William Finn News

An American architect gets a mysterious assignment from a Middle Eastern dignitary in the latest play from Howard Korder, which will have its world premiere March 7-28 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

Talk about quirkiness and how it can be used to its best advantage in a musical! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is terribly funny in a rather intelligent and offbeat manner with prize worthy characterizations of lively eclectic people. It may be a tad too long like the actual spelling out of words (that are not to be believed!)opening segment - loved the audience involvement, though! Nevertheless, the unpredictability in denouement is another plus.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee- The Falcon's Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College calls for actors from the community to audition for its spring production of William Finn and Rebecca Sheinkin's Tony Award-winning musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by David Harris with dance choreography by Debi Davis-Worth and musical direction by Philip Angove.

Celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy presents a special evening of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie de Roy & friends on Sunday, February 28th (6PM) at the famed New York jazz hot-spot Birdland (315 West 44th Street ~ between 8th & 9th Avenues) with an evening of songs from Academy Award®-winning Films.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will present the world premiere of MR. & MRS. FITCH, a new comedy from Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Xanadu) starring Tony Award winners John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle.

Red Branch Theatre Company is pleased to announce upcoming auditions for their 2010 season. In residence at The Drama Learning Center, Red Branch Theatre Company strives to bring quality theatre to the Baltimore/Washington area, through main stage productions and children's theatre.

Tony Award Winning composer and lyricist William Finn will speak at Kean University on March 1st at 3:30 in the University Center Little Theatre, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ, as part of the 2010 Premiere Stages Artists Series. Premiere Stages, the professional theatre in residence at Kean invites the public to this candid conversation about writing and composing for Broadway.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are t-h-r-i-l-l-e-d to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season of shows, the Tony Award-winning musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreography by DJ Gray, musical direction by David O and directed by Jeff Maynard.

THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin will play on March 4, 5, and 6 and 7:30 pm and on March 7 and 2:00 pm.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are t-h-r-i-l-l-e-d to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season of shows, the Tony Award-winning musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreography by DJ Gray, musical direction by David O and directed by Jeff Maynard.

The American Theatre Wing has announced the recipients of the 2010 Jonathan Larson® Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award®-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality. After considering 165 applications, Peter Lerman, Daniel Mate, and songwriting team Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics) were selected to receive the prestigious grants, totaling $10,000. They will be honored at a presentation on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at Touch (240 W52 St.) in New York City.

Producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman announced the complete Broadway cast of AMERICAN IDIOT today. The production will begin previews on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 and open on Broadway Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44 Street).

The competition continues another week in Sarasota due to popular demand! After a successful ten week run, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Music and lyrics by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin; Conceived by Rebecca Feldman; Additional material by Jay Reiss) will extend for an eleventh week at Florida Studio Theatre's Keating Theatre, January 26 to January 29, 2010.

Playwrights Horizons has announced complete casting for the World Premiere of CLYBOURNE PARK, a new play by Bruce Norris (The Pain and the Itch at Playwrights Horizons/PH 2006-2007 Season).

Following its critically acclaimed production of THE SEAGULL earlier this season, the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO), in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of A PLAY ON WAR, by Jenny Connell and Rubén Polendo

The Olde Towne Dinner Theatre has announced its lineup of productions for the 2010-2011 season.

Yesterday, January 25, 2010 multi award-winning composer and lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver will brought his buzzed-about concert RATED RSO: The Music & Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver (www.facebook.com/ratedrso) back to Joe's Pub. RATED RSO features a eclectic range of songs from RSO's musicals Mrs. Sharp and Darling, as well as some never-before-heard material, all of which brought sexy schoolteachers, Bostonian rent-boys, obsessive homicidal teenagers, and fairy dust to the intimate nightspot.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will present the world premiere of MR. & MRS. FITCH, a new comedy from Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Xanadu) starring Tony Award winners John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle.

Second Stage Theatre has announced that Tony Award winners John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle will star as MR. & MRS. FITCH in the world premiere comedy from Douglas Carter Beane. The production marks Mr. Beane's return to Second Stage Theatre where his critically acclaimed, Tony-nominated play The Little Dog Laughed premiered in 2005. MR. & MRS. FITCH will be directed by Scott Ellis, who also staged the world premiere and Broadway transfer of The Little Dog Laughed. Previews begin at Second Stage Theatre on January 26, 2010; opening night is scheduled for Thursday, February 22.

On Monday, January 25, 2010 multi award-winning composer and lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver will bring his buzzed-about concert RATED RSO: The Music & Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver (www.facebook.com/ratedrso) back to Joe's Pub.