William Finn News

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Find out what happens after 'happily ever after' when Pittsburgh CLO presents Into the Woods. Once Upon a Time, a Baker and his wife embarked on a quest to break a witch's spell. On their journey 'into the woods' they cross paths with Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella and a host of other hysterically flawed fairy tale characters.

Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, under the mentorship of Tony winning composer/lyricist William Finn, continues its fourth season, with The Longing and Short of It - Songs by Daniel Mate; as part of the theater's 15th Anniversary Season. Christopher D. Littlefield is music director, with direction by William Finn.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) and 92YTribeca have announced that they will present 'NEW PLAYS, TOUGH TIMES' at 92YTribeca (200 Hudson Street) on Thursday evening, September 10 at 7:30 PM. Moderated by Time Out New York's Theater editor and chief drama critic David Cote, the panel discussion will feature all eight writers from Playwrights Horizons' upcoming 2009/2010 Season.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) and 92YTribeca have announced that they will present 'NEW PLAYS, TOUGH TIMES' at 92YTribeca (200 Hudson Street) on Thursday evening, September 10 at 7:30 PM. Moderated by Time Out New York's Theater editor and chief drama critic David Cote, the panel discussion will feature all eight writers from Playwrights Horizons' upcoming 2009/2010 Season.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that I Got Sick Then I Got Better, written and performed by Jenny Allen, and directed by James Lapine and Darren Katz, will play performances on four consecutive Mondays beginning Monday, September 14, at 8pm, at NYTW, 79 East 4th Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery. The play will run through Monday, October 5.

Find out what happens after 'happily ever after' when Pittsburgh CLO presents Into the Woods. Once Upon a Time, a Baker and his wife embarked on a quest to break a witch's spell. On their journey 'into the woods' they cross paths with Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella and a host of other hysterically flawed fairy tale characters.

The Willows Theatre Company proudly presents the D-E-L-I-G-H-T-F-U-L musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Willows Cabaret at the Campbell Theatre in Martinez, August 17-September 13.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to present Herringbone, book by Tom Cone, music by Skip Kennon, lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, directed by Roger Rees (La Jolla Playhouse's Peter and the Starcatchers), and starring Tony Award-winner BD Wong (M. Butterfly; Law & Order: SVU). Herringbone runs August 1 - 30 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre (press opening: Friday, August 7 at 8:00 pm).

On Friday, July 31st, composer/lyricist Rob Shapiro will present Easily Distracted: Songs of Rob Shapiro at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

South Ark Stage and kef productions will present the World Premiere of Lyric is Waiting by Michael Puzzo, directed by Adam Fitzgerald. This production will begin Thursday, July 30; Opening on Sunday, August 2 and will run through August 22, 2009 and take place at The Irish Repertory Theatre.

Playwrights Horizons will present private readings of MRS. SHARP, a new musical with Book by Kirsten Guenther and Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Ryan Scott Oliver. Directed by three-time Tony Award nominee and Playwrights Horizons alumnus Michael Greif (Grey Gardens, Next to Normal, Rent), the invitation-only readings will take place on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street).

Katie Thompson (left), Morgan Karr and Mac Award Winner Cait Doyle led the cast of This Preview is RATED RSO-a set of songs by Ryan Scott Oliver-which will perform at the Public Theatre, produced by the Summer Play Festival. The evening featured songs from Mrs. Sharp, Darling, plus new material. The concert play took place Friday, July 24 at 9:30pm.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) today announced a principal cast change for the private readings of MRS. SHARP, a new musical (Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award for Staged Readings, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters) with Book by Kirsten Guenther and Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Ryan Scott Oliver. Directed by three-time Tony Award nominee and Playwrights Horizons alumnus Michael Greif (Grey Gardens, Next to Normal, Rent), the four invitation-only readings will take place over two days on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street).

On Friday, July 31st, composer/lyricist Rob Shapiro will present Easily Distracted: Songs of Rob Shapiro at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Find out what happens after 'happily ever after' when Pittsburgh CLO presents Into the Woods. Once Upon a Time, a Baker and his wife embarked on a quest to break a witch's spell. On their journey 'into the woods' they cross paths with Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella and a host of other hysterically flawed fairy tale characters.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is coming to City Rep October 9 through 25, 2009 at the CitySpace Theatre at the Civic Center Music Hall. SPELLING BEE has music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, announces complete casting, as well as dates, for the first two productions of its upcoming 2009/2010 Season. Presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street, the previously-announced productions will feature the following casts:

THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE pokes fun at these competitions with a cunning mixture of bizarre characters and catchy tunes that's an over the top delight. New Line Theatre's current production is a perfectly cast show filled with moments of high hilarity.