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William Finn

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William Finn

William Alan Finn (February 28, 1952 – April 7, 2025) was an American composer and lyricist. He was best known for his musicals, which include Falsettos, for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, A New Brain (1998), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005).

Infobox

Born
(1952-02-28)February 28, 1952Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died
April 7, 2025(2025-04-07) (aged 73)Bennington, Vermont, U.S.
Genres
Musical theater
Occupations
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Years active
1971–2018

Tables

· Awards and nominations
1991
Role(s)
Outstanding Music
Notes
Falsettoland
Role(s)
Won
1992
Role(s)
Best Book of a Musical
Notes
Falsettos
Role(s)
Won
1999
Role(s)
Outstanding New Musical
Notes
A New Brain
Role(s)
Nominated
Role(s)
Nominated
Role(s)
Nominated
2005
Role(s)
Best Original Score
Notes
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Role(s)
Outstanding Music
Notes
Nominated
Role(s)
Nominated
Year
Association
Category
Nominated work
Result
1991
Drama Desk Award
Outstanding Music
Falsettoland
Won
Outstanding Lyrics
Won
1992
Tony Award
Best Book of a Musical
Falsettos
Won
Best Original Score
Won
1999
Drama Desk Award
Outstanding New Musical
A New Brain
Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Nominated
Outstanding Music
Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics
Nominated
2005
Tony Award
Best Original Score
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Nominated
Drama Desk Award
Outstanding Music
Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics
Nominated

References

  1. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/theater/william-finn-dead.html
  2. Friedman, Jonathan C."Chapter Three" Rainbow Jews:Jewish and Gay Identity in the Performing Arts, Lexington Books, 2007,
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Sg_uzWabr5cC&q=finn+jewish&pg=PA83
  3. Hoffman, Wayne. [1] Tablet October 26, 2016
    http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/216164/the-man-behind-broadways-big-jewish-musical
  4. Aucoin, Don. [2] Boston Globe August 19, 2016
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2016/08/18/william-finn-lab-musicals-under-microscope/Yzsorb3wcMmVyVAuHnEvCN/story.html
  5. Viagas, Robert. [3] Playbill February 10, 2004
    https://www.playbill.com/article/playbill-on-lines-brief-encounter-with-william-finn-com-329495
  6. Ruhlmann, William."William Finn Biography Yahoo! Music. Retrieved August 22, 2011
    http://new.music.yahoo.com/william-finn/biography/
  7. Pall, Ellen."The Long-Running Musical of William Finn's Life" The New York Times, February 20, 2012
    https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/14/magazine/the-long-running-musical-of-william-finn-s-life.html?ref=williamfinn
  8. Henry, William A."The Quirky William Finn" Archived February 8, 2011, at the Wayback MachineTime Magazine, May 11, 1992
    http://www.barringtonstageco.org/aboutus/
  9. Brantley, Ben."Theater Review:A Romp Through the Valley of Death"The New York Times (requires relgistration), June 19, 1
    https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/19/movies/theater-review-a-romp-through-the-valley-of-death.html?ref=williamfinn
  10. MacDonald, Sandy.Camp, Mays, Spamalot, et al. Win 2006 Elliot Norton Awards" theatermania.com, May 23, 2006
    https://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=8309&showComments=all
  11. Isherwood, Charles."Six Misfits Test Wits on Bigger Platform"The New York Times, May 3, 2005
    https://theater.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/theater/reviews/03putn.html?_r=1&ref=williamfinn
  12. "Barrington Stage History, Commitment to New Work and the Musical Theatre Lab" Archived February 8, 2011, at the Wayback
    http://www.barringtonstageco.org/aboutus/
  13. Holden, Stephen.Departed Friends Vibrantly Recalled in Song"The New York Times (requires registration), March 28, 2003
    https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/28/movies/theater-review-departed-friends-vibrantly-recalled-in-song.html?ref=williamfinn
  14. Midgette, Anne. "A Songwriter's Gamut, Personal and Poignant With Notes in Between" The New York Times, November 21, 200
    https://theater.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/theater/reviews/21song.html?adxnnl=1&ref=williamfinn&adxnnlx=1297775062-hLWCS8sFl1Bp5cuDJhh/zA
  15. "Music Theatre International: Licensing Musical Theater Theatrical Performance Rights and Materials to Schools, Community and Professional Theatres since 1952"
    https://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000344
  16. Cerasaro, Pat."SOUND OFF Special Interview: Lisa Howard on William Finn Album, TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN, and More" broadw
    http://broadwayworld.com/article/SOUND_OFF_Special_Interview_Lisa_Howard_on_William_Finn_Album_TWILIGHT_BREAKING_DAWN_and_More_20010101
  17. Jones, Kenneth."Road Trip! Finn & Lapine's 'Little Miss Sunshine' Musical Begins World-Premiere Run in CA" Archived Febr
    http://www.playbill.com/news/article/147650-Road-Trip-Finn-Lapines-Little-Miss-Sunshine-Musical-Begins-World-Premiere-Run-in-CA
  18. Irwin, Jay."BWW Reviews: 'Little Miss Sunshine' at the La Jolla Playhouse" broadwayworld.com, March 26, 2010
    https://seattle.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW_Reviews_LITTLE_MISS_SUNSHINE_at_the_La_Jolla_Playhouse_20110326
  19. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/theater/reviews/little-miss-sunshine-opens-at-second-stage.html
  20. Playbill
    http://www.playbill.com/news/article/171202-Songs-by-William-Finn-Tom-Kitt-Jeanine-Tesori-Amanda-Green-Bring-Shimmer-to-Stars-of-David-Musical-Starting-Oct-17
  21. "Mama and her Boys — Ethan Paulini"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142327/http://ethanpaulini.com/mama-and-her-boys/
  22. Jones, Kenneth."'Make Me a Song, Finn's Revue of "Heart and Music," Opens in NYC" Playbill, November 12, 2007
    http://www.playbill.com/news/article/print/112641?id=112641
  23. "William Finn's the Royal Family of Broadway to Receive World Premiere at Barrington Stage Company"
    https://www.playbill.com/article/william-finns-the-royal-family-of-broadway-to-receive-world-premiere-at-barrington-stage-company
  24. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/05/theater/royal-family-of-broadway-barrington-stage-review.html
  25. Guthmann, Edward."A playwright steeped in loss finds bliss in 'Spelling Bee'" San Francisco Chronicle, February 18, 2006
    https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/A-playwright-steeped-in-loss-finds-bliss-in-2522502.php
  26. tisch.nyu.edu
    https://tisch.nyu.edu/about/directory/grad-musical-theater-writing/93593309
  27. Gans, Andrew. "Barrington Stage Company Will Honor William Finn at NYC Gala" Playbill, September 20, 2016
    https://www.playbill.com/article/barrington-stage-company-will-honor-william-finn-at-nyc-gala#
  28. Hall, Margaret. "Tony Winner William Finn Has Died at 73" Playbill, April 8, 2025
    https://playbill.com/article/tony-winner-william-finn-has-died-at-73
  29. " Dangerous Games Listing" playbillvault.com. Retrieved November 5, 2013
    http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/2712/Dangerous-Games
  30. Jones, Kenneth. "Lapine, Finn and Fitzhugh Flex Their Muscle June 13 – July 22 in Chi" Playbill, June 13, 2001
    http://www.playbill.com/news/article/60755-Lapine-Finn-and-Fitzhugh-Flex-Their-Muscle-June-13-July-22-in-Chi
  31. mtishows.com
    https://www.mtishows.com/people/william-finn
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