Lynn Ahrens

Lynn Ahrens (born October 1, 1948) is an American writer and lyricist for the musical theatre, television and film. She has collaborated with Stephen Flaherty for many years. She won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for the Broadway musical Ragtime. Together with Flah... More

Lynn Ahrens (born October 1, 1948) is an American writer and lyricist for the musical theatre, television and film. She has collaborated with Stephen Flaherty for many years. She won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for the Broadway musical Ragtime. Together with Flaherty, she has written many musicals, including Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Ragtime, Seussical, A Man of No Importance, Dessa Rose, The Glorious Ones, Rocky, Little Dancer and, recently on Broadway, Anastasia and Once on This Island. Lynn wrote and sang some of Schoolhouse Rock's most recognizable tunes including Interplanet Janet, The Great American Melting Pot, and A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing. She was discovered by producer George Newall who heard her strumming and asked her to try writing a song for the series. "The Preamble" was a hit and Lynn wrote more songs for Schoolhouse Rock. This led to her getting more jobs as a freelance composer and singer which really launched her career and eventually included award-winning work for Broadway and movies.