{"id":1,"date":"2022-06-24T14:00:45","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T14:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/?p=1"},"modified":"2023-06-12T00:50:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T00:50:50","slug":"a-new-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/a-new-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

A New Brain<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Celebration Theatre in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center<\/strong>
\nReviewed by Taylor Kass<\/em><\/strong>
\nThrough June 24<\/strong><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When your brain is in trouble, what happens to everything that makes you, you? Composer William Finn wrote the semi-autobiographical musical\u00a0A New Brain\u00a0<\/em>after an arteriovenous malformation in his brain landed him in the hospital and threatened to end his life before he could complete his life\u2019s work. In an exuberant production directed by Khanisha Foster, Celebration Theatre (in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center) delivers a polished and downright fun version of this truly singular piece.<\/p>\n

Finn writes himself into the story as cynical dreamer Gordon Schwinn, a character originally written as a man but who is non binary in Celebration Theatre\u2019s production and played by non binary actor Amanda Kruger. Gordon\u2019s charming and passionate partner Roger (Yassi Noubahar) is also reimagined as femme. Changing the gender identities of the musical\u2019s central couple feels at once seamless and intentional, revealing new layers of meaning in the story (like adding a moment where Gordon is misgendered in the hospital, an all too common experience for gender non-conforming folks). Kruger and Noubahar lead an ensemble of exceptional vocalists who expertly nail\u00a0A New Brain\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>challenging score while delivering vivid acting performances.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0A New Brain\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>score is immersive and unique, the plot feels somewhat meandering despite its very clear crisis. Composer Gordon is struggling to complete a song about a frog for their despotic boss\/children\u2019s TV star Mr. Bungee (Richardson Cisneros-Jones) when they collapse at lunch and are rushed to the hospital. Their best friend\/agent Rhoda (Sad\u00e9 Ayodele), their well-meaning but overbearing mother (Gina Torrecilla), and their sweet but distracted partner Roger band together to encourage Gordon in the face of a surgery that could save their life or end it. Gordon\u2019s health scare forces them and their loved ones to reckon with life and legacy, but any character-shifting revelations that result aren\u2019t clear enough in the text.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>A New Brain\u00a0<\/em>might make more sense dramaturgically as a staged reading or concert, but Khanisha Foster\u2019s direction and Alli Miller-Fisher\u2019s choreography elevate this production to a truly engaging piece of theater. They\u2019ve also managed to make the tiny stage space at the LGBT Center feel dynamic instead of crowded with some clever use of stairs, ladders and levels by scenic designer Stephen Gifford. At a time when trans lives and trans rights are under attack nationwide, it\u2019s more important than ever to showcase diverse artists from across the gender spectrum. Imaginative staging and inclusive casting make Celebration Theatre\u2019s production of this classic piece of LGBTQ theatre feel fresh and vital.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Los Angeles LGBT Center, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood; Thurs. \u2013 Sat. 8 pm.; Sun. 2 pm.; through June 24.\u00a0https:\/\/lalgbtcenter.org\/tickets<\/a>. Running time: 95 minutes with no intermission.<\/em><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”902″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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