A New Brain - September 19-21, 26-28, & October 3-5, 2008

William Finn

William Alan Finn (born February 28, 1952) is an award winning American composer and lyricist of musicals. He majored in music at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. He is also Adjunct Faculty Composer/Lyricist at NYU. Finn is a heavily autobiographical writer. His topics are often about the gay and Jewish experiences in contemporary America and deal with family conflict, belonging, sickness, healing, and loss. Finn is especially well noted for his work on what was to become a trilogy of short musical shows performed Off-Broadway in the 80s and 90s: In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland.

With writer James Lapine, Finn penned a musical loosely based on his near-death experience following brain surgery, exploring the role of music in his life and recovery. The musical's main character is a man who has what may be terminal brain cancer. The show, A New Brain, starred Malcolm Gets, Kristin Chenoweth and Chip Zien, and premiered at Lincoln Center in 1998. The UK premiere was at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005.

More recently, Finn scored another Broadway success with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for which he wrote both music and lyrics. The show won two Tony Awards in 2005; one for Best Book of a Musical, and another for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, and toured the United States in 2006.

The show was first produced at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA, where Finn later created The Musical Theatre Lab with BSC Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd. The MTL is an annual summer lab where emerging musical theatre artists are supported and new musical works are created, fine-tuned and produced under the direction of both Finn and Boyd.

Three musical reviews of Finn's music have been produced in the last decade: Infinite Joy, in which the composer played the piano and sang along with an all-star cast, contained several songs from shows that were unfinished, and some that were cut from previous shows, and Elegies: A Song Cycle, which is a series of songs the composer wrote in memoriam of loved ones now gone, and in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Make Me a Song was his most recent showcase of work. His once in-development show, The Royal Family of Broadway, with a book by Richard Greenberg, has been shelved according to Finn and Playbill magazine.

Finn's most frequent collaborators include: librettist James Lapine, director Graciela Daniele and singers Stephen Bogardus, Carolee Carmello, Stephen deRosa, Alison Fraser, Keith Byron Kirk, Norm Lewis, Michael Rupert, Mary Testa, and Chip Zien.

Finn Credits (Partial)

• In Trousers (1979, revised 1987) - Off Broadway musical - composer, lyricist
• March of the Falsettos (1981) - Off Broadway musical - composer, lyricist
• America Kicks Up Its Heels (1983) - Off Broadway musical - composer, lyricist
• Dangerous Games (1989) - Broadway musical - lyricist; music by Ástor Piazzolla
• Romance in Hard Times (1989) - Off Broadway musical - composer, lyricist
• Falsettoland (1990) - Off Broadway musical - composer, lyricist
• Falsettos (1992) - Broadway musical - composer, lyricist, co-writer with James Lapine
• A New Brain (1998) - Off Broadway musical - composer, lyricist, co-writer
• Love's Fire (1998) - playwright, composer and lyricist for the song "Painting"
• Elegies: A Song Cycle (2003) - Off Broadway revue - composer, lyricist
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2004) - 2005 Off Broadway musical transferred to Broadway - composer, lyricist
• Make Me a Song (2007) - Off Broadway revue - composer, lyricist

Brain Credits & Brain Critics

A New Brain opened at Off Broadway’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center on May 14, 1998, and closed on August 23, 1998. It was directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele, with sets by David Gallo, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Peggy Eisenhauer, sound by Tony Meola. Michael Starobin was orchestrator, Ted Sperling was musical director, and vocal arrangements were by Jason Robert Brown. A cast recording was made on RCA Victor.

