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A Major YouTube/GIF Freak-Out Over Encores! A New Brain

Last updated June 23rd, 2015 by BroadwayBox Staff
A Major YouTube/GIF Freak-Out Over Encores! A New Brain

Encores! kicks off its popular Off-Center series—which gives beloved off-Broadway musicals a whirl on the mainstage—with William Finn and James Lapine’s heartbreaker A New Brain. The autobiographical musical about a composer who is diagnosed with a brain tumor runs at New York City Center from June 24 to June 27, and while a big fuss is being made about the show’s headliner, Looking and Hamilton Tony nominee Jonathan Groff, we can’t help but lose our minds over the whole cast Encores! assembled.

Jonathan Groff (Gordon Michael Schwinn, the composer)

Jonathan Groff headshot

Why We Love Him: We could talk about Looking, Frozen, Glee, Hamilton, Normal Heart, how sweet and charming he always is in interviews, that time he danced “Anything Goes” or whatever else, but doesn’t it really always boil down to “Mirror Blue Night” from the original production of Spring Awakening? Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Jonathan Groff GIF- Anything Goes

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/groff.jpg

Ana Gasteyer (Mimi Schwinn, his mom)

Ana gasteyer headshot

Why We Love Her: From 1996-2002, you could turn on Saturday Night Live and just know Ana Gasteyer was going to have you LOLing. Then she was like, ‘Hey, I can really sing too, look at me play Elphaba in Wicked, Fanny Brice in Funny Girl and Fosca in Passion.’ #MindsBlown Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Ana Gasteyer GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/ana.jpg

Aaron Lazar (Roger, his boyfriend)

Aaron Lazar- Once Upon a Mattress

Why We Love Him: The combination of that voice and those looks is worth getting kicked in the head by a pony for (#Piazza). But yeah, he always delivers and his performance tends to be the highlight of whatever he’s in at the moment: Mamma Mia, The Last Ship, Les Miz, Night Music, A Tale of Two Cities. Must-Watch YouTube Clip (he goes from Raoul to Phantom…as he should…on Broadway…ASAP):

Ultimate GIF:
Aaron Lazar GIF- Night Music

Photo That Gives Us Life:
Aaron Lazar- Encores- New Brain


Jenni Barber (Waitress/Nancy D)

Jenni Barber Headshot

Why We Love Her: Did you see The Performers? Come on!! Also, she was killer in The Nance, Annie, Spelling Bee and Wicked, but again…The Performers. Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Jenni Barber Wicked GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/jenni.jpg

Dan Fogler (Mr. Bungee)

Dan Folger Broadway

Why We Love Him: Because he was so hilarious and on point in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee he won a Tony Award, and now he’s finally back on stage in another Finn/Lapine pairing. Also, his screen creds have been off the hook. Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Dan Folger GIF- Spelling Bee GIF- Broadway

Photo That Gives Us Life:
Dan Folger- High Times


Rema Webb (Homeless Woman)

Rema Webb Headshot

Why We Love Her: If you saw RTC’s revival of Violet, there’s no forgetting Rema Webb. It was practically a holy experience when she performed that gospel number “Raise Me Up”. Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Rema Webb GIF- Violet GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/webb.jpg

Bradley Dean (Dr. Jafar)

Bradley Dean Actor- Broadway

Why We Love Him: He was Raul’s standby in Company, he played Che in the national tour of Evita and he replaced Aaron Lazar as Count Carl-Magnus in Night Music and Chris Sieber in Spamalot—translation, this guy has some set of pipes. Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Bradley Dean GIF- NIght Music GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
Bradley Dean- Fly


Alyse Alan Louis (Rhoda)

Alyse Alan Louis- Actor- Musical

Why We Love Her: Because she was absolute perfection as fresh-faced porn star in the Civilians’ off-Broadway musical Pretty Filthy. Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Alyse Alan Louis- Spring Awakening GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/alysa.jpg

Josh Lamon (Richard)

Josh Lamon Headshot

Why We Love Him: Lamon knows how to get an audience laughing, whether it’s in Broadway’s Finding Neverland, Hair or Elf or off-Broadway’s Little Miss Sunshine where he slayed as Wes Taylor’s bf. Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Josh Lamon GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/josh.jpg

Quentin Earl Darrington (Minister)

Quentin Earl Darrington- Heashot

Why We Love Him: He played Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the revival of Ragtime. Do we need more than “Wheels of a Dream” to love someone?! Must-Watch YouTube Clip:

Ultimate GIF:
Quentin Earl Darrington GIF

Photo That Gives Us Life:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/broadwaybox/mediaspot/q.jpg

See the whole gang in 'A New Brain' at New York City Center June 24-27.

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