A New Brain, why not in regional/community theatre?

[sharonkurland]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 11:42pm

Orlando Theatre Project, in central Florida, put it on as a fundraiser in (I believe) 2004.

-Sharon-
Orlando FL
Orlando Theater Project

[Sheri]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 11:44pm

Reprise! did a one night only concert reading in LA on January 31st of this year.

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 11:54pm

I know my friend's sister was somehow involved in a regional production of it... I don't know it where it was, but it did exist.

[allamarane]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 12:06am

Samuel French holds performance rights to William Finn's musicals.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 12:18am

It's a show with no marquee value and musicals are expensive to produce.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 3:19am

Samuel French is truly in the business of selling scripts - their bookshop is a major part of their operation - as opposed to MTI, Tam-Witmark and Rodgers & Hammerstein, who only license their shows for production and rent you the scripts and scores. When you do a Samuel French musical, you still rent the music (piano scores, chorus books and orchestrations) but you have to PURCHASE the scripts from them.

As for why A NEW BRAIN isn't done more often in regional and community theatre - the subject matter is a turn-off to many people. I saw the original production, and when they rolled the MRI machine onto the stage, several audience members walked out.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 6:14am

It's funny, I never got that impression because in Boston in the last few years it was done at Speak Easy Stage, and (although they're not professional) at MIT, Harvard, and Tufts (where I played Roger). Apparently Boston has a love affair with this show, as anyone should. It is brilliant.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 10:36am

I've seen it performed regionally in Houston and Chicago at least three times in the last 5 years.

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 10:41am

Oh god, EVERYONE does this show.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 11:36am

Wow, well, I have the OBCR for this and I listened to it, and living in a small town and doing this at our theatre would be impossible it could never sell at some community theatres.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 1:23pm

Mister Matt is correct, Masquerade Theatre did it here in Houston, but unfortunately i missed it. Finn even came in for some performances.

The other smaller no-name musical done here recently was A CLASS ACT, done very well recently at TheatreLab.

Houston is lucky to have smaller venues (where often the performers are not paid well, but are attracted by new fresh material) willing to take risks on "artistic" rather than "commercial" shows.