"Filled with beguiling, buoyant melody [and] witty and original lyrics . . . The kind of musical theatre invention we have come to expect from this gifted artist." InTheatre

"When it comes to considering their own mortality, 'there's no people, like show people.' Now William Finn, the composer of the wonderful 'Falsetto' musicals, translates his life-threatening experiences on the operating table into an evening of song and dance called 'A New Brain.' Kander and Ebb got it wrong, it seems; it's death that's the cabaret. Mr. Finn originally conceived what became 'A New Brain' as a series of revue numbers, and it might have worked better in that format. Mr. Finn's musical is good-hearted and likable, but it feels at best distant and at worst like a singing, inspirational Hallmark card; it doesn't grab you while you're watching it or stay with you afterward. This doesn't seem fair, does it? But as 'A New Brain' itself observes on several occasions, human life is strong on neither justice nor logic." The New York Times

About The Brain & Neurology

In animals, THE BRAIN is the control center of the nervous system, responsible for behavior. In mammals, the brain is located in the head, protected by the skull and close to the primary sensory apparatus of vision, hearing, balance, taste, and smell. While all vertebrates have a brain, most invertebrates have either a centralized brain or collections of individual ganglia. The human brain contains roughly 100 billion neurons, linked with up to 10,000 connections each. Early views on the function of the brain regarded it as little more than cranial stuffing. Over the next five-thousand years, this view came to be reversed; the brain is now known to be seat of intelligence, although idiomatic variations of the former remain.

NEUROLOGY is a medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and tissue. In the United States and Canada, neurologists are physicians who have completed postgraduate training in neurology after graduation from medical school. During a neurological examination, the neurologist reviews the patient's health history with special attention to the current condition. The patient then takes a neurological exam. Typically, the exam tests mental status, function of the cranial nerves (including vision), strength, coordination, reflexes and sensation. This information helps the neurologist determine if the problem exists in the nervous system. Further tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis and ultimately guide therapy and appropriate management. Neurologists frequently care for people with hereditary (genetic) diseases. Some neurologists may develop an interest in particular subfields, such as dementia, movement disorders, headaches, epilepsy, sleep disorders, chronic pain management, multiple sclerosis or neuromuscular diseases.

Arteriovenous Malformation

An ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION or AVM is a congenital disorder of the connections between the veins and arteries in the vascular system. Symptoms of AVM vary according to the location of the malformation. A New Brain author William Finn was successfully treated for this affliction in the early 90s. Often the malformation is discovered as part of an autopsy or during treatment for an unrelated disorder. The most general symptoms include headache and seizures, with more specific symptoms occurring that normally depend on the location of the malformation and the individual.

Other possible AVM symptoms include:

• Difficulties with coordination, including paralysis and muscle weakness.
• Difficulties with normal speech and communication.
• Difficulties with everyday activities.
• Abnormal sensations such as numbness, tingling, or spontaneous pain.
• Memory and thought related problems, such as dementia or hallucinations.

Arteries and veins are part of the human cardiovascular system. Normally, the arteries in the vascular system carry oxygen rich blood at a relatively high pressure. If the capillary bed is thought of as a sponge, then an AVM is the rough equivalent of jamming a tangle of flexible soda straws from artery to vein through that sponge. On arteriogram films AVM formation often resemble a tangle of spaghetti noodles. The result is a collection of blood vessels with abnormal connections and no capillaries. This bleeding can be devastating, particularly in the brain. It can cause severe and often fatal strokes. Treatment can involve surgery or radiation therapy.

An estimated 300,000 Americans have AVMs, of which 12% (approximately 36,000) will exhibit symptoms.

Face Down In The Ziti

Ziti Is a type of pasta with cylinder shaped pieces, usually with a ridged surface with the ends cut diagonally. The same or similar shape is also called mostaccioli and penne. Penne is the plural form of the Italian penna, deriving from Latin penna (meaning "feather"). In Italy, Ziti are produced in two variants: "Ziti lisce" (smooth) and "Ziti rigate" (furrowed), the latter having ridges on each noodle. Ziti is traditionally cooked al dente and served with pasta sauces such as pesto. Ziti is a popular ingredient in pasta salads. Ziti is an excellent and versatile pasta for many applications because of its very practical design. The hollow center allows it to hold sauce, while the angular ends act as scoops. Ziti's ridges allow it to hold still more sauce, as well as lending it an appealing texture.

