A New Brain

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A New Brain
Original Off-Broadway Production

CD Cover of the Original Cast Recording
Music William Finn
Lyrics William Finn
Arr.: Jason Robert Brown
Book William Finn
James Lapine
Theatre Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater
Opened May 14, 1998
Closed August 23, 1998
Director Graciela Daniele
Choreographer Graciela Daniele
Scenic designer David Gallo
Costume designer Toni-Leslie James
Lighting designer Peggy Eisenhauer

A New Brain is an Off-Broadway musical with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Finn and James Lapine, produced by Lincoln Center Theatre and directed by Graciela Daniele. It played at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center, with previews beginning on May 14, 1998. The original cast was headed by Malcolm Gets and included Penny Fuller, Mary Testa, Kristin Chenoweth, Chip Zien, Lewis Cleale, Liz Larsen and Keith Byron Kirk. A cast recording was made under an RCA Victor label. It premiered in the UK at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005, with the English premiere in September 2006 in Littlehampton, West Sussex.[1]

Though many of Finn's previous musicals were to some extent autobiographical, A New Brain dealt directly with his own harrowing personal experience with cancer of the brain and the healing power of art. The hero, Gordon, worries that he may not live to complete his work. Finn wrote many of the songs soon after his release from the hospital. A concert of the songs was produced at The Public Theater, followed by 1996 and 1997 workshop productions that included contributions by Lapine.[2]

Contents

[edit] Musical numbers

  • "Frogs Have So Much Spring Within Them (The Spring Song)"
  • "Specials"
  • "911 Emergency/ I Have So Many Songs"
  • "Heart and Music"
  • "Trouble in His Brain"
  • "Mother's Gonna Make Things Fine"
  • "Be Polite"
  • "Sailing"
  • "Family History"
  • "Gordo's Law of Genetics"
  • "And They're Off"
  • "Roger Arrives"
  • "Just Go"
  • "Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat"
  • "MRI Day"
  • "Sitting Becalmed in the Lee of Cuttyhunk"
  • "Craniotomy"
  • "An Invitation to Sleep in My Arms"
  • "Change"
  • "Yes"
  • "In the Middle of the Room (Part I)"
  • "Throw It Out (Part I)"
  • "Throw It Out (Part II)"
  • "In The Middle of the Room (Part II)"
  • "A Really Lousy Day in the Universe"
  • "Brain Dead"
  • "Whenever I Dream"
  • "Eating Myself Up Alive"
  • "The Music Still Plays On"
  • "Don't Give In"
  • "You Boys Are Gonna Get Me In So Much Trouble/ Sailing (Reprise)"
  • "The Homeless Lady's Revenge"
  • "Time"
  • "Time and Music"
  • "I Feel So Much Spring"

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ produced by Hand Picked Productions
  2. ^ Bishop, Andre. Liner notes from 1998 original cast recording.

[edit] Reference

[edit] External links

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