Finn's Make Me a Song to Play New World Stages

By Andrew Gans
17 Sep 2007

Composer William Finn.
Composer William Finn.

Make Me a Song, the popular revue of William Finn songs, has found its New York home.

The production, which had been scheduled for an April opening at the Zipper Theater, will now begin previews at New World Stages Oct. 30, according to a press announcement. Opening night is set for Nov. 12.

The theatrical revue, conceived and directed by Rob Ruggiero, will be produced by Junkyard Dog Productions and Larry Hirschhorn in association with Jayson Raitt.

Make Me a Song had its world premiere production in August 2006 at TheaterWorks in Hartford, CT. The production, directed by Ruggiero, featured Sandy Binion, Joe Cassidy, Adam Heller, Sally Wilfert and John DiPinto on piano. The spring opening at the Zipper Theater was canceled due to "scheduling conflicts."

Finn is the two–time Tony Award winner for the groundbreaking musical Falsettos, currently represented on Broadway with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Make Me a Song features classics from these shows as well as selections from Romance in Hard Times, Elegies and the yet to be produced The Royal Family.

Director Ruggiero has been the associate artistic director at TheaterWorks in Hartford for 13 years, and has directed over 30 productions there, including The Exonerated and the highly successful Ella (also co-conception) starring Tina Fabrique. His work has been seen at a number of other regional theatres including Pittsburgh Public Theater, Barrington Stage Company, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, where he directed the critically acclaimed production of Take Me Out, which won four Kevin Kline Awards, including one for Best Director of a Play.