During a period when so many musical theater composers have been trying to emulate Stephen Sondheim, along comes the iconoclastic William Finn who not only marches to the beat of a different drummer, he provides the beat, as well. His rhythms, not to mention his melodies and lyrics, are so unique that you can identify them in an instant. Now, there is a new revue of his work called
Make Me a Song at New World Stages, and serious theatergoers are all the richer for its arrival. It's a carefully constructed, stylishly directed (by Rob Ruggiero), and exceptionally well-cast production that gives Finn's rich material its due.

Finn's songs are composed with heat and heart. The heat comes from t[...]