The Intersections of Musical Theater Writers William Finn and Jonathan Larson (Ep. 128)

How did William Finn and Jonathan Larson revolutionize musical theater in the 1980s and 90s? Assistant Professor of Music Alex Bádue joins host Shoshana Greenberg to explore the parallel journeys and creative intersections of these two groundbreaking composers.

From their early work in the 80s to their hits Falsettos and Rent in the 1990s and more. We also talk about the song “Four Jews in a Room Bitching” from William Finn’s 1981 musical March of the Falsettos and then William Finn and James Lapine’s 1992 musical Falsettos.

Music played in this episode:
”Rent” from Rent
”Republicans” by William Finn
”All Fall Down” from Romance in Hard Times
“Rap Mitzvah” by Jonathan Larson, Jeff Kahn, and Ben Stiller
“Four Jews in a Room Bitching” from March of the Falsettos/Falsettos

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The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.