Massachusetts' Barrington Stage Company celebrates late Tony-winning composer-lyricist William Finn with a one-night-only celebration concert August 19 in the Boyd-Quinson Theater.
On hand to perform are a host of Broadway favorites and many long-time Finn interpreters, including Adam Chanler-Berat, Alan H. Green, Dorcas Leung, Mary Testa, Taylor Trensch, Lisa Howard, and Chip Zien. The evening will also spotlight some of the writers whose artistry Finn helped shape with his mentorship, including Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), Sam Salmond (The Monsters), Chris Miller (The Burnt Part Boys), Niko Tsakalakos (Pool Boy), Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Will Aronson (Maybe Happy Ending).
Finn had a long association with BSC, at which he co-founded the company's Musical Theatre Lab—which develops new musicals—in 2006. Finn, who died April 7 at the age of 73, was a two-time Tony winner for his 1992 musical Falsettos (a compilation of his earlier one-act musicals March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland), with his additional works including In Trousers, A New Brain, The Royal Family of Broadway, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Little Miss Sunshine. In addition to his writing work, Finn was a devoted educator, mentoring young writers via NYU's graduate-level musical theatre writing program and leading BSC's Musical Theatre Lab.
BSC's celebratory evening is co-directed by Artistic Director Alan Paul and Founding Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. Vadim Feichtner serves as music director.
“I am thrilled to gather a significant group of performers and writers who knew Bill and loved Bill and want to celebrate the richness of his work,” said Paul in an earlier statement. “August 19 will be a night of music, heartfelt stories, and memories of a life in the theatre.”
Tickets are available at BarringtonStageCo.org.
Alison Fraser, Mary Testa, Chip Zien, and Joanna Green in In Trousers
Mary Testa, Alison Fraser, Joanna Green, and Chip Zien in In Trousers
Company of Falsettoland
Michael Rupert, Faith Prince, and Chip Zien in Falsettoland
Liz Larsen, Kristin Chenoweth, and Malcom Gets in A New Brain
Malcom Gets and Penny Fuller
Malcolm Gets, John Jellison, Chip Zien, Kristin Chenoweth, and Keith Byron Kirk in A New Brain
Arnie Burton, Laura Michelle Kelly, Hayley Podschun, Harriet Harris, Holly Ann Butler, Will Swenson, and Kathryn Fitzgerald in The Royal Family of Broadway at Barrington Stage Company
Laura Michelle Kelly and company of The Royal Family of Broadway at Barrington Stage Company
Chip Zien in The Royal Family of Broadway at Barrington Stage Company
Hayley Podschun and A.J. Shively in The Royal Family of Broadway at Barrington Stage Company
Arnie Burton, Harriet Harris, Laura Michelle Kelly, Chip Zien, Kathryn Fitzgerald, and Hayley Podschun in The Royal Family of Broadway at Barrington Stage Company
Kathryn Fitzgerald in The Royal Family of Broadway at Barrington Stage Company
