceived by Christopher Gattelli and Jennifer Manocherian

1st Produced:
Old Globe Theatre, CA, USA >>>     24 Sep 2015

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
dance theatre

Parts:
Male:  11            Female:  12            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Little Dancer

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty. Book and Lyrics by Lynn Aherns

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Lucky Stiff

Lucky Stiff
Harry inherits six million dollars from his Uncle Anthony. there is a condition in the will - that Harry take his dead Uncle and a heart shaped box to Monte Carlo.

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Aherns; book by Lynn Aherns. Based on "the Man Who Broke the Bank At Monte Carlo" by Michael Butterworth

1st Produced:
Playwrights Horizons, New York     25 Apr 1988

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording Varese (5461) 1993

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  5            Other:  doubling

Further Reference:

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Man Of No Importance, A

Man Of No Importance, A
Alfie is a bus conductor who idolises Oscar Wilde. He reads Wilde's works to his passengers. When he finally drums up courage to look for love he dresses up as Oscar - hair parted in the middle, green carnation and so on.

Notes:
Book by Terrence McNally; Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Aherns

1st Produced:
-     2002

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: Jay (CDJay 1369) 2002 2002

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical. - - Gay/Lesbian, musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  large cast

Further Reference:

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My Favorite Year

My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year takes place in 1954, the favorite year of Benjy Stone. Benjy has just made the jump from smart-ass kid from the deli, pushing a joke with every cruller, to a freshman writer on TV's hottest comedy variety show
- http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/shows/my-favorite-year_21349/

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Aherns; book by Joseph Docherty

1st Produced:
Vivien Beaumont Theatre, New York     10 Dec 1992

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: RCa (61617) 1992

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Once On This Island

Synopsis:
an island is divided on one half live the black peasants; on the other the light brown landowners. the peasants tell a frightened child the story of Ti Moune. She is a peasant and one day sees Daniel a landowner and she asks the Gods to let her have a romance with him . they agree and arrange a car accident that she rescues him from. She nurses him and then follows him home as she is now in love with him. But Daniel has a fiancee and says he will marry her. Ti Moune is distraught to ease her pain the Gods turn her into a tree. Many years later Daniel's son passes the tree and sees a young peasant girl sitting in its branches.

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty. Lyrics by Lynn Aherns. Based on the novel "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy

1st Produced:
Booth Theater, New York     18 Oct 1990

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: RCa (60595)

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Ragtime

Synopsis:
the musical is based on e.L. Doctorow's novel about life in America in the early 20th century, and features colorful characters such as Houdini, Emma Goldman, and Henry Ford, along with three archetypal (fictional) families whose destinies intertwine in unexpected ways.

Notes:
Book by Terrence McNally, Lyrics by Lynn Aherns, music by Stephen Flaherty. From e L Doctorow Novel

1st Produced:
Ford Center For The Performing Arts, NY     18 Jan 1998

Organisations:
Sonia Friedman Productions

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: RCa Victor (09026631672)

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  Large Cast

Further Reference:

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Rocky

Rocky
Set in Philadelphia, the musical tells the tale of a down-and-out fighter who takes one last shot at achieving his dreams and finding love. It's timeless story of perseverance and overcoming the odds is now turned into a high-adrenaline theatre experience! - See more at: http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/theaters/wintergardentheater/rocky-the-musical.php#sthash.9r65Zbw9.dpuf

Notes:
Book by Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone; Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Aherns; Based on the Motion Picture by MGM and United Artists

1st Produced:
Operettenhaus, Hamburg     18 Nov 2012

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original Broadway cast recording: Universal Music Enterprises 2014

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Seussical

Seussical
the story of an elephant called Horton whose adventure to preserve the life he finds floating on a speck of dust is weaved into a touching musical - Mark Shenton, Sunday express

Notes:
Music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Aherns; book by Lynn Aherns; Stephen Flaherty. Based on the books by Doctor Suess

1st Produced:
Richard Rogers Theatre, New York     30 Nov 2000

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
Original cast recording: Decca (012 159 792-2) 2000

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Twice Upon A Time: Dr Seuss' the Lorax

Synopsis:
the story of Onceler (Bobby Smith) who begins cutting down all the trees in the land and the Lorax, who speaks for them, will not have it!

Notes:
Lyrics by Lynn Aherns And composed by Stephen Flaherty. Under the title Twice Upon A Time, the world premiere double bill offers the Lorax And the emperor's New Clothes, inspired by stories by Dr. Seuss And Hans Christian Andersen, respectively

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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