William Finn News

I'm usually not one to sit in judgment of my journalistic colleagues but when one of them is up on stage performing, what's a theatre critic to do?  Fortunately, I can honestly report that Matt Windman, known for his snappy reviews in amNew York and on Theatremania.com, did a fine job in the small role of 'Matt Windman,' on opening night of Paper Mill's funny and heart-tugging production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  (Actually, the role would have been a little larger if he knew how to spell 'palestra' correctly.)

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), The Players Theatre and Back Stage present the industry panel Fifth Wheel or Engine? The Role of a Producer in Early Development of New Work on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 3rd Floor Loft Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

Dayton Playhouse is happy to present our next production of our 2010-11 season.

Craving a fun musical comedy to sweep you up in the action and keep you laughing all the way home?

Crown Center Schedule of Events February - December 2011

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) presents the World Premiere of A SMALL FIRE, a new play by Obie Award winner Adam Bock (The Drunken City at PH, The Receptionist, The Thugs, Swimming in the Shallows). Directed by Trip Cullman (Adam Bock's The Drunken City at PH and Swimming in the Shallows, plus Bachelorette, Some Men, The Last Sunday in June, the recent Edgewise, Adam Rapp's upcoming The Hallway Trilogy) the production will close Sunday, January 23 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus; Managing Director) is pleased to announce the launch of PLAYTIME! at Playwrights Horizons, a brand new program offering affordable, professional childcare while you see a show.

Producers Leonard Soloway, Chase Mishkin, Terry Schnuck, Ann Cady Scott, Timothy J. Hampton, James & Catherine Berges, The Shubert Organization and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis announce two-time Golden Globe® winner, Academy Award® & Tony Award® nominee Kathleen Turner will return to Broadway this spring in Matthew Lombardo's new play HIGH, directed by Rob Ruggiero. HIGH will begin previews on Friday, March 25 and open officially on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street).

Philadelphia Theatre Company is pleased to announce that SCOTT ZIGLER will direct their production of David Mamet's hit Broadway play Race, running January 21-February13 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

OWN - The Oprah Winfrey Network - star and YouTube celebrity Ryan O'Connor performs his one-man show. It is a dynamic, hilarious and oddly touching musical journey through his experiences as a compulsive overeater. Featuring songs by Ani DiFranco, Katie Thompson, Scott Alan, and more, it is a one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-ordinary, honest, self-effacing, non-traditional cabaret and a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

Dayton Playhouse is happy to present our next production of our 2010-11 season.

If theater audiences in Nashville and Middle Tennessee owe a huge debt of gratitude to the directors who helm the year's finest productions, you can only imagine how the actors lucky enough to work with those insightful, creative men and women must be! The Top Ten Directors of 2010 have resumes anyone would be proud to claim as their own and when you consider that they - year after year - excel at what they do, then you cannot help but be impressed by the breadth and depth of their abilities. Frankly, it boggles the mind. These are Nashville's best directors of 2010...

Plays & Players' (P&P) Board of Directors have announced the selection of Daniel Student as Artistic Director, effective January 15, 2011. 'Daniel is a perfect fit for this position. He understands the historical relevance of Plays & Players in the community as well as where we are headed. He has been a huge part of our recent achievements and we expect even more great work from him in his newly established role as Artistic Director,' said Bill Egan, Plays & Players Board President.

The Red Door Theatre Company will present William Finn's rarely done, conceptual musical IN TROUSERS, the first of the 'Marvin' musicals. Performances will be 3/25-28 at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre in Greenwich Village. Samantha Saltzman directs.

If you find yourself venturing outside of New York, and you want to see some really good musical theater, what should you do? Allow me to suggest a visit to my neck o' the woods: A trip to Nashville might provide you with exactly what you seek. After all, in a city perhaps best known throughout the world as Music City USA, what else could you expect but some exceedingly well-cast, well-produced, well-played and well-sung musical theater? We're lousy with exceptional singers and musicians and, as a result, musical theater is alive and well - and thriving - in Nashville. And here's my list of the Best Musicals of 2010...

There will be two presentations of METHTACULAR! to take place in the Studio Theatre at Theatre Row on January 31st, 2011.

OWN - The Oprah Winfrey Network - star and YouTube celebrity Ryan O'Connor performs his one-man show. It is a dynamic, hilarious and oddly touching musical journey through his experiences as a compulsive overeater. Featuring songs by Ani DiFranco, Katie Thompson, Scott Alan, and more, it is a one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-ordinary, honest, self-effacing, non-traditional cabaret and a guaranteed crowd pleaser!

Coming to Plays & Players (P&P) mainstage Jan. 13-29 is William Finn's A New Brain: a semi-autobiographical musical journey through his diagnosis and treatment of a seemingly terminal defect in his brain. Protagonist Gordon Schwinn's greatest fear is dying with his best songs still inside him, so he works day and night from his hospital bed to get them all out. Premiering off-Broadway to rave reviews over a decade ago, P&P is proud to introduce Philadelphia theater-goers and musical-lovers to a harrowing yet heartwarming tale about the healing power of art.

April 4, 2011: A Special Benefit Concert Performance of ROMANCE IN HARD TIMES, music and lyrics by William Finn

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, announces updates to the 2011 season in its Mainstage and Stage 2 venues.