William Finn
2026 Drama League Awards Nominations- The Full List (Apr 20, 2026)
Matt Manuel Shares Backstage Scoop From THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Apr 13, 2026)
Complete Guide to the 2026 Broadway Awards Season (Apr 11, 2026)
BIO
William Finn is a celebrated American composer and lyricist, best known for his heartfelt, character-driven musicals and his groundbreaking contributions to contemporary musical theatre. Born on February 28, 1952, in Natick, Massachusetts, Finn studied at Williams College, where he began developing his distinctive voice as a songwriter. He is most widely recognized for creating the semi-autobiographical Marvin Trilogy, which includes In Trousers (1979), March of the Falsettos (1981), and Falsettoland (1990). These shows were later combined and revised into Falsettos (1992), which won Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book.
Finn’s work often explores themes of identity, family, illness, and Jewish and LGBTQ+ experiences, with a unique blend of wit, warmth, and emotional complexity. In 1998, he wrote A New Brain, a musical inspired by his near-death experience with a brain condition, which was praised for its vulnerability and originality. His later musicals include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005), co-created with Rachel Sheinkin, which was a major commercial and critical success, earning him another Tony Award for Best Book.
Finn is also the composer of Little Miss Sunshine, Elegies: A Song Cycle, and Make Me a Song, and continues to write and mentor new talent through his long-standing affiliation with Barrington Stage Company and the Musical Theatre Lab. Known for his quirky melodies and emotionally resonant lyrics, William Finn remains a distinctive and influential voice in American musical theatre.
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STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
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Lyricist
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Music
Bookwriter
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Lyricist
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Awards and Nominations
William Finn, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
winner
William Finn, Falsettos
winner
William Finn, Falsettos
winner
William Finn, Falsettoland
William Finn, Falsettoland
Videos
Video: Amber Riley Joins GLEE Co-Star Kevin McHale in SPELLING BEE
by Michael Major - 2026-03-12 11:44:25
Video: 'The I Love You Song' from THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Theatre Under The Stars
by Joshua Wright - 2025-10-31 16:36:44
Video: Watch 'I Speak Six Languages' from SPELLING BEE at Theatre Under The Stars
by Michael Major - 2025-10-29 14:07:20
Video: 'Magic Foot' from the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatre Under The Stars
by Allison Henry - 2025-10-22 13:04:27
Video: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Theatre Under the Stars
by Stephi Wild - 2025-10-21 11:30:20
Video: Kate Baldwin Sings 'Everything' from HELD MOMENTARILY at 54 Below
by Michael Major - 2024-12-16 17:05:50
Video: SPELLING BEE at the Kennedy Center with Beanie Feldstein, Bonnie Milligan, and More
by Joshua Wright - 2024-10-18 14:04:26
Video: Kennedy Center's 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Preview
by Joey Mervis - 2024-10-04 10:45:11
Exclusive: Chip Zien Looks Back on His Epic, 15-Show Broadway Career
by Robert Bannon - 2024-04-26 19:00:20
VIDEO: First Look At George Street Playhouse's THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
by Alan Henry - 2023-03-27 17:10:19
Video: First Look at James Lapine's New Documentary IN THE COMPANY OF ROSE
by Michael Major - 2022-11-11 16:58:50
VIDEO: First Look at The Acting Company's THE THREE MUSKETEERS and ROMEO AND JULIET in Repertory
by Blair Ingenthron - 2022-11-05 15:05:53
VIDEO: Jose Llana Visits Backstage with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2021-12-03 15:00:20
VIDEO: Jose Llana Sings from COMPANY in Rehearsal for The Seth Concert Series
by Taylor Brethauer-Hamling - 2021-12-02 14:28:22
VIDEO: Chip Zien Plays Skylar Astin's Dad on ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST
by Sarah Leiber - 2021-02-02 14:13:06
VIDEO: Andrew Rannells on Working With Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman on THE PROM on THE LATE LATE SHOW
by Stephi Wild - 2020-12-11 07:11:55
News
by Stephi Wild - Apr 20, 2026
The Drama League has announced the 2026 Drama League Awards Nominees, which include Chess, Heathers, Ragtime, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Titanique, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and more. Check out the full list here!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 13, 2026
In this edition of Words From The Wings, we catch up with Matt Manuel, who plays Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee off-Broadway, to share some of his favorite backstage moments, must-haves, and more!
by Sidney Paterra - Apr 11, 2026
The 2026 theatre awards season is here and keeping track of all of the important dates for the many ceremonies and their corresponding nomination announcements is no easy feat. Stay up to date on all the need-to-know facts with BroadwayWorld's full Awards Season Calendar below!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 9, 2026
Madison College Performing Arts will present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE April 17–19 at the Mitby Theater in Madison, Wis., closing its 2025–26 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy featuring audience participation.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 3, 2026
Ithaca College will award an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) degree to visionary theatrical producer/director/educator Robert Moss. He will be recognized at Ithaca College's 131st Commencement ceremony.
