FALSETTOS
[By William Finn and James Lapine]
OUTWARD SPIRAL THEATRE COMPANY
Minneapolis, MN
2003
My last show as the artistic director of Outward Spiral was pure joy.
Ten years after its Broadway run, and more than a generation after the events in the play take place at the dawn of the AIDS epidemic, Falsettos was still breaking ground, redefining what makes a family. I've always loved the twists and turns of Bill Finn's quirky lyrics and unexpected five-part harmonies. His words and music need each other, and they burrow their way into your heart.
I was particularly proud that our "teeny tiny band" of actors, musicians, and production staff created a completely microphone-free musical... something that's increasingly difficult to pull off. To me the humanity of this piece -- the joy, the love, the loss -- was felt more acutely as an acoustic event. Critics agreed.
"Lovers come and lovers go
Lovers live and die fortissimo
Everybody take a stand
Welcome to Falsettoland"
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL (FINALIST)
Minneapolis StarTribune 2003
TEAM
Music | Paul Kovacovic
Costumes | Clare Brauch
Lighting | Jennifer Degolier
Technical | Dave Pust
Dramaturgy | Jason Brown
Stage Management | Kristen E. Burke
Direction, Scenery | Jef Hall-Flavin
CAST
Marvin | Philip Callen
Whizzer | Joe Leary
Trina | Holly Schroeder
Mendel | Carl Schoenborn
Jason | Jared I. Smith
Dr. Charlotte | Gillian Martin
Cordelia | Tina Miller
ORCHESTRA
Piano, Conductor | Paul Kovacovic
Synth | Stephen Houtz
Percussion | Paul David Stanko
Woodwinds | Dana Donnay
PHOTO GALLERY
[Michal Daniel]
Falsettos by William Finn, directed by Jef Hall-Flavin. Outward Spiral Theatre Company, Minneapolis Minnesota, 2003. Photo by Michal Daniel.
Falsettos by William Finn, directed by Jef Hall-Flavin. Outward Spiral Theatre Company, Minneapolis Minnesota, 2003. Photo by Michal Daniel.
Falsettos by William Finn, directed by Jef Hall-Flavin. Outward Spiral Theatre Company, Minneapolis Minnesota, 2003. Photo by Michal Daniel.
Falsettos by William Finn, directed by Jef Hall-Flavin. Outward Spiral Theatre Company, Minneapolis Minnesota, 2003. Photo by Michal Daniel.
WHAT PEOPLE SAID
[PIONEER PRESS]
Falsettos, in an estimable production by Outward Spiral Theatre Company, has a wry/melancholy ring of truth that hits you in a spot that not many musicals manage to reach.
Musical director Paul Kovacovic has done some splendid work...
Dominic C. Papatola
[STAR TRIBUNE]
Holly Schroeder tears up the Loring Playhouse stage as the jilted wife in Outward Spiral Theatre's production of the musical "Falsettos." Schroeder has impeccable timing, great presence and a brassy voice that expresses every nuance...
Graydon Royce
[STAR TRIBUNE]
Director Jef Hall-Flavin's production really "gets" the quick wit of Finn and Lapine's book. The staging moves swiftly, alighting at just the right moments to accent tenderness and poignancy.
Hall-Flavin, who is leaving Outward Spiral, has gone out with a beautiful and bighearted production.
Graydon Royce