March of the Falsettos
Music, Book & Lyrics by William Finn
Directed by James Lapine
March of the Falsettos is the second in a trilogy of one-act musicals written by William Finn centered around the character Marvin; his upbringing, family, sexuality, Jewish-identity and relationships. The first in the trilogy, In Trousers, premiered in 1979. William Finn and James Lapine met shortly after the premiere of In Trousers and their collaboration began with March of the Falsettos. Following March of the Falsettos is Falsettoland — for which James Lapine also wrote the book. March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland later formed the first and second act respectively of the 1992 Broadway musical Falsettos.
March of the Falsettos
Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons
May 20, 1981 - September 26, 1981
Photos by Susan Cook
-
Book, Music & Lyrics by William Finn
Directed by James Lapine
Playwrights Horizons, Producer
Robert Moss, Producing Director
Andre Bishop, Artistic Director
Michael Lee Stockler, Musical Director
Douglas Stein, Set Designer
Maureen Connor, Costume Designer
Frances Aronson, Lighting Designer
Bob Ullman, Press Representative
Johnna Murray, Production Stage Manager
Michael Starobin, Orchestrations
-
Original Cast (1981)
Stephen Bogardus: Whizzer Brown
Alison Fraser: Trina
James Kushner: Jason
Michael Rupert: Marvin
Chip Zien: Mendel
Understudies: Ralph Bruneau (Mendel/Marvin/Whizzer), Emily Grinspan (Trina), Jonathan Ward (Jason)
March of the Falsettos
Off-Broadway at Westside Theatre
October 13, 1981 - January 31, 1982
(286 performances)
-
Book, Music & Lyrics by William Finn
Directed by James Lapine
Playwrights Horizons, Producer
Michael Lee Stockler, Musical Director
Douglas Stein, Set Designer
Maureen Connor, Costume Designer
Frances Aronson, Lighting Designer
Michael Starobin, Orchestrations
-
featuring Michael Rupert, Alison Fraser, Gregg Phillips, Brent Barrett, and Chip Zien.
History & Fun Facts
March of the Falsettos was Lapine’s first time directing a musical. He had directed three plays previously.
Andre Bishop at Playwrights Horizons connected William Finn and James Lapine. Both Lapine’s Table Settings and William Finn’s In Trousers had been produced at Playwrights. William Finn saw the production of Table Settings and told Lapine on their first meeting that he thought it had been directed like a musical.
March of the Falsettos was originally titled Four Jews in a Room Bitching.
Awards, Reviews & Features
1981 Outer Critics Circle Award
Winner of Best Off-Broadway Play
“Mr. Lapine's wildly resourceful staging - which uses only a few movable pieces of furniture for a set - has a zippy, slambang sense of confidence that has been lacking in most bigger musicals this season. And no wonder. ‘The March of the Falsettos’ is that rare musical that actually has something to be cocky about.”