William Finn
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William Finn (* 28 February 1952), Tony-winning American composer, especially of musicals.
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Life
Finn was born in Boston and grew up in Natick, Massachusetts. He majored in music at Williams College. He lives in New York City as an independent composer and writer and now serves as an "Adjunct Faculty Composer/Lyricist" at NYU.
Work
Finn is a heavily autobiographical textwriter (he always writes his own lyrics); his topics are the gay and Jewish experience in contemporary America, and very often conflict, loyalty, family, belonging, sickness, and loss. In spite of this, Finn's lyrics are usually hilarious, especially in his use of language games that are reminiscent of Edward Albee. The most similar musical composer to Finn is Stephen Sondheim.
Finn's greatest commercial success so far has been Falsettos, which opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theater (http://www.jimsdeli.com/landmarks/42-51_w/john-golden-theater.htm/) on April 29, 1992, and ran for 486 performances. It won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Music and Lyrics and for Best Book, the latter shared with James Lapine.
Finn's most frequent collaborators include librettist James Lapine, director Graciela Daniele and singers Stephen Bogardus, Carolee Carmello, Stephen deRosa, Alison Fraser, Keith Byron Kirk, Norm Lewis, Michael Rupert, Mary Testa, and Chip Zien.
Works
- Music and lyrics for In Trousers (1979)
- Revised music and lyrics for In Trousers (1987)
- Music and lyrics for March of the Falsettos (1981)
- Music and lyrics for America Kicks Up Its Heels (1983)
- Lyrics for Dangerous Games (1989)
- Music and lyrics for Romance in Hard Times (1989)
- Music and lyrics for Falsettoland (1990)
- Music and lyrics for Falsettos (1992, comprising March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland; Tony)
- Music and lyrics for A New Brain (1998)
- Music for the song "Painting" for Love's Fire (1998)
- Music and lyrics for Elegies (song cycle, 2003)
- Music and lyrics for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2004)
Other songs include "Mister, Make Me a Song", "Republicans" and "Hitchhiking Across America"
External links
- falsettos.net (http://www.falsettos.net/)