Director, actor, choreographer and wicked talent Alex Blouin let the new Redwood Curtain production of A New Brain marinate for years. Her persistence and ambition in getting this charming musical produced by Redwood Curtain Theatre finally comes to fruition in a spectacular way at 5th and D Street Theater. With star-studded local theater familiars, beautiful stage direction and stunning vocals guided by David Powell, there is nothing bad to say about this beautiful piece. As most of the cast and crew expect, I have thoughts, but in no way should they deter any lover of a good musicals from this must-see. In fact, you may be foolish to consider not seeing it.  Dramaturgists say an incredible theatrical story could be successfully told in the middle of a Safeway parking lot — all other production elements simply accentuate the piece when transferred to the stage. This story of Gordon (Jordan Dobbins), a musician struggling to write for children’s television celebrity Mr. Bungee (Evan Needham), is stricken with an arteriovenous malformation in his brain. His biggest fear is to die with his music still inside him. As he is attended by friend Rhonda (Emma Dobbins), lover Roger (Rigel Schmitt), mother Mimi (Chris Jioras), nurses (Tina Tomata and Nanette Voss), a homeless lady (Elaine Yslas) and a minister (Jaiden Clark), his songs propel the plot and illuminate each character and relationship. Blouin masterfully sculpts the story, making her complex stage patterns and beautiful tableaus look effortless. The dedication to character development and story make this piece universal and mesmerizing in any circumstance. Unfortunately, the lighting and costume design did little to elevate the production and did not match the attention to detail given to the performance aspect. Though it didn’t distract, more (or any) design in dream sequences, slight shifts in positioning that allow for actors to easily find their light or costumes that enhance characterization based on script cues, could propel the piece further. Why is Roger, presumably coming straight off the ocean and singing a stunning ballad about his love for sailing, looking like he is coming straight from Wall Street in sterile white light that doesn’t quite envelope the actor? Likewise, what nurse wears sandal-like flats through their intensive care shift?   Still, every actor gives their absolute best in every moment. Jordan Dobbins is always brilliant and hilarious bits of physicality in this production add yet another layer to his already impressive repertoire…