THEN AND NOW: Welcome Back to Falsettoland with the Original Broadway Cast- Getting to Broadway

In just over two weeks, previews will begin at the Walter Kerr Theatre for the new Broadway production of William Finn and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical Falsettos

This production of Falsettos marks a happy reunion for producer and Artistic Director of Lincoln Center Theater André Bishop, composer/lyricist William Finn, and playwright/directorJames Lapine. In 1981, while Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizons, Bishop produced Finn and Lapine's new one-act musical March of the Falsettos in the theater's second floor 75-seat space. The story of a gay man named Marvin, his lover Whizzer. Marvin's wife Trina, son Jason, and their psychiatrist Mendel, March of the Falsettos was a critical success, described by The New York Times as "a musical find." It eventually moved to Playwrights Horizons' larger downstairs theater for an extended engagement before enjoying a long run Off-Broadway at what was then known as the Westside Arts Theatre.

Fast forward to 1990, when a second new musical by Finn and Lapine, Falsettoland, opened at Playwrights Horizons. A continuation of the story of Marvin and his extended family in the early days of the AIDS crisis, Falsettoland repeated the success of its predecessor with rave reviews and a move to the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

In 1992, the two one-act musicals were combined into one and opened on Broadway as Falsettos. Falsettos ran for over a year at the John Golden Theatre and won Tony Awards for Finn's score and Finn and Lapine's book.

BroadwayWorld has reunited the original cast (Michael Rupert, Stephen Borgardus, Carolee Carmello, Heather MacRae, Chip Zien and Jonathan Kaplan) to reminisce about all things Falsettos. In Part 2, watch as they recall the long road to Broadway- from March of the Falsettos, to Falsettoland and beyond.

Click here to watch Part 1 and check back Friday, September 16, to watch the final edition!