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)
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:
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Ana Gasteyer (Mimi Schwinn, his mom)
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:
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Aaron Lazar (Roger, his boyfriend)
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):
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Jenni Barber (Waitress/Nancy D)
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:
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Dan Fogler (Mr. Bungee)
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:
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Rema Webb (Homeless Woman)
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:
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Bradley Dean (Dr. Jafar)
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:
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Alyse Alan Louis (Rhoda)
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:
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Josh Lamon (Richard)
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:
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Quentin Earl Darrington (Minister)
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:
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See the whole gang in 'A New Brain' at New York City Center June 24-27.
