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Remembering William Finn: A Legacy in Musical Theater
BroadwayWorld has reported the passing of esteemed composer and lyricist William Finn, who died on April 7 due to pneumonia at the age of 73. Finn, a prominent figure in musical theater, was celebrated for his Tony Award-winning contributions, particularly in the beloved musical Falsettos. His portfolio also includes acclaimed works such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and A New Brain.
Finn gained significant recognition for his trilogy of musicals, comprising In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland. This trilogy culminated in the Broadway production of Falsettos, which premiered at the John Golden Theater on April 29, 1992. The musical garnered seven nominations at the 46th Tony Awards and won two prestigious awards: Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, shared with collaborator James Lapine.
In addition to Falsettos, Finn created several other noteworthy productions. His work Elegies, A Song Cycle was performed at Lincoln Center, while The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee enjoyed a successful three-year Broadway run and has since been staged nationwide and internationally. Finn also collaborated with James Lapine on Little Miss Sunshine, which began Off-Broadway previews at the Second Stage Theatre on October 15, 2013, before officially opening on November 14, 2013.
Finn’s range extended beyond the stage, as he collaborated on various projects, including the lyrics for Graciela Daniele’s Tango Apasionado with music by Astor Piazzolla. He also partnered with Michael Starobin on the musical score for Lapine’s adaptation of The Winter’s Tale, and his work Romance in Hard Times was staged at The Public Theater. Furthermore, his piece Painting You was commissioned by The Acting Company and inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets.
A notable contributor to the song cycle Stars of David, which debuted in October 2012 at the Philadelphia Theatre Company, Finn’s versatility extended his influence across various platforms in the arts. He was involved in the theatrical project The Royal Family of Broadway, which premiered its first full production in 2018 at the Barrington Stage Company, with a book penned by Rachel Sheinkin.
In the realm of television, Finn’s creative talents were recognized through the music and lyrics he provided for the acclaimed HBO cartoon Ira Sleeps Over, as well as projects like Tom Thumb and Thumbelina and Pokey Little Puppy’s First Christmas. His work extended into writing for esteemed publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and The New Yorker.
As an educator, Finn was a cherished member of the faculty at the NYU Tisch Graduate Program in Musical Theater Writing and co-founded the Musical Theatre Lab at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 2006, where he served as the artistic producer. His contributions to the world of musical theater will be remembered as a significant part of his lasting legacy.
Source
www.broadwayworld.com