Music serves as coping tactic in "A New Brain"

The cast of the University Players brought “A New Brain” to life this weekend, and Studio Theatre in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center provided the stage.

Blue lights beamed on a simple set that featured a human head and various phrases such as “music,” “songs I never wrote” and “daddy issues,” around the head. This conveyed the many thoughts of the main character.

University Players is a student-run theater group that provides hands-on experience for students. The group stages less common productions, and “A New Brain,” performed by the group Thursday and Friday, was one of them.

“A lot of people don’t give enough credit to these student projects,” junior Taylor Crousore said. “They’re doing this because they love to do this. That’s what’s so great. In the words of this musical, they had so much ‘heart and music.’”

The production, written by William Finn, is somewhat autobiographical. The plot is sprinkled with humor and is about a young songwriter, Gordon Michael Schwinn, dealing with a brain malfunction and discovering the healing power of music.

After fainting at lunchtime and waking in a hospital, Gordon takes the audience through the journey of a man desperate to write a song before he dies. He also battles the haunting presence of Mr. Bungee, the host of the show he works for.

Gordon struggles to pull through with the help of his apparition and his loved ones.
Jamie Anderson, director of the production, felt a similar connection to the musical.
While Anderson was growing up, his father had an aneurism.

“This show is very near and dear to my heart, to be on the verge of almost losing a loved one,” Anderson said.

The production was as informational as it was entertaining,  demonstrating coping mechanisms and the importance of art and music, Anderson said.

“I was shocked by the outstanding production value and the sheer level of talent of everyone on that stage,” senior Matt Birdsong said.