Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2016

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nal film in hopes to do an on-screen remake – and still
plans to do just that – he decided on a musical after read-
ing his tweaked script to an audience and hearing their
earnest feedback.
“We did a reading about a year ago, and someone
suggested putting it on stage,” explained Linda Eisen, the
show’s director, also a Mount Pleasant resident.
“I wanted to hear it read out loud and then send it to
my creative team in Los Angeles,” said Bernhard. “But
people were so enthusiastic, I decided to stage it right
away. A film will come eventually.”
Of course, any musical must have the tunes to carry
it through, and both Bernhard and Eisen shared their
enthusiasm with me about the songs for “The Brain That
Wouldn’t Die” and for composer Chris Cassone, whom
Eisen dubbed “one of the best.” In fact, Cassone, along
with musical director David McLaughlin, ventured to East
Cooper from the Big Apple to meet with the rest of the
crew for the occasion.
“These songs are smart, entertaining and funny,”
Eisen affirmed. “For me, it’s been great putting together
an A-team, some of the best people I’ve worked with, all
handpicked. And having the opportunity to work with a
New York choreographer and songwriter.”
The entire production is going to be first-class, essen-
tially, from the set designed by Daniel Kuhn to the props
designed by the folks from “The Inspectors,” a television
show filmed locally. Adjectives such as “beautiful” and
“fantastic” were uttered to describe the props and set, and
it’s clear that a musical of this caliber deserves a fine venue
go with it.
“The show will debut at the Footlight Players Theatre
in downtown Charleston,” said Eisen. “The space is rented
for the event; this is not a Footlight production. But we
needed a venue large enough for this production.”
Eisen and Bernhard are joined by Erin Danly, another
Mount Pleasant dweller, serving as the show’s stage man-
ager. Bernhard, who admitted that the show is his “maiden
voyage” in theater, had nothing but kind things to say
about the Charleston area’s theater scene, calling it “fun
and invigorating.”
“I’ve got 30 screen credits, but this is new,” he said.
“It’s the first original comedy musical of this scale to
debut in Charleston since “Porgy and Bess.” It will be a
landmark event.”
To find out more and to purchase tickets to The Brain That
Wouldn’t Die, visit
Combination tickets that include a ghost tour in downtown
Charleston are available.
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