A New Brain
Music & Lyrics by William Finn
Book by William Finn & James Lapine
Directed by Khanisha Foster
Musical Direction by Gregory Nabours
Choreography by Alli Miller-Fisher
Presented by Celebration Theatre
In association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center
April 29 – June 24, 2023
Davidson/Valentini Theatre
A timely revival of the Finn & Lapine show about second chances and the urgency of art, Celebration Theatre brings us into the world of this queer musical of “captivating eccentricity” (New York Times) with an intimate experience of pathos, humor, and just a little bit of magic—to bring us back to life.
Composer Gordon Schwinn collapses into their lunch and awakes in the hospital, surrounded by their lover, mother, co-worker, doctor, and nurses. Coming face to face with their own mortality, Gordon sees their greatest fear: will they die with their greatest songs still unwritten? A New Brain reminds us that the power of music, love, and the creation of art can never be lost.
With a gender-expansive casting vision from director Khanisha Foster, and a buoyant score and “fascinating story” (New York Post) from the Tony Award-winning authors of Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Los Angeles audiences have the unique opportunity to see A New Brain as it has never been done before.
Celebration Theatre
Celebration Theatre is one of the nation’s oldest LGBTQIA+ theatres. Founded in December 1982 in a Silverlake storefront, the nonprofit was expressly organized as a community theatre “of, by, and for gay and lesbian people and their friends.” Since then, the Los Angeles-based company has mounted theatrical productions representative of, and in support of, the queer community: with a sharp focus on inclusion, visibility, and pride. GLAAD, NAACP, LA theatre awards and many other benchmarks for excellence have recognized the theatre and its artists— performers, writers, directors, designers, musicians, and producers. Scores of LGBTQIA+ luminaries have graced Celebration’s stages over the years as it continues to provide an inspiring and empowering forum for professional and emerging artists, giving voice to the evolving experience of queer culture. CelebrationTheatre.org
Performance Information
Runtime
1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission
Suitability Suggestions
A New Brain is appropriate for all audiences.
Masks are currently required for all performances.
Creative Team
Full team announcement coming soon.