Recipe: Vegetarian Ziti Al'Arrabbiata ("Angry" Ziti)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. Ziti
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp crushed red chili peppers
• 1 12-oz can crushed tomatoes
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Directions:

While water for the pasta boils, heat a large sauce pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add olive oil. When oil is hot, add garlic and chili pepper and cook, stirring, until garlic is a dark golden brown, around 5 minutes. Turn off heat for one minute to minimize spattering. Add tomato puree to the pot with salt and pepper. Turn heat to medium. Simmer for 10-15 minutes and serve over the Ziti pasta with grated Romano cheese.

Creepy Kid Shows In Costume

PEE WEE HERMAN is the showbiz alias of Paul Reubens, the star of the Emmy winning Saturday morning live-action children's program Pee Wee's Playhouse. Pee Wee Herman first surfaced in 1979 when he introduced a number of zany characters while playing with the Los Angeles based comedy improvisational group, the Groundlings. Pee Wee was a cross between a spoiled kid, and silly, prancing nerd. His giggly persona consisted of a crew cut hair style, smirking cherry red lips, a size too small 1950s style gray plaid suit, skinny red bow tie, white socks and shoes. Paul Reubens' cult status gave him the opportunity to star in his own movies including Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985) and Big Top Pee Wee (1988). In July, 1988, his own star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tragically, in 1991, Pee Wee Herman's career took a fatal turn when he was arrested in an adult movie house. According to USA Today, "Reubens was arrested and released on bail on a charge of 'exposing himself' at an XXX rated Sarasota Fla., movie house. Reaction to his arrest prompted CBS to pull reruns of Pee Wee's Playhouse. In a now prophetic statement given to a reporter for the N.Y. Daily News about his goals Pee Wee stated "making a living, having good personal hygiene and staying out of jail." He returned to television triumphantly on the 1991 MTV Awards program as a forgiving audience of his peers greeted him with rousing applause. Pee Wee jokingly asked them "Heard any good jokes lately?" (referring to the many off-color jokes about his predicament) and followed by saying "Ha, that's so funny I forgot to laugh."

When an eight tape boxed set of Pee Wee's Playhouse were sold to the general public longtime children's show host Bob Keeshan (a.k.a. "Captain Kangaroo") gave the series content a "B+" rating and said "Pee-wee is a benign character who treats his friends with respect... and children will relate to and learn from them." Reruns of Pee Wee's shows have since returned to cable TV.

BARNEY THE DINOSAUR Is the magical prehistoric host of Barney & Friends, an educational series aimed at preschoolers. With the inspiration and guidance of the six-foot tall, purple dinosaur, this sing-along children's program encouraged youngsters to be creative and be happy. Although many children loved the show, it drove some adults a little crazy. Late night talk show host David Letterman compiled the "Top 10 Horrifying Secrets of Barney the Dinosaur" which included news of an indecent proposal Barney allegedly made: "Offered Fred Flintstone $1 million for one night with Dino." An excerpt from the May 3, 1993 issue of The New Yorker relayed the story of a serenely good natured mother who confessed: "I bought the Barney book, I read it to my daughter in the Barney voice. My husband looked at me with mistrust, but I did it." Afterwards she concluded, "I wish I could shoot Barney."

TELETUBBIES is a BBC children's TV series aimed at pre-school viewers, produced from 1997 to 2001. Although the show is aimed at children between the ages of one and four, it has been a substantial cult hit with older generations, including university students. The program features four colorful characters: Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, who live in a futuristic dome set in a landscape of rolling hills. The Teletubbies speak in a gurgling baby language, which is the subject of some controversy among educators, some of who argue that this supposedly made up talk is not good for children. Bottom line - they’re creepy. Agreed?

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