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 1, 2026
Nominations for the 41st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards – the only New York theatre award to exclusively honor Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway – were announced by Amber Gray and Harvey Guillén. Check out the full list of nominees here!
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 31, 2026
BroadwayWorld is excited to announce that Amber Gray and Harvey Guillén, currently starring on Broadway in The Rocky Horror Show, will announce the nominees for the 41st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards. Tune in right here at BroadwayWorld tomorrow, April 1 (2pm ET) to watch the announcement live.
by Luka Vonier - Mar 26, 2026
In his new book Making RENT, Tim Weil takes readers behind the scenes of one of the most groundbreaking musicals of the 20th century. In a recent interview with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge, Weil opened up about his first impressions of Jonathan Larson, the emotional weight of the show’s earliest days, and the creative process that shaped its now-iconic score.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 21, 2026
The Green Room 42 will present HEART AND MUSIC: HONORING THE WORKS OF WILLIAM FINN in New York City. The one-night concert features songs from FALSETTOS, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and more.
by Christopher Verleger - Mar 19, 2026
The word is “special.” While several adjectives come to mind, the one that does the most justice when describing The Players’ cheerful, heartfelt production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’—as well as each of the actors in the cast, and the musical itself—is indisputably “special.”
by Stephen Mosher - Mar 14, 2026
Lillias White is storming the castle at The Laurie Beechman, and audiences are all white flags as they surrender, happily and heartily.
by Michael Major - Mar 13, 2026
Whitney Leavitt made a special appearance at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this week. Watch a video of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and Dancing With the Stars alum as a 'guest speller' on her night off from Chicago.
by Michael Major - Mar 12, 2026
There was a special Glee reunion at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Amber Riley, who played Mercedes Jones in the hit musical series, joined co-star Kevin McHale, who played Artie Abrams, as a guest speller. Watch the video!
by Rebecca Kaplan - Mar 9, 2026
COMEDIANS EARNESTLY SINGING MUSICAL THEATRE celebrated its fifth anniversary with a Friday February 27, 2026 show at Joe’s Pub. Zach Schiffman and Reid Pope give former theater kids turned comedians the chance to return to the stage.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 2, 2026
Emmy Award-winning actor Nick Offerman will return to his hometown this summer to join his wife, Emmy Award winner Megan Mullally, for Iceboy! Or The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O’Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 25, 2026
The MAC Players at the Middletown Arts Center will present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE from February 27 through March 8, 2026. Check out photos of the production.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 25, 2026
Houston Broadway Theatre will present two productions for 2026 with Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Wortham Center, and Falsettos, playing this spring.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 17, 2026
Derby Dinner Playhouse will present the Broadway musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was written by Rachel Sheinkin.
by Alex Freeman - Feb 16, 2026
From Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS distributing $3.2 million to food programs nationwide to financial updates and future plans at 54 Below, the theater community continues to navigate challenges while supporting artists and audiences alike. We also look ahead to key dates for the Lucille Lortel Awards, explore a Stage Mag spotlight on THE SOUND INSIDE at Capital Stage, and share a moving PBS feature on Ukrainian theater uplifting children during wartime.
by Julie Gardieff - Feb 16, 2026
What did our critic think of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Theatre South?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
William Finn has written 15 shows including Muscle (Bookwriter), In Trousers (Bookwriter), March of the Falsettos (Bookwriter), America Kicks Up Its Heels (Composer), Romance in Hard Times (Bookwriter), Dangerous Games (Lyricist), Falsettoland (Bookwriter), Falsettos (Bookwriter), A New Brain (Bookwriter), Love's Fire: Fresh Numbers by Seven American Playwrights (Playwright), Elegies (Composer), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Composer), Make Me a Song (Composer), Little Miss Sunshine (Composer), You're Standing in My Way: A New Song Cycle (Lyrics).
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Falsettos, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Falsettos, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Falsettoland and Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Falsettoland.
William Finn has won the following awards: Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Falsettos, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Falsettos, and Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Falsettoland.
Videos