William Finn News

The University of Washington School of Drama, under the leadership of Executive Director Todd London, is proud to announce its 75th Anniversary Season. This historic season will celebrate, honor, and build upon the School of Drama's deep connections to Seattle's theatre community and serve as a bridge between the School's rich history and its future.

The MIT Musical Theatre Guild is looking for production staff for the Summer 2015 production of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Music & Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Conceived by Rebecca Feldman.

Theatre Development Fund, the not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, will honor three of the organization's 'Unsung Heroes' - Ted Chapin, Jeffrey Gural and Robert Zukerman at TDF's Gala tonight, June 15 at the Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his uniquely designed mainstages musicals showcasing a fiercely idiosyncratic style and flair all his own, the one and only William Finn. Outlining the new version of A NEW BRAIN set to be presented later this month at City Center as part of the Encores! Off-Center series, Finn discusses his original intentions behind many moments in the show as well as shares his inspiration for many musical moments in the melodic and moving score, as well. Additionally, Finn shares fresh news of his long in developtment musical adaptation of George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber's THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BROADWAY and provides preliminary details on the forthcoming revival of his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical FALSETTOS set to premiere later this season, as well. Plus, Finn imparts his enthusiasm for the upcoming 10th anniversary cast reunion of his popular musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, touches upon his favorite songs to date and expresses his desire to revisit Depression-era musical ROMANCE IN HARD TIMES in the future, as well as reveals his personal favorite songs to date and much, much more.

This summer, Sierra Stages presents the over-the-top Mel Brooks musical comedy "THE PRODUCERS" from July 16 through August 8 at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City. Winner of an unprecedented 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, "THE PRODUCERS" has music and lyrics by Mel Brooks and a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan. The Sierra Stages production is directed by Susan Mason, with dance direction by George Jayne and musical direction by Ken Getz, who conducts the live theatre orchestra.

Celebrating its 10th year in Downtown Pittsfiled, the award-winning Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha from tonight, June 10 through July 11 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage. The press opening is Sunday, June 14 at 5pm.

Celebrating its 10th year in Downtown Pittsfiled, the award-winning Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha from June 10 through July 11 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage. The press opening is Sunday, June 14 at 5pm.

The Lobby Project, a series of free pre-show events presented in conjunction with the third season of New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series, will take place June 24 - July 18 at City Center. The events will place the Off-Center musicals in the context of their legacies and provide insightful explorations of the work the audience is about to experience.

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.

No matter how well you know a show - how easily you can recall plot points or parrot dialogue - it's sometime good to revisit a musical even if you've seen it countless times. Oftentimes it rekindles your love for a show or, hell, it just reminds you how much fun you have every time you see a new revival. So, kudos to director Josh Waldrep and his merry band of mischief makers who bring The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to the stage to conclude Circle Players' 65th season.

Musical theatre favourite Julie Atherton has recorded an exclusive teaser video about this year's Onstage Acts summer course, and it features a very special cameo: from her cat, Missfit. Catch the teaser video below!

Racial representation on the American stage is incongruous with the heterogeneity of the United States. For the past twenty-five years, NAATCO has responded to this challenge by producing European and American classics with all-Asian American casts. This panel, 'Playing Jewish at the National Asian American Theatre Company', examines the strategy behind, and the effectiveness of, NAATCO's mission through a case study of its productions of plays with all Jewish characters, including the upcoming remount of their production of AWAKE AND SING!

 Margot Harley, who co-founded The Acting Company with John Houseman in 1972, will step down as its Producer effective the end of this year.  The Acting Company began with the first graduating class of Juilliard's Drama Division, which included Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, David Schramm and David Ogden Stiers.  "They were classically trained, superbly talented and had worked together for four years," stated Ms. Harley.

Disney's Newsies will claim Nashville as their own hometown with a weeklong run at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center beginning Tuesday, Osborne and Eppler's Southern Fried Nuptials takes the stage in Woodbury, and local favorite Geoff Davin unveils his latest theatrical creation - Adamenses Huckster…and there's plenty of theater continuing this week to keep you occupied all week long!

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) announces Bucks County's own John Augustine to return (The Hummingbird's Tour, 2014, Director) to the Bucks County Playhouse stage as 'Larry' in Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY, running May 29-June 21. Augustine will play alongside Broadway's Candy Buckley (Scandalous, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret) as 'Joanne'.

Eddie Cooper and Joe Grifasi will join the previously announced Ellen Greene, Jake Gyllenhaal and Taran Killam in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running for three performances, July 1-2, 2015 at New York City Center. Eddie Cooper replaces his father Chuck Cooper, who will be starring in the upcoming Broadway musical Amazing Grace.

The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert on Monday, July 6 at 7:30pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street). Benefit tickets, priced $50, $100, $150, $250, and $500 are available at Ticketmaster.com.

Jenni Barber, Quentin Earl Darrington, Bradley Dean, Dan Fogler, Ana Gasteyer, Josh Lamon, Aaron Lazar, Alyse Alan Louis and Rema Webb will join the previously announced Jonathan Groff in the Encores! Off-Center production of William Finn and James Lapine's A New Brain, running June 24 - 27, 2015. The production will be directed by James Lapine, with choreography by Josh Prince.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons has announced details for its 2015 special online Auction.  Bidding for the auction, which will feature an eclectic array of items and unique opportunities, begins today, Tuesday, May 5 at www.CharityBuzz.com/PlaywrightsHorizons. Online bidding will continue through Tuesday, May 19. 

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' announces an exciting new project from the company's artistic director Scott Miller -- STAGE GROK, 'the roaming theatre podcast, coming to you from the geographic center of the American theatre.' Stage Grok episodes are available in the iTunes store, and at www.StageGrok.com.