Young People's Chorus of NYC

Meet Out Hereos

Lynn Ahrens

Legendary, Award-Winning Broadway Writer & Lyricist

Broadway is on “intermission” right now, what has that time looked like for you?

I was working on a show in Florida and we were about three weeks from opening night when we had to shut down and go home. I arrived home to the Theater District where all the shows had been closed down and boarded up. And not just actors are out of work, the wig makers, the stage hands, the theater workers are all waiting this out and it’s very painful. We are all trying to find other creative outlets to keep us centered and have faith that Broadway will be back soon.

Do you think there has been a collective creative movement or has it all been very independent?

I think it’s a little bit of both. While we are isolated with our families, we are also still connected virtually and working to put some positive energy back out into the world. Writing songs for charity and causes, beautiful chorus pieces that are being done on Zoom. You know, it’s inspiring what the theater community can accomplish when we come together to put our creativity to work.

How important are the songs you write for the Young People’s Chorus to you?

I am just so impressed by what YPC has built for children, and it’s so important what they are doing. And these children are capable of extremely complex arrangements, so we write songs for them that are really hard to perform and they go beyond your wildest expectations. Seriously, they rock … bravo!

Stephen Flaherty

Legendary, Award-Winning Broadway Composer

How is the theater community coming together during this stressful time?

Our Broadway community is very tight knit, and we are all doing our best to get through this really long “intermission.” Thankfully there are groups that are helping those who are out of work. The Actors Fund is making sure people are getting food, shelter, healthcare. Not just actors, but stage hands, makeup artists, musicians are all able to receive this help. Another organization is the Dramatist Guild Foundation, they supply funding and education for individuals, especially writers. We are definitely looking out for one another.

Broadway is a place where people come to connect, how can you keep that up right now?

Broadway has always been a very inspirational place to work, a place that’s offered hope. Musicals by nature are hopeful and positive and are meant to uplift people. I’m so inspired by the actors I work with, they have such wonderful ideas. Now, many of us are doing online collaborations and being creative from a distance. But we all can’t wait to get back in the theaters.

When you walk into a theater and see a show for the very first time, nothing beats it, right?

I feel very grateful that the work I do can inspire and uplift people. Writing choral arrangements brings me such joy, there’s something about a group of people singing together that is very profound. So yes, nothing beats working on Broadway productions and it’s so much fun for us to entertain our audiences.

Brotherhood of Man