Overview
Synopsis
Falsettos is the story of a large, eccentric, and dysfunctional -- but loving -- Jewish family in New York at the end of the 1970s. Initially, Marvin seems blessed with the perfect family. He has a caring wife, Trina and a young son, Jason. Nevertheless, the family is soon broken apart, when the homosexual Marvin leaves Trina for a man called Whizzer.
Trina, meanwhile, ends up romantically involved with the family psychiatrist, Mendel. All the while, their son, Jason, is stuck in the middle. Included in the mix are lesbian neighbors Dr. Charlotte and Cordelia. When Marvin's lover, Whizzer, is diagnosed with AIDS, the entire family -- non-traditional as it may be -- must put aside their issues and come together.
Notes: This two-act musical is in fact a synthesis of a trilogy of one acts: In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland.
Show Information
- Book
- William Finn , James Lapine
- Music
- William Finn
- Lyrics
- William Finn
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1992
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary
- Time & Place
- new york, 1979, 1981
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen Characters, Small Cast
Context
William Finn’s Falsettos is actually a synthesis of two one-act musicals: March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland. When it premiered on Broadway in 1992, Falsettos was nominated for seven Tony awards. It took home Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. The 2016 revival, starring Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block, and Andrew Rannells, was nominated for five Tonys and was filmed for the PBS series Live From Lincoln Center. It it set to air in 2017. The revival was also directed by
to read the context for Falsettos and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Our story begins in New York City in 1979. Marvin has just divorced his wife Trina and taken up with his male lover, Whizzer. Marvin, along with his son Jason, Whizzer, and his psychiatrist Mendel, explain the situation to the audience (“Four Jews in a Room Bitching”). Although he has essentially left his wife and child for someone else, Marvin is determined to have “A Tight-Knit Family” and insists on forging ahead with his new family dynamic--a situation no one is happy with.
to read the plot for Falsettos and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
Songs
Act One
- "Four Jews in a Room Bitching" – Whizzer, Marvin, Jason, and Mendel
- "A Tight-Knit Family" – Marvin and Mendel
- "Love Is Blind" – Marvin, Jason, Whizzer, Mendel, and Trina
- "Thrill of First Love" – Marvin and Whizzer
- "Marvin at the Psychiatrist (A Three-Part Mini-Opera)" – Jason, Mendel, Whizzer, and Marvin
- “My Father’s a Homo” / "Everyone Tells Jason to See a Psychiatrist" – Jason, Marvin, Trina, and Whizzer
- "This Had Better Come to a Stop" – Marvin, Whizzer, Jason, Trina, and Mendel
- "I'm Breaking Down" – Trina
- “Please Come to Our House” - Trina, Jason, Mendel
- "Jason's Therapy" – Mendel, Trina, Whizzer, Marvin, and Jason
- "A Marriage Proposal" – Mendel, Trina, and Jason
- "Trina's Song" – Trina
- "March of the Falsettos" – Mendel, Marvin, Jason, and Whizzer
- "Trina's Song" (Reprise) – Trina
- "The Chess Game" – Marvin and Whizzer
- "Making a Home" – Mendel, Jason, Trina, and Whizzer
- "The Games I Play" – Whizzer
- "Marvin Goes Crazy" or "Marvin Hits Trina" – Marvin, Mendel, Jason, Trina, and Whizzer
- "I Never Wanted to Love You" – Marvin, Mendel, Jason, Trina, and Whizzer
- "Father to Son" – Marvin and Jason
Act Two
- "Welcome to Falsettoland" – The Company
- "The Year of the Child" – The Company
- "Miracle of Judaism" – The Company
- "The Baseball Game" – The Company
- "A Day in Falsettoland" – The Company
- "The Fight" / "Everyone Hates His Parents" – Mendel, Jason, Marvin, and Trina
- "What More Can I Say?" – Marvin and *Whizzer
- "Something Bad Is Happening" – Charlotte and Cordelia
- "Holding to the Ground" – Trina
- "Days Like This" – The Company
- "Cancelling the Bar Mitzvah" – Jason, Mendel, and Trina
- "Unlikely Lovers" – Marvin, Whizzer, Charlotte, and Cordelia
- "Another Miracle of Judaism" – Jason
- "You Gotta Die Sometime" – Whizzer
- "Jason's Bar Mitzvah" – The Company
- "What Would I Do?" – Marvin and Whizzer
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when the body's immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.
The accepted generic term for the LGBTQ+ theatre movement.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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