When you're about to die, what becomes important?

That is the question at the heart of the next musical produced by fledgling theater company Dark Horse Company Theatre.

The start-up, run by four actors, had a sold-out run with its first production, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," and it continues on its mission of choosing lesser-known pieces.

This time, it's a musical by William Finn and composer Jason Robert Brown ("The Last 5 Years") called "A New Brain," a semi-autobiographical journey of a man who survives a cerebral hemorrhage.

Gordon is a composer for a children's show and is unhappy with his work. While lunching with a friend, he begins hallucinating, passes out and is rushed to the hospital.

As he grapples with impending brain surgery, his dreams are vivid and filled with song. The show is told with comedy, heart and great music.

The show runs Nov. 6-15, The Post Theatre, University of Utah, 245 S. Fort Douglas, Bldg. 636. Shows are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 15. Tickets are $15 (www.darkhorsecompanytheatre.com).

Here are the rest of this week's openings:

"Eleemosynary," Pinnacle Acting Company, Nov. 5-14, Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 W. 7720 South, Midvale.

This play probes the delicate relationship of three generations of women: the grandmother, her daughter and her daughter's daughter, as they deal with years of alienation and estrangement in learning to come together.

Shows are Thursdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-$12 (www.pinnacleactingcompany.org).

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," Cache Regional Theatre Company, Nov. 5-9, Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan.

Small-town girl Millie Dillmount has big ambitions when she moves to New York. But first she needs to marry the rich man of her dreams.

Join the fun in this Tony Award-winning musical as Millie finds her true love.

Shows are nightly. 7:30 p.m., with a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets are $12-$17 (435-752-0026 or www.ellenecclestheatre.org).

"Time and the Conways," Nov. 6-15, Babcock Theatre, first level of Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East.

The Conways, celebrating Kay's 21st birthday in 1919, seem like the ideal family with a bright future.

But with glimpses into the future, we see where the seeds of deterioration were planted.

Show nights vary, 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees. Tickets are $7-$13 (801-581-7100 www.kingtix.com)

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com