The Full List of Ahrens and Flaherty Musicals
Last Updated: May 7, 2025
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are a highly successful songwriting duo who have collaborated since the 1980s. Together, they have won numerous prestigious awards, including Tonys, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and the Oscar Hammerstein Lifetime Achievement Award. They’ve also been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Grammys. Here is the full list of Ahrens and Flaherty musicals.
* The featured photo above is by Nathan Johnson.
Post Contents:
Musicals by Ahrens and Flaherty
Additional Work by Lynn Ahrens
Additional Work by Stephen Flaherty
Archived Ahrens and Flaherty Musicals
Musicals by Ahrens and Flaherty
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1988)
Lucky Stiff marked Ahrens and Flaherty’s first major collaboration and breakthrough into the mainstream. After its initial Off-Broadway run, it won the Richard Rodgers Award in 1988 and later transferred to London’s West End in 1997.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Once on This Island opened on Broadway in 1990 and won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical for its 1994 West End production. It is currently being adapted into a film by Disney.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Joseph Dougherty
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Based on the 1982 film, My Favorite Year premiered on Broadway in 1992 to mixed reviews. It closed in 1993 after just 36 performances.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Ragtime was a massive success for the duo. The show won multiple Tony Awards and was nominated for Best Musical in 1998. The musical has since seen numerous revivals.
Music/Book: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
This Dr. Seuss-inspired musical premiered on Broadway in 2000. Although it wasn’t an immediate success, it has proven to be a great show for children’s theater revivals and is still frequently produced by smaller companies today.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
A Man of No Importance was initially produced at Lincoln Center in NYC. And it won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical in 2003.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Similar to A Man of No Importance, Dessa Rose also began Off-Broadway and later transferred to London’s West End. It was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical in 2005.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Books: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
The Glorious Ones made its debut in Pittsburgh and was followed by an Off-Broadway production the same year. The show received nominations for five Drama Desk Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Thomas Meehan, Sylvester Stallone
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Rocky made its debut in Hamburg, Germany, before moving to Broadway two years later. The production received multiple award nominations and wins.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Based on the 1997 film, Anastasia premiered on Broadway in 2017. It was nominated for multiple Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Ahrens and Flaherty were also nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for the animated film.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary/ Song Cycle (2020)
These two song cycles were written in 2004 but were not released until the COVID pandemic. The duo felt these works were particularly relevant during that time, leading to their remastering.
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Knoxville was originally set to premiere in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, its world premiere was delayed until 2022, taking place at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida.
Additional Work by Lynn Ahrens
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens Book: Mike Ockrent
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
A Christmas Carol premiered at NYC’s Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in 1994 and enjoyed a nine-year run. Since then, the show has seen numerous regional and school productions.
Additional Work by Stephen Flaherty
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Gertrude Stein Adaptation: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Loving Repeating is a lesser-known one-act chamber musical that premiered in 2006 at the About Face Theatre in Chicago. The show is notable for its unique structure, which features a series of vignettes inspired by the poetry of Gertrude Stein.
Archived Ahrens & Flaherty Musicals
These musicals were written by Ahrens and Flaherty, but don’t have cast albums or a large amount of information available online. The following are listed in our Musical Archive.
1985: The Emperor’s New Clothes
2005: Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life
2014: Marie, Dancing Still
* Here’s where you can learn more about Ahrens and Flaherty➝
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Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
