A New Brain
music and lyrics by William Finn, book by William Finn and James Lapine
2008/2009 Season
About the Show
Feb 12 – Mar 1, 2009 | Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs
- Nominated: Dora Award for Outstanding Musical Production
- Nominated: Dora Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Daryl Cloran)
- Nominated: Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female In A Musical (Barbara Barsky)
Frogs, sail boats, kiddie TV, overbearing Jewish mothers, and arterial venous malformations. When a frustrated children’s television composer is struck with a rare brain disorder he faces the possibility of his own mortality in the hospital with his friends, family and nurses. As the doctors race to save his life, Gordon realizes that his greatest fear is dying with his best songs still inside him; and so, from his hospital bed, they come to life in his room. Both zany and heartbreaking, A New Brain looks at celebrating life through heart and music.
Company
- directed by Daryl Cloran musical direction by Wayne Gwillim
choreography by Marc Kimelman - featuring Steven Gallagher, Barbara Barsky, Thom Allison & Juan Chioran, Parris Greaves, Allie Hughes, Steve Ross, Jonthan Tan, Paula Wolfson, Patricia Zentilli
- set design Lindsay Anne Black lighting design by Michael Walton
costume design Alex Amini - stage manager Stephanie Nakamura apprentice stage manager Dayna Chernoff
production manager Douglas J. Morum
Reviews
Acting Up Stage, who specialize in bringing offbeat musicals to Toronto, have done this one very well with the director, Daryl Cloran, delivering a faultless production that moves smoothly, sensitively and inventively from one mood to the next.
— Robert Cushman, National Post
The show has moments so wonderful you will want to cry or cheer.
— Richard Ouzounian, The Toronto Star
A New Brain is an absolutely charming and inventive musical from beginning to end, staged with great wit and imagination by Daryl Cloran.
— Christopher Hoile, EYE Weekly
