William Finn News

Playwrights Horizons announced today the promotion of the theater company's Director of New Play Development Adam Greenfield to Associate Artistic Director. This is the first major change to the Artistic leadership of the acclaimed organization since Mr. Sanford was promoted from the same associate position to become Artistic Director in 1996.

At a press conference held at Barrington Stage Company's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, Artistic Director Julianne Boyd announced the theatre's 2015 season of musicals and plays that will take place in Downtown Pittsfield in the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, St. Germain Stage and Youth Theatre venues.

Pioneer Theatre Company, Salt Lake City's major resident Equity theatre, will present the world premiere of Kenneth Jones' dramaAlabama Story today, January 9-24, 2015, as part of its eight-title 2014-15 season. PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg will direct.

Tacoma Musical Playhouse announces its third musical of the season and first musical of the new year - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

James Lapine is currently enjoying the success of his big screen adaptation of Into the Woods, for which he wrote the screenplay, and in a recent interview with Deadline, Lapine revealed that he has another musical in mind for his next stage to screen project. When asked what musical he'd like to see as a movie, he responded: 'Well, I want to do Sunday in the Park with George, but I don't know in this day and age whether you could get it made. But Irwin Winkler came to us when it was on Broadway and said, 'I'd like to do a movie of it. I can do it for this amount of money. You can direct it,' and I went, 'Yeah.' And the studio said no.'

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, launches a new Musical Theatre Conservatory (MTC) program for Summer 2015 from June 1-August 8. BSC is offering a select number of musical theatre students (in the areas of performance, direction and choreography) the opportunity to work and train with top-level New York directors, choreographers, and composers while spending the summer in residence as a part of an award-winning professional theatre company in the cultural capital of the Berkshires, just a few hours outside of Boston and New York.

Theatre Out is set to open their 10th anniversary season with a revival of the hit Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with music and lyrics by William Finn conceived by Rebecca Feldman, book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss on January 16, 2015.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Broadway favorites Ann Morrison ("Merrily We Roll Along"), Pamela Myers ("Company") & Chip Zien ("Into The Woods") in "SONDHEIM ORIGINALS - OLD FRIENDS" on January 16 & 17, 2015. These three original Sondheim cast members share songs and stories, recalling their experiences creating their roles in these landmark musicals on Broadway. The show is conceived and directed by Grammy and Emmy Award winner, John McDaniel, as part of his second season as artistic director of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's Cabaret and Performance conference.

Today we are talking to an instantly recognizable stage stalwart who has lit up Broadway and beyond for more than three decades since her debut in William Finn's IN TROUSERS - the one and only Mary Testa. Discussing all aspects of her exemplary new album created in collaboration with acclaimed orchestrator Michael Starobin, HAVE FAITH, Testa imparts the impetus behind the concept album and outlines what motivated the wildly eclectic song choices included on the release - ranging from the Beach Boys, Prince and Aerosmith to Michael John LaChiusa, William Finn, Jill Sobule and many more. Furthermore, Testa eloquently describes the fascinating and compelling theme upon which the album is based - the journey of a soul through life; ostensibly a search for faith - and relates the sonic experience to her own spiritual pursuits. Additionally, Testa clues us in on what we can expect from her upcoming promotional concert appearances alongside Starobin in support of the album, as well, kicking off with a concert at Barnes & Noble next week along with a series of shows at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Reflecting on the various ways in which she has seen the theatre transform over the course of her career thus far, Testa also sheds some light on many of her most celebrated roles to date, including IN TROUSERS, THE RINK, XANADU, 42nd STREET, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, QUEEN OF THE MIST, GUYS & DOLLS, A NEW BRAIN, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, LUCKY STIFF, CHICAGO, WICKED and more. All of that, playing Barbara Bush in FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE and much, much more with one of Broadway's most reliably entertaining and endlessly inventive regulars.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of the movie tie-in edition of Into the Woods, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The screen adaptation of the classic musical is being released by Disney Pictures on December 25, 2014. This new edition includes eight full-color pages of photos from the movie.

Joe Iconis and his merry band of musical theater punks were back by popular demand in this seventh annual insane celebration of all things red and green. Featuring brand new holiday songs, old favorites, tiny elves, enormous reindeer, an inebriated Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and an ungodly number of candy canes, it was the happiest holiday hoedown you've ever seen.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, will present an industry reading of a new musical, Presto Change-O, today, December 19 at 11am at Manhattan Theatre Club, 311 W 43rd Street, (8th Fl., Studio 3).

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

MARY TESTA -- the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress -- and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger will perform four concerts in January to promote their new album Have Faith from Ghostlight Records.

MARY TESTA - the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress - and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger will perform four concerts in January to promote their new album Have Faith from Ghostlight Records. Fresh off her recent starring role on Broadway in Wicked, Mary will perform a special CD release engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theater at The West Bank Cafe January 4-5,11-12, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Music Director Michael Starobin, will join her on piano with Alisa Horn on cello. Since being released earlier this month, Have Faith was called "stunning" by Playbill, "beautifully hypnotizing" by BroadwayWorld and "a sensational CD debut, terrific from first cut to last" by the Connecticut Post. For tickets, please visit www.lauriebeechmantheatre.com. To order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/havefaith.

Christopher Durang's irresistible comedy "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike", Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan's outrageous musical "The Producers", and William Finn and James Lapine's extraordinary musical "Falsettos" make up the three award winning plays and musicals in Sierra Stages' 7th Season beginning in March 2015. Each of the shows represents the best in contemporary live theatre and each is a Nevada County premiere.

New York City Center's acclaimed Encores! Off-Center series announced its 2015 season today, featuring Jonathan Groff in A NEW BRAIN, original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS cast member Ellen Greene, and Sutton Foster in THE WILD PARTY. Scroll down to prep for Encores! starry season with clips of the leads in action!

According to the New York Times, Encores! has just announced the upcoming 2015 season for its Off-Center series. Included in the line-up is William Finn's A New Brain (running June 24-27), starring Jonathan Groff; Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party (running July 15-18), starring Off-Center veteran Sutton Foster; and Little Shop of Horrors (running July 1), with original cast member Ellen Greene.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announce dthe second production in its 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim, the Chicago premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, February 6 - March 15, 2015, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, direction by Nick Bowling with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces Northlight's 40th Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Tony Award winner, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The event, which will also include a cocktail reception, raffle and auction, will be held at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, tonight, December 11, 2014 at 7:00pm.