Monumental Theatre Company and Theater Alliance Announce A Concert Reading of FINN Musical for DC WorldPride 2025 | JUNE 5 - 6, 2025
- Matré Grant
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Cancelled Children’s Musical Returns to the District of Columbia
WASHINGTON, DC — May 12, 2025 — Monumental Theatre Company is excited to announce an all-ages concert reading of the Helen Hayes-nominated children’s musical FINN. This coming-of-age musical by Chris Nee (creator of Disney’s Vampirina and Doc McStuffins) and the Emmy-nominated writing team Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond tells the story of Finn, a young shark who just doesn’t fit in with the rest of his stoic and… gray pack. Though initially set on following the family tradition of joining the Shark Guard, Finn’s chance encounter with a regal tang fish sets them both on a sparkling journey to discover not only the vibrantly colorful ocean but also themselves along the way! This production is presented as a partner event of WorldPride DC 2025 by Monumental Theatre Company and Theater Alliance.
Monumental Theatre Company is thrilled to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC by producing this reading of FINN. Monumental Co-Artistic Director Michael Windsor shared, "We're thrilled to share this joyful story with families during WorldPride. It's so important that young people see themselves (and their loved ones) reflected on stage.” Monumental Co-Artistic Director Jimmy Mavrikes added, “Pride is for everyone, and that includes kids!"
Monumental and Theater Alliance’s concert reading of FINN is directed by Clancey Yovanovich. Nathan Beary Loughstein (Kennedy Center: FINN) returns as the production’s music director. Dylan Toms (Kennedy Center: FINN) also reprises his role as the title character, Finn, and will be joined by a cast of Monumental favorites and local talent. This performance marks the first performance of FINN in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area since its run during the Kennedy Center’s 2024-2025 Performances for Young Audiences season. This children’s musical garnered national attention earlier this year when the Kennedy Center announced the abrupt cancellation of a FINN tour.
The news of this cancellation sparked a new movement of overwhelming enthusiasm and support for FINN and its creators culminating in a remounting of the show with a cast of Broadway legends in concert format for New York City and digital audiences. The Monumental Theatre Company and Theater Alliance production of FINN (A Concert for WorldPride) will return the movement’s energy to its home in Washington, DC.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
FINN (A Concert for WorldPride)
JUNE 5 - 6, 2025
Produced by Monumental Theatre Company
Presented at Theater Alliance’s WorldPride Arts Hub
Music, Lyrics, and Book by Chris Nee, Michael Kooman, and Christopher Dimond
FINN is presented through special arrangement with Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. www.koomandimond.com
FINN runs 65 minutes and is suitable for all sharks, fish, friends, and families. Tickets are now on sale and available for purchase online at www.theateralliance.com/shows, by phone at (202) 241-2539 x1 (or send a text for faster support), or by email to boxoffice@theateralliance.com. All concert tickets are general admission and cost $25 for adults and $10 for attendees under 18. Pay What You Will tickets are available at a minimum of $5 thanks to Theater Alliance’s Radical Neighboring initiative. You can support the Radical Neighboring initiative by donating here.
ABOUT THIS CO-PRODUCTION
FINN (A Concert for WorldPride) will be produced as a semi-staged concert reading by Monumental Theatre Company June 5-6 as a partner event of WorldPride DC 2025 and as part of the Theater Alliance WorldPride Arts Hub in Washington, DC (Theater Alliance, 340 Maple Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024). The show is also the first of three performances in MONUMENTAL’S 10th ANNIVERSARY SUMMER ROAD TRIP season. More details about the rest of the season are forthcoming.
In celebration of WorldPride DC 2025, Theater Alliance recently announced its WorldPride Arts Hub, sponsored by Capital Pride Alliance. The art hub consists of two weeks of dynamic and inclusive events including vibrant performances, participatory community gatherings, and a visual art installation—all designed to celebrate and uplift the richness of queer identity and culture. The arts hub showcases a diverse lineup of and exhibitions developed in partnership with leading local and national organizations and is hosted in Theater Alliance’s Pop-Up theater venue in SW DC, thanks to Hoffman & Associates and Mayor Bowser’s DC Department of Buildings’ PUP Permitting program.
PRESS & MEDIA INQUIRIES
For FINN press/media inquiries and tickets, contact Samba Pathak by email at Samba@TheaterAlliance.com or by phone at 202-241-2539 extension 703. For general information about FINN tickets, contact boxoffice@theateralliance.com. Discover more about the Theater Alliance WorldPride Arts Hub online at worldprideartshub.theateralliance.com and visit www.theateralliance.com/shows for arts hub tickets and event registration. To learn more about Theater Alliance, visit www.theateralliance.com.
To connect specifically with Monumental Theatre Company about press, please email Matré Grant at matre@monumentaltheatre.org. For more information about Monumental opportunities such as invitations to collaborate, contact info@monumentaltheatre.org. For more, please visit www.monumentaltheatre.org.
