William Finn News

Celebration Theatre presents a brand new look at the William Finn musical, A NEW BRAIN,  music and lyrics by William Finn, book by William Finn & James Lapine, choreography by Alli Miller-Fisher, musical direction by Gregory Nabours, and directed by Khanisha Foster. Check out photos below!

Emmy-winner and Tony-nominee Gordon Clapp, who played Detective Greg Medavoy for all 12 seasons on ABC’s “NYPD Blue,” will star as Tommy McDonald in a new production of Ray Didinger’s “Tommy and Me,” at Bucks County Playhouse, May 19 through June 17.

Arden Theatre Company is diving into spring with the TONY Award winning hit musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. With music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, this hilarious and heartfelt musical, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, takes audiences into the heart of a Spelling Bee and the important moments of growing up that shape the people we become. Arden regular Amina Robinson returns to direct.

Having fully sold out the initial date of Mandy Patinkin in Concert: BEING ALIVE within 24 hours, Barrington Stage Company and Mandy Patinkin have added another performance on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 8:00 PM.

Next month, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. A recipient of the 2022 Tony Awards Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, 54 Below is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve and expand the art of the cabaret, honor the music of Broadway, and provide an unparalleled experience to diverse communities.

The Howard Community College (HCC) theatre department will take audiences outside for two productions this May and June. William Shakespeare's “As You Like It,” running May 3-6, will begin in the Horowitz Center's Smith Theatre. Patrons will transition to the outdoor venue, Dreier Stage, during intermission. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, music and lyrics by William Finn, and book by Rachel Sheinkin, will take place entirely outdoors at Dreier Stage, June 22-24.

Barrington Stage Company has announced full casting for the world premiere of Mark St. Germain's new play The Happiest Man on Earth (May 24-June 17) and a new production of the legendary Kander & Ebb musical Cabaret (June 14-July 8).

PS CLASSICS will release the debut album from actor-singer Matthew Scott, who has been lighting up the Broadway stage since making his debut in Jersey Boys.

Gillette and Fuller are at it again and the magic is as strong as ever at THE NEXT FRONTIER.

.FUSE Theatre of CT presents William Finn and James Lapine's groundbreaking, Tony-winning musical Falsettos for six performances only June 3-11 at Bregamos Theater in New Haven, CT. Falsettos is described as, “hilarious, heartbreaking and utterly unique - a contemporary musical about family, relationships, bar mitzvahs, baseball and AIDS.'

Rep Stage, Howard Community College's (HCC) professional regional theatre, presents “Falsettos” with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by William Finn & James Lapine. The production is directed and choreographed by Rep Stage Producing Artistic Director Joseph W. Ritsch, with musical direction by Tiffany Underwood Holmes.

Two of Broadway’s most beloved performers, Anita Gillette and Penny Fuller, took to the stage at Birdland on Monday, April 17 for their latest song and story compilation: “Sin Twisters: The Next Frontier.”

Broadway’s master songman, Mandy Patinkin, accompanied by Adam Ben-David on piano, will bring his newest theatre concert Mandy Patinkin in Concert: BEING ALIVE, to Barrington Stage Company’s Boyd-Quinson Stage for one performance only on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 8:00 PM.

Next up for the Celebration Theatre, in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, a new look at William Finn and James Lapine’s A New Brain opening May 6, 2023 (with previews beginning April 29th) at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre. With both William Finn and James Lapine’s approval, this production has been cast with gender-expansive casting. Khanisha Foster directs the cast of Yassi Noubahar, Richardson Cisneros-Jones, Gina Torrecilla, Ryan O’Connor, Whitney Avalon, Sadé Ayodele, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Ryan, Gabi Van Horn, and Amanda Kruger as the musical’s protagonist Gordon Schwinn; with choreography by Alli Miller-Fisher and musical direction by Gregory Nabours. Khanisha found some time to answer a few of my queries with Amanda also jumping in to offer their input.

In all, my angels, ARI AXELROD LIVE AT BIRDLAND is one of the best LIVE albums this rainbow writer has heard… maybe ever.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul and Managing Director Meredith Lynsey Schade, have announced that Founding Artistic Director Julianne Boyd will be honored with The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards Lifetime Achievement Award from The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle on May 23.

Austin Peay University will present William Finn's masterpiece A NEW BRAIN, opening April 20th at the Trahern Theatre in Clarksville TN.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has announced its 53rd season to be presented October 2023 through June 2024.

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present two-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk winner Gavin Lee – making his Birdland debut with his solo show “Steppin’ Out with Fred Astaire” – on Monday, May 29 at 7:00 PM.

Ezra Knight will host The Acting Company’s annual Reimagined Renaissance Gala, featuring a performance by Sara Bareilles. See how to purchase tickets!