Bill Finn News

Tony and Emmy Award winning actor, Mandy Patinkin will be performing DRESS CASUAL on June 22 at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) where audiences can get to the know the man behind the actor.

Today we are talking to a versatile stage and screen actress who has scored in a number of unique roles on Broadway and around the country in addition to making a recent mark with her work on the Broadway-themed web series IT COULD BE WORSE - the passionate and compelling Alison Fraser. Discussing her vast resume and some of her most fondly remembered performances to date, Fraser opens up about her remarkable career thus far - including her work originating parts in IN TROUSERS, MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS, THE SECRET GARDEN, ROMANCE/ROMANCE, GUNMETAL BLUES, THE DIVINE SISTER and more - and looks ahead to her most recent projects, current, upcoming and beyond. Most importantly, Fraser details the finer points of LOVE THERAPY, the new Wendy Beckett play she stars in Off-Broadway and outlines her continuing collaboration onstage with the playwright, having previously starred in CHARITY CASE, as well as what we can expect from the realistic new drama, opening April 29. Additionally, Fraser sheds some light on her recent work in the world premiere of the Tennessee Williams play IN MASKS OUTRAGEOUS AND AUSTERE and how that led to her new solo revue, THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS SONGBOOK. Plus, memories of appearing in GYPSY on Broadway with Patti LuPone and working with Arthur Laurents on that as well as his own final play, cameoing on SMASH, reflections on her memorable musical partnerships with husband Rusty Magee and noted FALSETTOS songwriter William Finn, as well as thoughts on the contemporary theatre scene and her various theatre-related web projects, favorite recent shows and much, much more!

Two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer William Finn will appear in Palm Springs on March 16, 2013 in 'Heart and Music: A Conversation With and Tribute To William Finn'. The man behind such Broadway hits as FALSETTOS and THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE as well as A NEW BRAIN and ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE and more will be the 2103 recipient of Desert Ensemble Theatre Company's Melpomai Award, given annually to honor excellence in the development of theater nationally.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, has purchased the Pittsfield V.F.W. at 36 Linden Street thanks to a generous gift from long-time BSC supporters Sydelle and Lee Blatt.

Today we are talking to one of the biggest new stars on Broadway who first burst onto the scene in HAIRSPRAY but has since carved out a place in the great pantheon of theatre history in creating the iconic lead role of Elder Price in the Broadway hit of the decade, THE BOOK OF MORMON, Andrew Rannells. One among many on the incredibly impressive list of performers at Monday night's NY Pops JOURNEY ON gala at Carnegie Hall celebrating the music and lyrics of Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, Rannells joins many of the other accomplished Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars of modern Broadway as well as those who predominantly tread the boards. Illustrating his journey with the edgy and ribald musical smash THE BOOK OF MORMOM from workshop to Broadway, the Tony Awards and beyond, Rannells paints the picture of the show's road to success and imparts his effervescent enthusiasm and all too apparent joy to be appearing in such a crowd-pleasing and joyous experience eight times a week. Additionally, Rannells shares his thoughts on the upcoming national tour starring Gavin Creel and whether or not there will be a MORMON film version sooner rather than later. Plus, Rannells gives also us the first look at his 21st century parenting and adoption-themed NBC pilot, THE NEW NORMAL, and outlines the finer points of the story, his character and the themes of the hotly anticipated new single-camera comedy series coming from the creator of GLEE, Ryan Murphy. That, his favorite Ahrens & Flaherty songs, favorite shows, future acting plans, what is currently on his iPod - all of that and much, much more!

Wisconsin Public Radio has teamed with the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre to stage a radio adaptation of "The Lonely Road" and "Rocket from Manhattan" on Sunday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m. in the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center. Tickets are $10 and are available at the box office, by phone at (414) 291-7800, or online at https://tickets.broadwaytheatrecenter.com.

Caps Lock Theatre will present The Foreplay Play by award-winning playwright Mariah MacCarthy from April 19 to May 6, 2012. It will run Thursday - Sunday at 8:00. This dark comedy is set in an apartment in Brooklyn, which is also the venue for this production directed by Leta Tremblay. In The Foreplay Play, a lesbian couple and a straight couple attempt a foursome with disastrous results.

