40 | JUNE 10 • 2021
ARTS&LIFE
THEATER
J
ason Briggs has main-
tained a theater career
during the constraints of
the pandemic.
As the development officer
of the Flint Repertory Theatre,
Briggs continued his admin-
istrative responsibilities. As
an independent actor, he was
able to secure a role in A New
Brain, a play produced in film
format by Theatre Nova in
Ann Arbor, working with the
Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale.
The production features
music and lyrics by William
Finn and book by William
Finn and James Lapine, the
Tony Award-winning creators
of Falsettos. It was filmed in
April, edited in May and will
be available this month for
home viewing as released via
Broadway On Demand.
Throughout the filming,
cast and crew observed intense
COVID protocols.
“This is a beautiful show,”
said Briggs, 44, who appeared
in the pre-pandemic run of
Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre (JET) in
Walled Lake and won the
Wilde Award for Best Featured
Actor in a Musical.
“A New Brain centers around
a character named Gordon, a
composer who writes music
for a children’s television pro-
gram, and he absolutely hates
doing that,” Briggs said.
Gordon, coping with
brain surgery options, thinks
through his life, and most of
the play is set in the hospital
as significant incidents are
recalled.
“I play Richard, one of
Gordon’s two nurses,” Briggs
explained. “I’m known as the
nice nurse. My character is
very flamboyant, overly dra-
matic and really caring. He
has a great connection with
Gordon, Gordon’s mother and
Gordon’s partner. He’s also
extremely hilarious and deliv-
ers a lot of comedy into the
show.”
The cast includes director
Richard Payton as Gordon,
Diane Hills as Gordon’s moth-
er, Steve DeBruyne as the doc-
tor and Vince Kelley as Roger,
Gordon’s partner.
Just as the creators of the
show are from Jewish fam-
ilies, so is the character of
Gordon, who rejects the visit
of a minister, also played by
Briggs. Gordon explains that
he is Jewish and doesn’t want
to hear what the minister is
saying.
“There are other implied
references to him being Jewish,
Theatre Nova
presents on-
demand play that
explores second
chances.
A New Brain
SUZANNE CHESSLER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Details A New Brain
is available on demand on
June 12, 13, 19 and 20. $25.
TheatreNOVA.org.
Top and right:
Scenes from the play.
COURTESY OF THEATRE NOVA
COURTESY OF THEATRE NOVA
Jason Briggs