Feature: Northeast Florida Premieres A NEW BRAIN at The 5 & Dime

The northeast Florida premiere of William Finn and James Lapine's A NEW BRAIN (1998) opens April 21st at The 5 & Dime's new, permanent space off East Adams Street in Jacksonville's core. The 5 & Dime had previously been a nomadic company, producing emotive plays throughout different locations in the city. Settling in nicely at their sleek new home, 5 & Dime is taking a bold dive into the world of musical theatre, presenting their first musical production as a company. Directed by Ron Shreve with musical direction by Erin Barnes, the combined experience and heart of this team is paving the way for something magical.

A NEW BRAIN tells the story of Gordon Schwinn, a disgruntled songwriter for a children's television show hosted by a singing frog. Schwinn is diagnosed with a life-threatening brain condition and must undergo an immediate craniotomy. Like most songwriters, his biggest fear is never writing his one great song. Following his surgery, he falls into a coma, where he hallucinates a musical within a musical, starring the important players in his life: his mother Mimi, his friend Rhonda, his boyfriend Roger...and of course, Mr. Bungee, the sardonic singing frog. Written as a full-length musical, Finn and Lapine's work is often criticized for presenting better as a musical revue. The intimate space at The 5 & Dime, however, can blend together the two potential paths for A NEW BRAIN and give the audience a product that resembles the experience of a small cast show with the powerful sound of a generous ensemble. A NEW BRAIN has a kitschy edge: not everyone will love the brash humor presented in such a somber storyline. The audience will likely find themselves offended at some point, and that's intentional. They will also laugh, and probably cry. The comradery between the cast, their willingness to tell this intense story with a heavy dose of dark comedy, and their commitment to eachother's growth will salvage any potential wreckage from the shock of the almost flippancy towards Schwinn's condition.

As a Jacksonville native, I grew up with the brightness of Theatre Jax, the intensity of Players by the Sea, and the experimentation of ABET, for example. I've eaten delicious meals while humming along with Don Quixote at the Alhambra and have sat front and center at Riverdance's regional tour at the Moran theatre. What is happening at The 5 & Dime is transcending the theatrical experiences I've come to expect in Jacksonville. I've seen and been a part of great theatre, as well as not-so-great theatre here in town. 5 & Dime is fantastically molding together all the intricate aspects of Jacksonville. A NEW BRAIN carries risks, much akin to that of the lead character's brain condition, but Josh Waller's soaring voice as Gordon Schwinn complemented by the fluid sound of a strong ensemble should top your to-do list next week.

To learn more about The 5 & Dime, visit their website here . Tickets are available online, and the show runs April 21-May 7. A special pay-what-you-can performance will be held April 24th at 8 pm. Preview The 5 & Dime's heart and music of A NEW BRAIN below: