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New Brain, A

"Jaunty [with] moments of captivating eccentricity."

The New York Times

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Drama
  • 105 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Interior Set
  • Orchestra Size: Small/Combo

  • Performance Group:
  • Large Stage, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, Shoestring Budget, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, College Theatre / Student
By the Tony Award-winning authors of Falsettos, here is an energetic, sardonic, often comical musical about a composer during a medical emergency. 

Gordon collapses into his lunch and awakes in the hospital, surrounded by his maritime-enthusiast lover, his mother, a co-worker, the doctor, and the nurses. Reluctantly, he had been composing a song for a children's television show that features a frog -- Mr. Bungee -- and the specter of this large green character and the unfinished work haunts him throughout his medical ordeal.

What was thought to be a tumor turns out to be something more operable, and Gordon recovers, grateful for a chance to compose the songs he yearns to produce.
REVIEWS:

"Jaunty [with] moments of captivating eccentricity."

 The New York Times

"Apt and original [...] A fascinating story."

 The New York Post

"Filled with beguiling, buoyant melody [and] witty and original lyrics [...] The kind of musical theatre invention we have come to expect from this gifted artist."

 InTheatre

Premiere Production: A New Brain premiered at the Lincoln Center Theatre in May of 1998 under the direction of Graciela Daniele.

Characters

  • Casting: 6M, 4F
  • Casting Attributes: Ensemble cast, Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Chorus Size: Small

  • GORDON MICHAEL SCHWINN - aspiring stage composer who awakes in a hospital after collapsing on a plate of ziti.
    A HOMELESS LADY
    RHODA
    WAITRESS
    MR. BUNGEE
    RICHARD - a nice nurse
    NANCY D. - the thin nurse
    DR. JAFAR BERENSTEINER
    THE MINSITER
    ROGER DELLI-BOVI
    MIMI SCHWINN

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto / Piano-Conductor Score 

    		$24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    11 x Piano/Conductor Scores

    		$250.00 +$50.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano/Conductor Score
    1 x Bass
    1 x Synthesizer
    1 x Drums/Percussion
    1 x Reed
    1 x Horn
    1 x Cello

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm
    Libretto This is optional. Order Now

    The LIBRETTO is available for SALE ONLY and is not available as part of the Rehearsal Material set. It must be purchased separately and is available through our office.

    		$24.95

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