UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage will produce “Falsettos,” book by William Finn and James Lapine, music and lyrics by William Finn, and directed by Zack Steele, April 18-21 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre.
Falsettos revolves around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named Marvin, his wife, lover, about-to-be Bar-Mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and the lesbians next door. It’s a hilarious and achingly poignant look at the infinite possibilities that make up a modern family … and a beautiful reminder that love can tell a million stories.
Faculty dramaturg Samuel Yates wrote, “'Falsettos' is a rarity in commercial musical theatre. It documents a moment in time — a cultural sensibility and the winds of change — as it occurs. The creative team also has the benefit of hindsight. William Finn composed this musical over 13 years, from 1979 to1991, bearing witness to drastic changes in American life. Moving from the liberatory sexual politics of the 1970s to the hallmark conservativism of the Reagan administration, Finn explores the relationships of an unlikely everyman, Marvin; to his ex-wife, Trina; “friend” and lover, Whizzer; and son, Jason. The "Falsettos" that debuted on Broadway in 1992 was a combination of three off-Broadway one-act musicals that became known as Finn’s “Marvin trilogy”: "In Trousers," "March of the Falsettos," and "Falsettoland." The musical you are watching today combines material from these one-acts as a full-length entertainment — a musical that proved so popular that it sold out off-Broadway, transferred to an award-winning Broadway run, and spawned a successful national tour."
All performances $20; students $15. Visit the Penn State Centre Stage website for additional show information. Non-Penn State arts and architecture students can see it for free by visiting this link.