William Finn News

Broadway Close Up takes you behind the scenes of musicals old and new with eye-opening interviews and inspiring performances by some of Broadway's greatest talents. The 2013 performances kick off with the annual Bound for Broadway show hosted by Liz Callaway and continues with Tony-nominated lyricist Amanda Green, an evening with the fascinating women from the musicals of Cy Coleman, and an enchanting exploration of duets, trios, quartets and ensemble numbers by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Irving Berlin among others.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and TriStan Wilson Managing Director, is proud to present the American Premiere of Bashir Lazhar, from May 22 through June 8. Written by Canadian playwright Evelyne de la Cheneliere, in a translation by Morwyn Brebner, Bashir Lazhar stars Juri Henley-Cohn, under the direction of Shakina Nayfack. Check out photos from opening night below!

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, is proud to present the American Premiere of Bashir Lazhar, from May 22 through June 8. The Press Opening was on Sunday, May 26 at 3pm.

THE CRAFT: The Musical is a brand new musical inspired by the 1996 cult film of the same name. Click below to listen to demo tracks from the musical, including 'The Dream / Now is the Time', 'A Perfect Circle', 'Witches!', 'Manon', 'With Perfect Love & Perfect Trust', 'Light as a Feather', 'Blessed Be', and 'The Invocation'!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced that the new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, with book and direction by James Lapine and music and lyrics by William Finn, will kick off the theatre's 35th anniversary season this fall. James Lapine and William Finn return to Second Stage Theatre where they most recently collaborated on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Previews for LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE begin October 15, 2013 with an official opening in mid- November. Casting, full creative team, and opening night date will be announced at a later date.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present The Drowsy Chaperone, starring Pat Sajak as the Man in the Chair, as the first of its three-show Summer Nutmeg Summer Series, June 6 - 15 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's our annual Summer Musical Theater Guide! This week, Part One: Chicagoland. Check out 'The Jungle Book,' 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman,' 'Next To Normal,' 'The Color Purple,' 'Spelling Bee,' 'Cabaret' and a whole lot more!

According to the New York Times, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2011 and has long been buzzed about for a New York Transfer, will open at Second Stage Theatre in October 2013. Composed by William Finn and written by James Lapine, the show currently has no plans for a Broadway run after playing at Second Stage but a transfer is a 'possibility, given the talents involved.' Previews are set to begin on October 15.

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, presents the world premiere production of Muckrakers, a new play by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (BSC's The North Pool and Lord of the Flies). Muckrakers begins previews Thursday, June 13, opens Wednesday, June 19 and will run through Saturday, July 6 at the St. Germain Stage, at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

The 2014 season of New York City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series will open with Little Me directed by John Rando and starring Christian Borle ('Smash,' Peter and the Starcatcher) on February 5, 2014. The season will continue with The Most Happy Fella, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and starring Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!, The Whale), followed by Irma La Douce, directed by John Doyle. Encores! Music Director Rob Berman will helm all shows.

Theater at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, will present a heartwarming production of the two-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Audiences will enjoy the fun July 11 through August 18 when Theater at the Center spells out another winner with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Featuring witty and endearing music and lyrics by William Finn and a delightful book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the touching story of a group of prepubescent overachievers who are pitted against one another in the spelling challenge of a lifetime. The production will be directed by David Perkovich with a press opening on Sunday, July 14 at 7 p.m.

It is easy to understand why Betty Buckley has been called the 'Voice of Broadway'. To begin, she has an astounding instrument with an incredible range. She can belt out the lyrics from 'Come Back to Me' from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and then in the next breath bring her voice down to almost a whisper, like a prayer, in essaying 'Maria' from West Side Story. Secondly, she is a dynamic actress who feels the story the song is telling. Most of all, through living this material, there's great soul, a deep sense of humanity lurking beneath. I have always said it takes a great actress to be a great singer. Betty Buckley is most definitely among the small group of Broadway divas who consistently hit the mark. Her unique contribution is an unparalleled grace and class which emanate from every phrase she utters.

Following a sold-out run last fall, next month at STAGE 72 (158 West 72nd Street) the incredibly talented and inspirational Amy Oestreicher will bring her hit cabaret Gutless & Grateful back to NYC with performances on 6/16 at 3pm and 6/24 at 7pm. In this moving and entertaining evening of song, performer Amy Oestreicher weaves her near death experience and unique personal story with an eclectic set of songs, highlighting the disappointments, struggles, triumphs and humor in her life. It will also have two performances in CT at the Bijou Theatre on 6/1 at 8pm and 6/2 at 2pm and a special one-night performance at the Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts on 7/16 at 8pm as a part of Tony Award-winner William Finn's Cabaret Series.

Spinning Tree Theatre presents the Kansas City premiere of Hello Again, with words and music by Michael John LaChiusa, suggested by the play La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler. The production is directed by Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Will 'Big Fish' swim? 'Buddy,' the Bee Gees, 'Flashdance' and the new 'Phantom,' plus our own 'South Pacific,' Waa-Mu, 'A New Brain,' a showtune showdown and more!

Barrington Stage Company has announced principal casting for the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town from June 12 through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The press opening is Sunday, June 16 at 5pm.

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of April 29!

Today in 2005, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for 1136 performances. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a one act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally-quirky grown-ups. The 2005 Broadway production, directed by James Lapine, was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Book. The show has spawned various other productions in the U.S., including a national tour with performances in Canada, and Australian productions.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, announces four new Associate Artists, all who are working at Barrington Stage in 2013 - award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse, actors Gretchen Egolf and Jeff McCarthy, and award-winning director John Rando.

Acting Up Stage opened their newest production this past Thursday, a new version of Falsettos that is being produced with The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. The show was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1992, and took home the prize for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. On Friday night, writer William Finn joined Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian for a special post-performance Q&A, where the two discussed the evolution of Falsettos as well as Finn's life and other works. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers photos from the event.