A NEW BRAIN — Page 2

Tonight was my first exposure to this show. Can't believe I've never heard the score. It contains some gorgeous songs and often soars. Aaron Lazar was the main reason I attended, and he was just as powerful as I thought he'd be. Why he isn't a big star headlining his own B'way show is just beyond me. Groff was adorably fine. Gasteyer made my jaw drop; she was that good. I remember reading that she was Elphaba in a sit-down production of WICKED in Chicago. She must have brought "Defying Gravity" to the stratosphere. Wish I could catch a second performance of A NEW BRAIN, but I can't fit it in. Hope there's a future for this production.

I'm glad Gasteyer is killing it- I love her and wish she would do more musical theatre. Her performance in the film of Reefer Madness is truly great.

Anyone attempt the stage door? Or did the cast exit through the lobby? xx

Never heard any of Finn's music. Seeing it tonight

Mid July ordering Dr Z & The Visit from Amazon at the same time. After tonight, may need to add this to the ever growing list of cast albums to get.

I've loved the score since it came out, but I was doing a show in Los Angeles when it was playing in NYC, so I've never gotten a chance to see a production. That all changes on Friday.

The run time is about 1:45 ? I'm charged with getting a dinner reservation after the show, so help a brother out!

I remember reading that she was Elphaba in a sit-down production of WICKED in Chicago. She must have brought "Defying Gravity" to the stratosphere.

Not really. She was fine and I liked her, but she was honestly the weakest Elphaba I've seen. I liked her a little better as Fosca in Passion at the Shakespeare Theatre.

I played the Minister in a regional production and it was probably my all-time favorite show to perform. Even if not all of the cast got along well on a personal level, every one of us LOVED performing the show and didn't want the run to end. I do wish there was a full recording of the score that included the title song. It's a brief and charming number that humorously and explicitly explains the title of the show. It has a lovely and fun moment for the Minister and I love when the Doctor sings "Whoopsie!" as his pager goes off. I'll actually be singing Heart/Time and Music at a cabaret fundraiser in a couple of weeks.

I can understand cutting Calamari and Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat as they really aren't that relevant to the plot or theme. However, the latter helps set up a relationship that connects more coherently to You Boys are Gonna Get Me in Such Trouble, but its loss makes Eating Myself Up Alive seem even more peculiar than it already is. But they cut Whenever I Dream?!?! That seems a very odd choice. So, the Waitress/Thin Nurse is mostly just chorus and the part of Rhonda loses her only solo. That's pretty sad. And Whenever I Dream really worked well in the construct of the coma "fever dream" sequence. The more you cut from that, the less sense it makes.

Edit: Just realized they also cut Eating Myself Up Alive. That's too bad. I'm assuming Brain Dead is the only remnant left of the dream sequence and The Music Still Plays On is more realistically represented in the story.

Never heard any of Finn's music.

You haven't even listened to the cast recording of March of the Falsettos or Falsettoland? Falsettos is in my top ten list of shows and scores.

Updated On: 6/25/15 at 11:37 AM

Happy to hear they kept Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat. The dream sequence originally started with Brain Dead and ended with Don't Give In. How does the sequence work now without the Nurse and Rhonda songs? To me, the whole sequence was an important part of his experience, especially his journey through the surgery, which is the real centerpiece of the plot.

Can anyone tell me if there is any merch? i know they had some stuff for Tick Tick Boom last year....

I don't know this show the slightest bit but just reading this thread has me hoping they'll make a cast recording!

Loved it!!! Stage door should have been a little more organized though.

"Hamilton" "How to Succeed in Business" in London, "A new Brain" and back to Broadway opening of "Hamilton".

I think Jonathan Grof has given up sleeping.

Can someone please post a pic of the Playbill cover?