William Finn News

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, has announced casting for Chaim Potok's The Chosen, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner, and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Julianne Boyd at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield.

In "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", set to open June 15 at the Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theater in Hagerstown, Maryland, all of the hilarious and heartwarming events you wish had happened at your own childhood spelling bee actually occur, and they are turned into musical numbers!

The New York Times Arts Blog reports that Stephanie J. Block and Will Chase will star in the Second Stage Theater's upcoming production of the new musical LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. The actors recently received Tony nominations for their co-starring roles in Broadway's 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood.'

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present The Drowsy Chaperone, starring Pat Sajak as the Man in the Chair, as the first of its three-show Summer Nutmeg Summer Series, tonight, June 6 - 15 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

Portland Center Stage (PCS) welcomes Broadway's Andrew Samonsky to star in the world-premiere production of the new musical Somewhere in Time, based on the novel by renowned authorRichard Matheson (I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come) and the subsequent hit film starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer.

Happy Birthday, Mary Testa! Testa is a two-time Tony Award nominee, for performances in revivals of Leonard Bernstein's On the Town (1998) and 42nd Street (2001). She made her debut as Miss Goldberg in William Finn's one-act musical In Trousers (1979), part one of his 'Marvin Trilogy,' winning audiences over with her rendition of 'Set Those Sails' and 'I Am Wearing a Hat,' as well as 'The Rape of Miss Goldberg by Marvin.' She returned to Broadway in July, 2007 in the musical-theater remake of the 1980 film Xanadu for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination.

El trabajo del musico y letrista catalan, que ha colaborado con compañias como Dagoll Dagom o La Cubana, ha cruzado fronteras este año, llegando hasta Puerto Rico con la version en español del musical de Stephen Sondheim Into The Woods. De esto y de Tots Fem Comedia, la nueva obra de Joaquim Oristrell, en la que ademas participa como actor nos habla en esta entrevista para BroadwayWorld.

Broadway Close Up takes you behind the scenes of musicals old and new with eye-opening interviews and inspiring performances by some of Broadway's greatest talents. The 2013 performances kick off with the annual Bound for Broadway show hosted by Liz Callaway and continues with Tony-nominated lyricist Amanda Green, an evening with the fascinating women from the musicals of Cy Coleman, and an enchanting exploration of duets, trios, quartets and ensemble numbers by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Irving Berlin among others.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, is proud to present the American Premiere of Bashir Lazhar, from May 22 through June 8. The Press Opening was on Sunday, May 26 at 3pm.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and TriStan Wilson Managing Director, is proud to present the American Premiere of Bashir Lazhar, from May 22 through June 8. Written by Canadian playwright Evelyne de la Cheneliere, in a translation by Morwyn Brebner, Bashir Lazhar stars Juri Henley-Cohn, under the direction of Shakina Nayfack. Check out photos from opening night below!

THE CRAFT: The Musical is a brand new musical inspired by the 1996 cult film of the same name. Click below to listen to demo tracks from the musical, including 'The Dream / Now is the Time', 'A Perfect Circle', 'Witches!', 'Manon', 'With Perfect Love & Perfect Trust', 'Light as a Feather', 'Blessed Be', and 'The Invocation'!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced that the new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, with book and direction by James Lapine and music and lyrics by William Finn, will kick off the theatre's 35th anniversary season this fall. James Lapine and William Finn return to Second Stage Theatre where they most recently collaborated on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Previews for LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE begin October 15, 2013 with an official opening in mid- November. Casting, full creative team, and opening night date will be announced at a later date.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present The Drowsy Chaperone, starring Pat Sajak as the Man in the Chair, as the first of its three-show Summer Nutmeg Summer Series, June 6 - 15 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's our annual Summer Musical Theater Guide! This week, Part One: Chicagoland. Check out 'The Jungle Book,' 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman,' 'Next To Normal,' 'The Color Purple,' 'Spelling Bee,' 'Cabaret' and a whole lot more!

According to the New York Times, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2011 and has long been buzzed about for a New York Transfer, will open at Second Stage Theatre in October 2013. Composed by William Finn and written by James Lapine, the show currently has no plans for a Broadway run after playing at Second Stage but a transfer is a 'possibility, given the talents involved.' Previews are set to begin on October 15.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the world premiere production of Muckrakers, a new play by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (BSC's The North Pool and Lord of the Flies). Muckrakers begins previews Thursday, June 13, opens Wednesday, June 19 and will run through Saturday, July 6 at the St. Germain Stage, at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

The 2014 season of New York City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series will open with Little Me directed by John Rando and starring Christian Borle ('Smash,' Peter and the Starcatcher) on February 5, 2014. The season will continue with The Most Happy Fella, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and starring Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!, The Whale), followed by Irma La Douce, directed by John Doyle. Encores! Music Director Rob Berman will helm all shows.

Theater at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, will present a heartwarming production of the two-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Audiences will enjoy the fun July 11 through August 18 when Theater at the Center spells out another winner with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Featuring witty and endearing music and lyrics by William Finn and a delightful book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the touching story of a group of prepubescent overachievers who are pitted against one another in the spelling challenge of a lifetime. The production will be directed by David Perkovich with a press opening on Sunday, July 14 at 7 p.m.

It is easy to understand why Betty Buckley has been called the 'Voice of Broadway'. To begin, she has an astounding instrument with an incredible range. She can belt out the lyrics from 'Come Back to Me' from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and then in the next breath bring her voice down to almost a whisper, like a prayer, in essaying 'Maria' from West Side Story. Secondly, she is a dynamic actress who feels the story the song is telling. Most of all, through living this material, there's great soul, a deep sense of humanity lurking beneath. I have always said it takes a great actress to be a great singer. Betty Buckley is most definitely among the small group of Broadway divas who consistently hit the mark. Her unique contribution is an unparalleled grace and class which emanate from every phrase she utters.