A New Brain

Written by William Finn and James Lapine

Directed by Cassandra Tse

Music Directed by Lauren Simpkins

Gordon Schwinn is an aspiring stage composer, currently making ends meet by churning out uninspired songs for the children’s television programme Mr Bungee’s Neighbourhood. While complaining to his agent about his boring job and tyrannical boss, he suddenly collapses face-first into a bowl of pasta and is rushed to hospital. There, with his mother Mimi and boyfriend Roger at his side, he prepares to go under the knife, and begins to reassess his life, his relationships and his priorities, while those around him deal with the possibility of losing someone they love.

Presented here in its New Zealand premiere, A New Brain is a funny, life-affirming chamber musical with a beautiful score.

Director's Note

"I have been fascinated by A New Brain for many years now... It's a surreal, hilarious and deeply moving celebration of life in the face of mortality, and also features a guy in a frog suit.

For me, that's everything musical theatre should be. I feel endlessly privileged to be working with this inspiring, talented team of artists and collaborators on this show, and I look forward to crying my eyes out every night during the finale."

- Cassandra Tse