Groff plays a songwriter dealing with a brain tumor. Dan Fogler will play Groff's overbearing boss. His movies include "Balls of Fury" and "Kung Fu Panda."
Ana Gasteyer (Mimi Schwinn), a former member of the "Saturday Night Live" troupe of comedy players, has appeared on Broadway four times, including a stint as Elphaba in Wicked. Aaron Lazar (Roger) has nine Broadway credits, the most recent being the Sting musical The Last Ship.
The musical features a book by James Lapine and a score by William Finn. Lapine will also direct the staging.
A New Brain, inspired by composer Finn’s personal experiences, is, press notes state, "a medical tragedy seen through the zany iris of a Looney Tunes short. After struggling composer Gordon Michael Schwinn (Jonathan Groff) collapses face-first into a plate of spaghetti, he is diagnosed with a brain tumor and is forced to come to terms with his creative ambitions and the lovable screw-ups in his life: an overbearing boyfriend, a power-belting homeless woman, and a nasty kiddie-show host named Mr. Bungee." Also announced for the cast are Jenni Barber, Quentin Earl Darrington, Bradley Dean, Josh Lamon, Alyse Alan Louis and Rema Webb. Josh Prince will serve as choreographer. Chris Fenwick is music director.
The 2015 Encores! Off-Center season will feature sets by Donyale Werle, costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Mark Barton and sound design by Leon Rothenberg.
The series also features The Lobby Project, a series of free performances, conversations and readings by groundbreaking artists, poets, authors and performers. The Lobby Project events place each musical in the context of its legacy and provide insights into the work the audience is about to experience. The schedule will be announced at a later time.
All tickets begin at $25 and can be purchased at the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix at (212) 581-1212, or online at NYCityCenter.org.