Caps Lock Theatre will present The Foreplay Play by award-winning playwright Mariah MacCarthy from April 19 to May 6, 2012. It will run Thursday - Sunday at 8:00. This dark comedy is set in an apartment in Brooklyn, which is also the venue for this production directed by Leta Tremblay. In The Foreplay Play, a lesbian couple and a straight couple attempt a foursome with disastrous results.

Wisconsin Public Radio has teamed with the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre to stage a radio adaptation of "The Lonely Road" and "Rocket from Manhattan" on Sunday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m. in the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center. Tickets are $10 and are available at the box office, by phone at (414) 291-7800, or online at https://tickets.broadwaytheatrecenter.com.

Discussing all aspects of her sensitive, charming and emotional new collection of songs, MY LIFELONG LOVE, today we are talking to composer Georgia Stitt, a uniquely gifted artist whose moving new album is an ideal representation of the many facets of her songwriting abilities as well as a portal into her own genre-spanning inspirations and projects from which a number of these songs are culled - many musicals included! In addition to all about MY LIFELONG LOVE and the fabulous Broadway personalities appearing on it - such as Jessie Tyler Ferguson, Susan Egan, Shoshana Bean and Brian D'Arcy James - Stitt also illustrates how her personal life and role as a mother to two daughters has influenced her craft and career, as well as what we can expect from her in the future - like the new jukebox musical, HELLO! MY BABY, and the original musical, BIG RED SUN. Plus, working on the recording of the new ballet, THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN, with her husband, Tony-winner Jason Robert Brown; music directing and acting as vocal coach on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT and GREASE: YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT, an overview of the musicals she is working on currently - and much, much more!

The Hangar Theatre's acclaimed 2011 CabarETC series comes to a close with Home for the Holidays, a celebration of the season starring Jeremy Webb and Nat Chandler.

After debuting on Broadway in an all-time classic, the musical star has done three world premieres.

The only thing RIDICULOUS about this annual event is that Tony Award winner Bill Finn only does it once a year. I remember observing a session of his Music Theater class at NYU when Professor Finn had an extraordinary group of singers perform his students final exams. The unconventional Mr. Finn had instructed his class to write songs based upon unorthodox, outlandish, zany and sometimes kinky subject matter. The result was hilarious, witty, intelligent and downright entertaining. Mr. Finn is the Artistic Head of Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, and his NYU classroom modus operandi has become an annual 'show' at this Berkshire institution. Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn (Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) narrates this fresh, fun introduction to new voices in musical theatre. Direction is by Drama League Directors Project Musical Directing Fellow Shakina Nayfack (Assistant Director BSC's The Game and Mormons, Mothers and Monsters).

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes proudly welcomed a packed house at the benefit performance of Broadway in the Berkshires on Monday, August 15th at 6:00pm in the Company's Founders' Theatre. The event raised over $60,000, which will go towards Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs. Producer and Company member, Deborah Grausman (actor and founder of Berkshire Musical Theater Workshop) assembled an all-star cast and first-rate creative team for this spectacular, one-night event. Broadway's Chip Zien (Into the Woods-the original Baker, Les Miserables, The Country Girl, People in The Picture, Falsettos, Grand Hotel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Boys from Syracuse, etc.) was the host. Director Sam Scalamoni (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lestat) and Music Director Paul Staroba (A L ittle Night Music, Next to Normal , Grey Gardens ) headed up the creative team.

Ms. Howard shares with me all about the filming of the highly anticipated conclusion of the TWILIGHT series, TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN Parts 1 & 2 in which she plays a central role: that of Siobahn, an ancient Irish vampire. William Finn, Dan Fogler, Bill Condon, Michael Sheen, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and stories about working with many more of her exciting co-stars and collaborators await in this comprehensive conversation.

There aren't many concerts around where you can hear a full house go berserk at the promise of hearing Jill Eikenberry sing a number from Onward, Victoria.  Or where the mention of the name Bruce Yeko draws spontaneous applause and the audience enjoys a running gag about Lenny Wolpe.

Broadway's elite gathered to honor a most-deserving philanthropist, Paul Libin, executive vice president of Jujamcyn Theaters, at UJA-Federation's Entertainment, Media, and Communications Division's 2011 Excellence in Theater Award Dinner on March 28, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Regis New York. The Bernard B. Jacobs Excellence in Theater Award recognizes an exceptional professional who is committed to the theater community and to improving the lives of others in New York, in Israel, and around the world. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below!