When William Finn began work on A New Brain after leaving the hospital following a harrowing brush with arteriovenous malformation, he wrote a number of songs that did not survive the cutting process on the journey to its 1998 Off-Broadway debut. One of these songs, "Anytime," remained hidden until Norm Lewis introduced it in the 2001 anthology show Infinite Joy, prior to Carolee Carmello memorably folding it into 2003’s Elegies.
Nearly 25 years later, "Anytime" is returning to A New Brain at Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Performed by Darrell Purcell, Jr. as Roger, the tender song elaborates on the depth of devotion between protagonist Gordon and his boyfriend Roger.
“‘Anytime’ is one of Bill Finn's most beautiful songs," says director Joe Calarco. "It was rehearsed for the Lincoln Center Theater production in 1998 but was cut before the show went into performances. I asked Bill and James Lapine if we could reinstate it, and they generously said yes. Besides its beauty, the song allows us to see the full range of Gordon and Roger's relationship and their deep love for and commitment to each other.”
This revival of A New Brain, which begins performances August 16 2023 and runs through to September, also brings another element of the original Off-Broadway production back to the fore: three-time Tony nominee Mary Testa, who will play Gordon's mother, Mimi. Testa created the role of Lisa in the 1998 world premiere Off-Broadway production at Lincoln Center Theater.