Bloomington Center for the Arts 952-563-8575 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd artistrymn.org Bloomington, MN 55431
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Devon Cox, Associate Producer & Director of Theater Marketing 952-563-8564, [email protected]
Artistry Presents William Finn's Autobiographical Musical A NEW BRAIN, opening October 18
(Bloomington, MN) Artistry is excited to present A New Brain, taking place in the Schneider Theater October 18 – November 9, 2019, directed by Benjamin McGovern.
Gordon Schwinn is the frustrated composer of a children’s TV show who, on one otherwise ordinary day, collapses into his lunch and wakes up in the hospital. As doctors and nurses fly in and out of his room, trying to figure out what’s wrong with his brain, Gordon drifts in and out of consciousness as he contemplates his life, legacy, and the meaning of music—all while navigating his relationships with his best friend, mother, and boyfriend. Oh, and he’s also being haunted by Mr. Bungee, an imaginary frog and the star of the children’s show he’s supposed to be composing for. A semi-autobiographical musical by Tony Award-winning composer William Finn, A New Brain features Finn’s signature lyricism and is an unexpectedly funny, relatable, and ultimately touching meditation on how beautiful the world is when we slow down enough to look.
Tony-winning composer and lyricist William Finn is known for his quirky, witty and heartfelt musicals. His best-known shows, Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, were both Tony-award winners. Finn is a heavily autobiographical writer, and as a result his musicals often feel extremely intimate and personal. "Among his distinguishing talents, perhaps the greatest is his ability to turn complicated but natural conversation and intricate interior thought into song,” Says New York Times Critic Charles Isherwood. "The seams between words and music never show." A New Brain is based on his own medical crisis, and the characters in the show are based on his own family and friends – many people say that the character of Gordon’s best friend, Rhoda, is based on Playwright Wendy Wasserstein.
Benjamin McGovern, Producing Artistic Director, will direct all productions in Artistry’s 2019- 2020 Season. Before landing at Artistry in 2015, McGovern worked as a Director and Arts Administrator for many local companies, including the Guthrie Theater and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. He will be joined for the whole season by Artistry’s Resident Music Director, Anita Ruth.
The cast of A New Brain includes some of the best singing actors in the Twin Cities, many returning to Artistry. Riley McNutt and C Ryan Shipley return to Artistry as Gordon Schwinn and Roger Delli-Bovi. McNutt is an accomplished Twin Cities actor and singer who has taken on roles at Theatre Latté Da (Henrik in A Little Night Music, All is Calm), Minnesota Orchestra, and Trademark Theatre. Shipley is a frequent Artistry collaborator, who most recently appeared in She Loves Me (Sipos) and Mary Poppins (Bert).
Also appearing in A New Brain are Bradley Greenwald (Mr. Bungee), Jen Burleigh-Bentz (Mimi Schwinn), Mary Palazzolo (Lisa, A Homeless Woman), Rodolfo Nieto (Dr. Jafar Berensteiner), Caitlin Burns (Rhoda), Evan Tyler Wilson (Richard, the Nice Nurse), Sarah DeYong (Waitress/Nancy D.) and Reese Britts (The Minister).
Heidi Spesard-Noble will choreograph, returning to Artistry after this summer’s Footloose.
Artistry is an award-winning producing theater and visual arts non-profit and the anchor tenant at Bloomington Center for the Arts. Strongly committed to bringing vibrant and diverse arts experiences and learning to our community, we produce a wide variety of work that informs and illuminates the South Metro.
A New Brain Fast Facts
Music and Lyrics by: William Finn Book by: James Lapine & William Finn Musical Arrangements by: Jason Robert Brown
Director: Benjamin McGovern Music Director: Anita Ruth Choreographer: Heidi Spesard-Noble
For full creative team credits: https://artistrymn.org/a-new-brain
CAST
Riley McNutt – Gordon Schwinn
C Ryan Shipley – Roger Delli-Bovi Jen Burleigh-Bentz* – Mimi Schwinn Bradley Greenwald* – Mr. Bungee Mary Palazzolo – Lisa, A Homeless Woman Caitlin Burns – Rhoda Rodolfo Nieto – Dr. Jafar Berensteiner Evan Tyler Wilson* – Richard, the Nice Nurse Sarah DeYong – Waitress/Nancy D. Reese Britts – The Minister
* Member of Actor’s Equity Association
Location: Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd Bloomington, MN 5543
Admission: $17 - $46
Attached Photos: 1. Riley McNutt, C Ryan Shipley Photo Credit: Devon Cox
For Tickets: Call the Artistry Box Office at 952-563-8575 Or go online at artistrymn.org/a-new-brain
A New Brain Performance Schedule
Tuesday, October 15 at 7:30pm (PWYC Preview) Thursday, October 17 at 7:30pm (Preview) Friday, October 18 at 7:30pm (Opening Night) Saturday, October 19 at 7:30pm Sunday, October 20 at 2:00pm Thursday, October 24 at 7:30pm Friday, October 25 at 7:30pm Saturday, October 26 at 7:30pm Sunday, October 27 at 2:00pm (Talk Back) Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30pm Thursday, October 31 at 7:30pm Friday, November 1 at 7:30pm Saturday, November 2 at 7:30pm Sunday, November 3 at 2:00pm (Talk Back) Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30pm Thursday, November 7 at 7:30pm Friday, November 8 at 7:30pm Saturday, November 9 at 2:00pm
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