A New Brain
Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater
Previews Began: -
Opening Night: June 18, 1998
Closing Night: August 23, 1998
Music: William Finn
Lyrics: William Finn
Book: James Lapine
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.
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Frogs Have So Much Spring (The Spring
Song)………………………………………………………….Gordon
Calamari……….Gordon, Rhoda, Waitress, Mr. Bungee
911 Emergency/I Have So Many Songs……….Richard,
Doctor, Rhoda,
Minister, Gordon,
Lisa, Waitress
Heart and Music…………..Minister, Gordon, Company
Mother’s Gonna Make Things Fine……..Mimi, Gordon
Trouble in His Brain………………..Doctor, Mimi, Rhoda
Be Polite to Everyone…………………………….Mr Bungee
Sailing……………………………………………..Roger, Gordon
Family History……………………Nancy D, Richard, Mimi
Gordo’s Law of Genetics……………….Nancy D, Doctor,
Minister, Rhoda,
Richard, Lisa
And They’re Off………………Gordon, Nancy D, Doctor,
Minister, Rhoda, Richard,
Lisa
Roger Arrives……………Gordon, Roger, Mother, Rhoda
Just Go…………………………………………….Gordon, Roger
MRI Tomorrow……………………Gordon, Roger, Richard
Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat……………Richard, Gordon,
Mr. Bungee, Minister
MRI Day………………………………………Gordon, Nancy D
Sitting Becalmed in the Lee of
Cuttyhunk……………………………………………….Company
Craniotomy………….Doctor, Nancy D, Minister, Mimi,
Roger, Gordon
An Invitation to Sleep in My Arms……………….Gordon,
Roger,
Rhoda,
Mimi
Change……………………………………………………………Lisa
Yes………………Gordon, Mr. Bungee, Nancy D, Doctor,
Minister, Rhoda
In the Middle of the Room………………….Gordon, Mimi
Throw It Out………………………………………………….Mimi
In the Middle of the Room (Part 2)……………….Gordon
A Really Lousy Day in the Universe………..Roger, Lisa
Brain Dead……………………………………….Gordon, Roger
Whenever I Dream…………………………..Rhoda, Gordon
Eating Myself Up Alive………………..Richard, Nancy D,
Doctor, Minister,
Lisa
Music Still Plays On……………………………………….Mimi
Don’t Give In………………..Mr. Bungee, Gordon, Roger,
Rhoda, Mimi
Craniotomy (Reprise)……………………………………Doctor
You Boys Are Gonna Get Me in Such Trouble/
Sailing (Reprise)………………….Richard, Gordon, Roger
Homeless Lady’s Revenge…………Lisa, Gordon, Roger
Time………………………………………………..Roger, Gordon
Time and Music……………Minister, Gordon, Company
I Feel So Much Spring………….Gordon, Lisa, Minister,
Company
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Kristin Chenoweth Nancy D.
Waitress
Penny Fuller Mimi Schwinn
Malcolm Gets Gordon Michael Schwinn
Christopher Innvar Roger Delli-Bovi
John Jellison Dr. Jafar Berernstein
Keith Byron Kirk Minister
Liz Larsen Rhoda
Michael Mandell Richard
Mary Testa Lisa
Chip Zien Mr. Bungee
Understudies: Stephen Berger (Mr. Bungee and Richard, Dr. Jafar Berensteiner), Lovette George (Rhoda, Waitress and Nancy D.), Danny Gurwin (Gordon Michael Schwinn, Minister), Mark Hardy (Roger Delli-Bovi), Lauren Mufson (Mimi Schwinn, Lisa)
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