William Finn News

Second Stage Theatre will continue to celebrate its 35th Anniversary Season by once again offering its popular retro prices ($19.79 - the year in which the Company was founded) as well as audience perks for all of the productions this season.

This week we present the song 'Elegy' by Carmel Dean, which was sung by the incomparable Julia Murney at our concert at 54 Below.

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced additional casting for A Little Night Music. Four-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Gregg Edelman will play the role of Fredrik Egerman and Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Penny Fuller will play the role of Madame Armfeldt for BTG's 2014 summer musical. Ethan Heard, who directed BTG's 2013 hit murder mystery The Cat and the Canary, will direct Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical which also features Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee Kate Baldwin, internationally-acclaimed vocalist and actress Maureen O'Flynn, and Broadway and television actor Graham Rowat.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Sara Cooper (lyricist/bookwriter) & Zach Redler (composer), receiving $12,500 and the Running Deer Residency; and Shaina Taub (composer/lyricist), receiving $12,500. The prestigious grants, totaling $15,000 more than last year's grants, will be presented on Monday, April 7, 2014 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

Acting Up Stage Company, Toronto's premiere not-for-profit musical theatre, culminates their 10th Anniversary Season with a reimagined production of William Finn's Elegies: A Song Cycle. Director Lezlie Wade will remount her 2007 sold-out, smash hit production (which also launched Acting Up Stage as Toronto's go-to company for contemporary musical theatre) alongside an entirely new design team while reuniting most of the performers from this landmark production.

The Buck Creek Players have announced their 41st season of quality theater in 2014-2015. All performances will be held at the Buck Creek Playhouse on the southeast side of Indianapolis at 11150 Southeastern Avenue.

On March 21, 2014, The New York Pops continues its 31st season at Carnegie Hall with On Broadway, an evening celebrating some of Broadway's most unforgettable hits from the past and present, featuring Tony Award nominees Stephanie J. Block and Andrew Rannells. The duo just gave a special preview of the concert and BroadwayWord was on hand to catch a sneak peek. Check out what they had to say about the special event below!

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, has announced the creative team for the company's 20th Anniversary Season opener - Kiss Me, Kate, to be presented June 11 through July 12 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street).

The upcoming year at Redhouse Arts Center is a big one as they gear up to celebrate their 10th anniversary season! Starting this summer, Redhouse Arts Center will bring an exciting variety of performances to the Central NY area.

Matt Okin, Artistic Director of Black Box Studios and its Ensemble, and Alex Diaz, Director of Education at The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, announced the next fully-produced theatrical production to hit downtown Englewood this season, John Guare's House of Blue Leaves. House will run from March 27 through April 6, with performances Thursdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 9:30pm, and Sundays at 8pm, at the Van Brunt Studios of The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt, just two doors away from the bergenPAC Mainstage. Tickets, $20.00 (with group rates available), go on sale on March 5th, at www.blackboxnynj.com/house.

Broadway stars might boast the biggest fan-bases, but without their directors, the vehicle driving their talents could easily swerve off the tracks. Keeping the runaway train at bay are season's bold Broadway 'conductors'. Scroll down to learn more about this season's intrepid and imaginative leaders!

On Monday, March 3, Musical Theatre Factory presented the second edition of 'Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists you Probably Don't Know but Should,' celebrating the work of emerging musical theatre writers mentored by two-time Tony Award winner William Finn. Scroll down for some pictures of the cast and the performance!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Musical Theatre Factory presents second round of 'Ridiculously Talented,' hosted by William Finn at 54 Below, Monday, December 16th at 9:30pm. Musical Theatre Factory presents the second edition of 'Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists you Probably Don't Know but Should,' celebrating the work of emerging musical theatre writers mentored by two-time Tony Award winner William Finn.

Tickets are now on sale for The Brown Paper Box Co.'s upcoming production, A NEW BRAIN, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Finn and James Lapine. The show will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM now-March 9 at Rivendell Theatre in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood (5779 N. Ridge Ave.).

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with another new musical The Other Josh Cohen. The Other Josh Cohen features a book, music and lyrics by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen. Ted Sperling (Striking 12, See What I Wanna See) will direct with musical staging by Andrew Palermo. Vadim Feichtner serves as Music Director. The Other Josh Cohen will feature Steve Rosen, David Rossmer,Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead. The Other Josh Cohen will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater through March 16. The official press opening night is Sunday, February 23, 2014, at 7:00pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Following a sold-out premiere at Joe's Pub last December, Shakina makes her 54 Below debut with ONE WOMAN SHOW: A Work In Progress, recounting in song and story the exploits and misadventures that led to her gender transition.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Last Ship' sails, 'Chicago' and 'The Heartbeat Of Home' stop by, 'Chicago's Golden Soul,' and 'Ain't Misbehavin' pack 'em in, catch 'Dessa Rose,' 'Love Story' and 'A New Brain,' and the Waa-Mu Show announces 2014, plus more!

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with another new musical The Other Josh Cohen. The Other Josh Cohen features a book, music and lyrics by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen. Ted Sperling (Striking 12, See What I Wanna See) will direct with musical staging by Andrew Palermo. Vadim Feichtner serves as Music Director. The Other Josh Cohen will feature Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead. The Other Josh Cohen will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from February 19 through March 16. The official press opening night is Sunday, February 23, 2014, at 7:00pm. The Other Josh Cohen is generously supported by individuals of Paper Mill Playhouse's Raise the Curtain campaign celebrating Paper Mill Playhouse's 75th Anniversary.