British premiere of William Finn's ELEGIES with John Barrowman

[George67]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 8:47pm

BRITISH PREMIERE

A rare musical treat from Tony Award-winning composer William Finn

For two nights only, the British Premiere of Elegies: A Song Cycle by William Finn (Falsettos, A New Brain) comes to the Arts Theatre (Great Newport St, WC2) for just two nights, Sunday November 7th and Sunday, November 14th.

In this brand new production, award-winning young director Jamie Lloyd brings together a stellar cast of West End and Broadway favourites: John Barrowman, star of Anything Goes; the West End songstress Susannah Fellows (Mamma Mia, Nine); Deven May, the Broadway personality currently wowing audiences as Bat Boy; the Olivier-nominated star of the Donmar’s Pacific Overtures, Jerome Pradon; and Lauren Ward, the leading lady of Camelot and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park this year.

This production of Elegies: A Song Cycle provides a rare chance to experience William Finn’s intelligent and passionate work, and is an example of contemporary musical theatre writing at its very best. Incredibly, this will be the first time any of the Tony Award-winning composer’s work has been performed in London in almost 20 years.

Last year, Finn took New York’s Lincoln Center audiences by storm with this celebration of life told through the power of song. Elegies: A Song Cycle is a charming, often quirky, collection of 20 songs – tributes to the friends and family members Finn has loved and lost over the years; written from a personal perspective, avoiding sentimentality. His subjects are beautifully resurrected and celebrated with inspiration and zeal. Each number captures poignant glimpses of life and death, which sparkle with the narrative sophistication always apparent in Finn’s work.

Director Jamie Lloyd (Associate Director Anything Goes, Solid Gold Cadillac and the forthcoming Guys and Dolls) originally directed the British Premiere of William Finn’s Falsettoland at the Edinburgh Festival. This is his second William Finn piece with design by Jason Southgate and Lighting Design by Oliver Fenwick.



William Finn’s Elegies: A Song Cycle
for two nights only
Sunday 7th and Sunday 14th November at 7.30pm
The Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, WC2
Tickets are £25. Box office: 020 7836 3334.
MORE ELEGIES INFO HERE

Updated On: 10/18/04 at 08:47 PM

[George67]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 8:07pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/89077.html