ABOUT FINN
FINN was originally written as a World Premiere Kennedy Center Commission and performed during its 2024–2025 Performances for Young Audiences season. The musical is currently nominated for the Helen Hayes Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, the winner of which will be announced later this year in a May ceremony.
As a result of the Kennedy Center’s cancellation of the FINN tour, theatre-makers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley produced a concert version of this vibrant, underwater musical for the fifth anniversary of their digital series, Stars in the House. This version was performed in-person at The Town Hall in New York City and was also streamed on the Stars in the House YouTube channel. The concert served as a benefit for The Trevor Project and included a cast of notable Broadway favorites such as Andrew Rannells, Kelli O'Hara, Lea Salonga, Jessie Mueller, and others. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, whose Kennedy Center performance was also cancelled earlier this year, joined forces with members from the New York City Gay Men's Chorus to round out the musical’s ensemble.
ABOUT THE WRITERS OF FINN
FINN was co-written by Chris Nee and Romantics Anonymous writing team Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. No strangers to children’s programming, Kooman and Dimond compose music for several television shows including Disney’s Doc McStuffins and Vampirina and Netflix’s Ridley Jones, all created by FINN co-collaborator, Chris Nee. Peabody, Humanitas, Annie Award, five-time NAACP award, and three-time Emmy Award-winner Chris Nee serves as television show writer and executive producer for a host of major television networks such as Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Noggin, PBS, and Discovery Channel. In 2018, she began her own company Laughing Wild and signed a multiyear overall deal at Netflix.
MONUMENTAL THEATRE COMPANY’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING
FINN (A Concert for WorldPride)
Monumental Theatre Company welcomes engagement with and about any of the shows in our upcoming SUMMER ROAD TRIP season. Regarding our upcoming co-production and concert reading of FINN with Theater Alliance, all interested parties are also welcome to consult the following official statement:
Since its founding in 2015, Monumental Theatre Company has served DC Metro area audiences as a theatrical site where bold storytelling meets fresh talent. As part of our company’s mission statement, Monumental has always aimed to be a vibrant platform for showcasing new and reimagined works through a contemporary lens while fostering emerging talent and the next generation of theatre audiences. Over the past ten years, Monumental has cultivated actors, musicians, dancers, designers, administrative staff, creative teams, and board members that embody this mission not only in our professional roles but also in our everyday lives. As a company, we have always stood for compassion and self-acceptance. To Monumental, this means embracing these values even (and especially) when we sparkle differently from all the other sharks in the ocean. To that end, Monumental Theatre Company’s co-production and reading of FINN: (A Concert for WorldPride) aligns with our pre-existing goals and established successes in promoting innovation, diversity, and accessibility for the next generation of theatre-makers and, more broadly, for the world at large.
ABOUT THEATER ALLIANCE
For over two decades, Theater Alliance has been a driving force for innovation, activation, and artistic excellence in Washington, DC’s cultural landscape. Renowned for producing socially conscious and thought-provoking work, the company creates theater that sparks dialogue, fosters community engagement. Theater Alliance keeps justice at the core of its operations, prioritizes joy, amplifies under-told stories, and explores innovative artistic endeavors. Through its robust civic engagement initiatives, the company underscores its belief that the arts are essential to building a thriving, equitable society. Theater Alliance’s impact is reflected in its 111 Helen Hayes Award nominations and 31 wins, and in its proud status as a Core Member of the National New Play Network. With a steadfast commitment to its mission, Theater Alliance continues to create transformative experiences where all artists and audiences feel seen, valued, and inspired. Find Theater Alliance on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok.
ABOUT MONUMENTAL THEATRE COMPANY
Monumental Theatre Company, winner of the 2018 Helen Hayes John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company, is a professional, nonprofit theatre company founded in 2015 by Beth Amann, Jimmy Mavrikes, and Michael Windsor. Monumental has become a place for emerging artists to develop their talents in a supportive and creatively stimulating environment. By championing the careers of rising talent and modeling excellence in community care, Monumental aims to inspire artists and institutions to reimagine what it means to create art with integrity, respect, and imagination. Find Monumental on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
MONUMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN
As Monumental Theatre Company enters its 10th year of operations, we are excited to think boldly and creatively about what opportunities the next decade will hold. To reach our goals, we developed a three-year Strategic Plan to build a strong foundation for our continued growth. This movement was spearheaded by Board of Directors chair, Kaiya Lyons, who previously drafted both the company’s comprehensive, trauma-informed policy to prevent discrimination, harassment, and misconduct and the groundbreaking complaint reporting, investigation, and resolution procedure to enforce this policy. Additionally, Kaiya recently redesigned the Monumental Theatre Company website in celebration of our ten years of operation.
Through Kaiya’s innovative leadership, the Monumental Staff and Board of Directors have worked collaboratively to develop a dynamic 2025 summer season and ensure Monumental remains a supportive environment for creatives and audiences alike.
