A NEW BRAIN Sails Into OhLook Performing Arts Center This April

Just days after winning Tony Awards for the script and music of Broadway's FALSETTO's in 1992, William Finn (THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, ELEGIES, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) dropped to the pavement, knocked down by a surprise congenital brain malformation.

Finn recovered from his brain surgery and did what any writer-musician would do: he wrote a musical about it. And through his literal blood, sweat, and tears, A NEW BRAIN was born. The production found somewhat of a cult following on the heels of the 1998 cast recording and recently reappeared on the New York stage, starring stage and screen headliners Jonathan Groff (GLEE, FROZEN, SPRING AWAKENING) and Ana Gasteyer (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, WICKED).

A NEW BRAIN is the energetic, sardonic, often comical musical about composer Gordon (inspired by Finn) during a medical emergency. Gordon collapses and awakes in the hospital. Fearing he will die with his greatest songs still inside of him, he begins writing the songs from his hospital bed, amidst several hallucinations featuring various people whom he has encountered. The score contains musical theatre staples "Sailing," "The Music Still Plays On," "Change," and "Heart and Music."

This month, Lon Barrera directs the musical on OhLook Performing Arts Center's appropriately intimate stage with six performances spanning April 20th-April 29th. Barrera's cast features Jordan Justice as Gordon and Brynne Ann Komonchak as Gordon's overbearing mother, Mimi. Rounding out the cast is Jared West (Roger), Doug Fowler (Mr. Bungee), Emma Bruce (Lisa), Jason Philip Solis (Richard), Nicole Neely (Nancy D.), Melissa Rosenberg (Rhoda), Dakota James (Dr. Jafar Berensteiner), and Joshua Sherman (the Minister). Isaac Leaverton and Shannon Walsh provide musical direction and choreography, respectively.

Tickets prices are $15 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. For more information, visit www. ohlookperform.com.

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