Lynn Ahrens Katie Sciba Period 7

The Hot Tea on Lynn Lynn Ahrens was born on October 1st, 1948 in New York, New York. She graduated from Syracuse University with a journalism degree and spent time in advertising before writing the music and lyrics for the T.V. shorts Schoolhouse Rock! This includes songs such as, “Do the Circulation,” “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing,” and “Interplanet Janet.” Ahrens’ first collaboration with her long-time partner Stephen Flaherty was the off-Broadway musical “Lucky Stiff” in 1989, and they have been working together ever since.

What Makes Them Absolutely Iconic? Lucky Stiff- 1988- A British man inherits $6,000,000 from his late uncle, but in order to acquire the money he must take the dead body, disguise it in a wheelchair, and go on one last adventure to Monte Carlo. Anastasia- 1997- A musical about a young woman from 1920’s Russia on a search for her past, based on the 20th Century Fox movie. Ragtime- 1996- A story about three families caught in current conflicts trying to achieve the American dream. Seussical- 2000- A musical adaptation of characters from Dr. Seuss’s most famous books, and is one of the most performed musicals in America.

What’s Their Style? Day for the Cat in the Hat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaaam9XCeEc Prologue: Ragtime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCzfQ935CXc&list=PL1MjhIj64rBYypGSxfgZRQiVGcu2XY09I Journey to the Past: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cd7s2ujr3c All three of these songs seem to have similar musical themes. Ahrens likes to use scales when she writes her music, with her songs flowing between higher and lower pitches, but hovering around the same range. This can be observed in other songs as well, such as In My Dreams from the musical ‘Anastasia,’ the musical in which Journey to the Past is from, and even the Prologue to Ragtime. This gives the songs a more whimsical feeling. The best way to put the feeling into words would be to say that it gives one a sense like they’re floating, which makes the musicals far more lighthearted.

Where’d I get This Information? I Didn’t Use Wikipedia I swear Ahrens & Flherty. “The Official Website of Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty.” Home, www.ahrensandflaherty.com/index.html. Donelson, Marcy. “Lynn Ahrens | Biography & History.” AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/artist/lynn-ahrens-mn0000053161/biography. “Lynn Ahrens (Librettist, Lyricist).” StageAgent, stageagent.com/writers/385/lynn- ahrens. Also here’s one last video, as a reminder that Lynn also wrote for Schoolhouse Rock! How could we forget this absolute BOP!? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EfnNUt_nwY