After learning about a theatrical show called "A New Brain," many people have asked: “How do you write a musical about brain surgery?” The answer is “with humor and compassion” as we hear in this report from WMUK’s Lorraine Caron.
“A New Brain” by William Finn was staged Off-Broadway for about 5 months in 1998. The story of a man’s recovery from brain surgery is being produced by the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, January 13th through the 29th. Finn is known for his previous Tony award-winning works “Falsettos” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and his autobiographical work “A New Brain” deals with sickness and the healing power of art. The Civic production is under the direction of Western Michigan University theatre professor Jay Berkow. The Kalamazoo Civic’s production of “A New Brain” opens Friday in the Parrish Theatre, with direction by WMU’s Jay Berkow.
"From the Top" with Christopher O’Riley
From the Top showcases young classical musicians from around the country. WMUK’s Cara Lieurance talked with From the Top host Christopher O’Riley about how it all got started.
These days, From the Top has a long waiting list. To get on the show, young performers are recommended by their teachers and send audition tapes. When selected, the show's producers call and talk with the young players, not just about music but about sports, books, movies, school and life events that have shaped them.The day before taping, the players get together and perform for each other, and work with Christopher O'Riley.On the day of the live show, there's a full dress rehearsal, with performances and interviews, which is taped. The run-through serves as a backup in the rare case of mishap during the live taping.
Christopher O'Riley credits part of his natural rapport with young musicians to the idiosyncratic approach he takes to his own concerts, which feature his arrangements of rock music. He's released two albums of Radiohead transcriptions, as well as albums of Elliot Smith and Nick Drake. These arrangements take time to create. He listens to the original hundreds of times before attempting a piano rendition.
On his solo public recital this Friday night, Christopher O'Riley will feature Franz Liszt's arrangements of music of his contemporaries, including songs of Schubert and Schumann and opera paraphrases of Mozart's Don Giovanni and Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. O'Riley will discuss the works from stage and also play his latest transcriptions, including the iconic music from Psycho, by Bernard Hermann. Christopher O'Riley's solo recital is Friday at 8:15 and the From the Top concert is Sunday at 3:00 both at the Dalton Center Recital Hall.
(Music: Paranoid Android arr/Christopher O'Riley; Prelude from Psycho, by Bernard Herrmann, played by Los Angeles Philharmonic/Esa-Pekka Salonen)
Other Events
Early risers might enjoy Birds & Coffee at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m on Wednesday, January 11th. You can have a cup of certified bird-friendly coffee while bird watching. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for seniors.
The Henhouse Prowlers will be playing on Thursday, January 12th at Bell’s Eccentric Café.
The band Bearfoot will be doing a show at The Acorn Theater this Friday, the 13th. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 8 p.m.
The Crawlspace Eviction comedy troupe will be performing “Redenbaucher 3D” at the Crawlspace Theatre on Friday and Saturday. The show starts at 7 p.m. General admission is $10, students pay $7.
