Elegies (William Finn)
| Company type | Musical work / Song cycle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Theatre |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | William Finn |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | William Finn, Graciela Daniele (director) |
| Products | Song cycle, musical theatre performances, CD recording |
Elegies is a song cycle crafted by William Finn as a reflection on the loss of close friends and family members, inspired by the events of September 11, 2001. Its initial presentation took place at Lincoln Center in 2003, and it has since been performed worldwide.
Productions
The work premiered at Lincoln Center's Newhouse Theater in New York City, running from March 2 through April 19, 2003. Under the direction of Graciela Daniele, the ensemble featured performers such as Christian Borle, Betty Buckley, Carolee Carmello, Keith Byron Kirk, and Michael Rupert. A nearly complete recording of this staging was issued on CD by Fynsworth Alley and distributed via Varèse Sarabande.
Themes
Primarily composed as a tribute to Finn’s friends who succumbed to AIDS, the cycle also includes songs dedicated to his mother, Barbara Finn. The concluding numbers confront the emotional aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy. Critics highlight that Elegies skillfully blends wit with heartfelt moments across eighteen varied musical segments, spanning moods from hopeful to irreverent.
Musical numbers
- Looking Up Quintet
- Mister Choi & Madame G
- Mark's All-Male Thanksgiving
- Only One
- Joe Papp
- Peggy Hewitt & Mysty del Giorno
- Passover
- Infinite Joy
- The Ballad of Jack Eric Williams (and other 3-named composers)
- Fred †
- Elevator Transition †
- Dear Reader †
- Monica & Mark
- Anytime (I Am There)
- My Dogs
- Venice
- 14 Dwight Ave., Natick, Massachusetts
- When the Earth Stopped Turning
- Goodbye
- Boom Boom
- Looking Up
- Goodbye (Finale)
† Absent from Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording
Principal characters depicted
- Mark Thalen, attorney and advocate for gay rights
- Bill Sherwood, filmmaker known for Parting Glances
- Joseph Papp, theatrical producer and impresario
- Peggy Hewitt, character actress
- Misty del Giorno, chiropractor
- Jack Eric Williams, composer and performer
- Ricky Ian Gordon, composer
- Quentin Crisp, writer/actor/storyteller
- Monica Andress, close friend of the composer
- Bolek Greczynski, art therapist and founder of the Living Museum at Creedmoor
- Barbara Finn, mother of William Finn
Noteworthy productions
- UK Premiere
- Hosted at the Arts Theatre Off-West End, directed by Jamie Lloyd from November 7 to 14, 2004
Cast included:
- John Barrowman
- Peter Caulfield
- Ray Shell
- Susannah Fellows
- Lauren Ward
- Boston Premiere presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company at Boston Center for the Arts, Massachusetts - May 7–29, 2004
Cast:
- Kerry Dowling
- Michael Mendiola
- Jose Delgado
- Will McGarrahan
- Leigh Barrett
Direction by Paul Daigneault, Musical Direction by Paul S. Katz, Stage Management by Dana Elizabeth Wolf
- Toronto Premiere produced by Acting Up Stage Theatre Company at Berkeley Street Theatre, Toronto - February 15 to March 4, 2007
Cast:
- Thom Allison
- Barbara Barsky
- Steven Gallagher
- Eliza-Jane Scott
- Michael Strathmore
Directed by Lezlie Wade with Musical Direction by Wayne Gwillim, Production led by Mitchell Marcus, Stage Managed by Dot Routledge
- New York City Benefit Performance on August 16, 2010
Cast:
- Michael Brian Dunn
- Darius de Haas
- Jason Forbach
- AnnMarie Milazzo
- Kerry O'Malley
Direction by Michael Rader, Musical Direction by Eddie Guttman, Produced by Jamie McGonnigal, Stage Management by David Beris