A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF AMERICAN COMPOSER AND LYRICIST WILLIAM FINN
B y A n a s t a s i a S t a n m e y e r
A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF AMERICAN COMPOSER AND LYRICIST WILLIAM FINN
iko Tsakalakos’ voice falters. He seems at a loss for words as we talk about Nhis mentor, William Finn.“ Bill
impacted people ' s lives profoundly,” says the composer-lyricist of Fall Springs and Pool Boy, both Barrington Stage Company premieres, thanks especially to Finn.
Finn— a“ larger-than-life personality,” as Barrington Stage’ s former artistic director Julie Boyd so aptly puts it— impacted the lives of so many people creating American musicals.
It’ s no exaggeration to state that Finn’ s effect has been profound— some say on par with Stephen Sondheim, the very person Finn idolized from an early age. Finn, who passed away on April 7, 2025, at the age of 73, made the Berkshires his creative home base, developing his own works here and supporting other creatives. The Tony ® Award-winning composer and lyricist shared his passion, compassion, and support of developing musicals with countless other lyricists, composers, directors, and writers.
“ He wanted to nurture young writers,” says Alan Paul, Barrington Stage’ s Artistic Director.“ Julie gave him a sandbox to do that.”
Finn and Boyd established Barrington’ s Musical Theatre Lab where, under his mentorship, 12 world premiere musicals and seven workshops were produced. Finn also came up with the idea of spotlighting and celebrating young writers with“ Songs
July 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 43