Casting has been revealed for Barrington Stage Company's upcoming run of William Finn and James Lapine's A New Brain, playing the Massachusetts company's Boyd-Quinson Stage August 16–September 10. Opening night is August 20.
Among the Broadway favorites set to star: three-time Tony nominee Mary Testa, who will play Gordon's mother, Mimi. The performance is a return to the material for Testa, who created the role of Lisa in the 1998 world premiere Off-Broadway production at Lincoln Center Theater. That character's song, "Change," has since become one of Testa's signature tunes.
Joining Testa will be Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal, Peter and the Starcatcher) leading the cast as Gordon, Tally Sessions (Company) as The Doctor, Demond Green (Sister Act) as The Minister, Dorcas Leung (Miss Saigon) as Rhoda, Josh Lamon (The Prom) as Mr. Bungee, Salome B. Smith (1776) as Lisa, and Justine Horihata Rappaport (Cinderella) as Nancy.
A New Brain features a score by Finn and a book co-written by Finn and Lapine. The semi-autobiographical story follows an aspiring Broadway songwriter whose life is thrown into chaos by a medical emergency. The work was the 1999 Outer Critics Circle Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical winner for its original production. A second NYC staging was mounted via New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series in 2015.
Barrington's production will be directed by Joe Calarco, with music direction by Vadim Feichtner, choreography by Chloe O. Davis, scenic design by Paige Hathaway, costume design by Debra Kim Sivigny, lighting design by Jason Lyons, and sound design by Ken Travis. John Godbout is production stage manager, with Leslie Sears serving as assistant stage manager. Casting is by McCorkle Casting's Pat McCorkle and Rebecca Weiss.
As previously announced, A New Brain is part of a Boyd-Quinson season that also includes runs of Cabaret, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and the now-Pulitzer-winning English. Barrington's St. Germain stage will host The Happiest Man on Earth, tiny father, and Faith Healer.
For dates and more details, visit BarringtonStageCo.org.
