Gets, Wilfert, Harada, Lawrence and Arcelus Set for Finn's Songs of Innocence and Experience

By Andrew Gans
January 13, 2009

Congregation Beth Simchat Torah will present the New York premiere of William Finn's Songs of Innocence and Experience Jan. 26 at the Merkin Concert Hall.

The 8 PM concert will feature the talents of Broadway actors Malcolm Gets, Sally Wilfert, Ann Harada, Megan Lawrence and Sebastian Arcelus. Philip Himberg will direct with musical direction by Vadim Feichtner.

Composed at Williams College, the new work contains lyrics and music by Finn in collaboration with his students. Songs of Innocence and Experience, according to press notes, "tells the stories of teachers and students, exploring the process of how learning is passed on."

Composer Finn will narrate the evening.

William Finn composed the scores for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Elegies, A Song Cycle; March of the Falsettos; Falsettoland; and A New Brain, among others.

The Merkin Concert Hall is located in Manhattan at 129 West 67th Street. For tickets, priced $35, visit http://kaufman-center.org/merkin-concert-hall or call (212) 501-3330.