Episode 3: William Finn, theatre composer and lyricist

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with William Finn, Tony Award winning composer and lyricist of The Marvin Trilogy, Romance in Hard Times, Elegies: A Song Cycle, A New Brain, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Little Miss Sunshine, and other shows. We talk about his work, his writing process, his teaching, his artistic influences, and what he thinks about the state of the American musical theatre today.

Check out Finn's Wikipedia page for more information about his work and career. Also check out my background and analysis eassys about his shows March of the Falsettos and A New Brain, which Finn mentions in the interview.

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.