"I wanted to present one last special event before we finally close the doors at the Canon Theatre," said Canon Theatricals head Susan Dietz. "I have so many fond memories of productions here, many of which were West Coast Premieres. William Finn's Elegies seemed the perfect choice to celebrate the theatre's history... One of the most powerful lyrics in Elegies resonates deeply as we say goodbye, ‘The living was the prize, the ending's not the story.’ It’s the life of the Canon, not its demise, that will be remembered for years to come."

The musical song cycle Elegies celebrates life (and death) through the power of song. The work premiered at Lincoln Center in March 2003 and was recorded by Fynsworth Alley for the currently available cast album.

Philip Himberg directs the musical set to star Off-Broadway cast member Keith Byron Kirk, Stephen Bogardus (Falsettos), Celia Keenan-Bolger (A Light in the Piazza), Brian Beacock (Fully Committed) and Maureen McGovern (the upcoming musical Little Women).

The Canon Theatre has been home to such productions as Love Letters, the world premiere of Bill Graham Presents starring Ron Silver, and the Los Angeles premieres of Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine, The Last Night of Ballyhoo starring Rhea Perlman, Neil LaBute's bash starring Calista Flockhart, The Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World starring Dick Shawn and Wendy Wasserstein's Isn't It Romantic.

In October 2003, Dietz announced that the Canon Theatre will be demolished to make way for a new hotel built by The Athens Group. Dietz's Canon Theatricals will continue to produce and develop productions for Broadway and Los Angeles. For tickets to Elegies at The Canon Theatre, 205 North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, CA, call (310) 859-2830.