Lynn Riggs was the author of GREEN GROW THE LILACS, originally produced by the Theatre Guild in 1931 and later used by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II as the basis for their musical OKLAHOMA!. When originally produced, LILACS had a New York run of 64 performances, while its musical adaptation had an original Broadway run of 2,202 performances.

Riggs' first play to receive a New York production was THE BIG LAKE, which was presented by the American Laboratory Theatre. As a result, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship and spent a year in France, where he wrote LILACS.

Born in Claremore, OK, Riggs studied for three years at the University of Oklahoma. As a youth, he did various jobs including singing in a musical film house. He later moved to New York where he worked as a proofreader and clerked for Macy's department store and the American Express Company.

Riggs also wrote such plays as THE LONESOME WEST, THE CREAM IN THE WELL, LAUGHTER FROM A CLOUD, RUSSET MANTLE, and BORNED IN TEXAS.