About the Show
Songs for a New World is a new, compelling show unlike the everyday musical.  This energetic revue-style musical is a compilation of songs of personal discovery, varying from ballads to pop to R&B.  Each "story song" is a unique vignette portraying important crossroads in the lives of the characters.  A strong gospel flavor runs throughout the show highlighting the yearning for “a new world.”  The humorous “Surabaya-Santa” and “Just One Step” blend with the now-popular cabaret hit “Stars and the Moon” and the Motown sound of “The Steam Train” to bring characters from every walk of life.

About the Composer
Jason Robert Brown
Composer Jason Robert Brown was hailed by American Theatre magazine as "the hope of the American musical theatre."   Brown won the 1999 Tony Award for the musical Parade  and recently premiered his new musical, The Last Five Years.   But it has been for Songs for a New World that Brown has become increasingly popular.  In his own words, he believes this musical is about “hitting a wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back.”  Thus the show opens with “A New World” in which Brown tells audiences that “it’s about one moment -- just when you’re on the verge of success the sky starts to change, and the wind starts to blow,” and ends with “Hear My Song,” which Brown describes as a prayer.  He looks at this musical as an autobiography of his first years as a young composer in New York City.  He hopes that through these songs people will see themselves and find hope to press on.

The Cast of Songs for a New World

Act One
The New World......................................Company
On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492.....Michael Caufield with Heather Hannon, Sara Mahoney, Dan Fish and Brett Shellenberger
Just One Step.........................................Megan Wall
I'm Not Afraid of Anything.........................Amanda Dix
The River Won't Flow...............................Jason Blake, Tim Semchenko, with Melissa Christmas, Dan Fish, Christy Fairbairn, Megan Wall, Suzette Whetstone and Cory Walker
Transition I Solo.......................................Melissa Christmas
Stars and the Moon....................................Heather Hannon
She Cries...............................................Brett Shellenberger
The Steam Train.......................................Cory Walker with Melissa Christmas, Dan Fish, Christy Fairbairn, Allison Ross, Tim Semchenko and Megan Wall
 

Act Two
The World Was Dancing.............................Tim Semchenko with Sara Mahoney, Michael Caufield and Heather Hannon
Surabaya-Santa........................................Tara Brooke Watkins
Christmas Lullaby.....................................Suzette Whetstone
King of the World.....................................Cory Walker

I'd Give it All For You................................Michael Caufield and Amanda Dix
Transition II Solo......................................Dan Fish
The Flagmaker, 1775.................................Megan Wall
Flying Home...........................................Jason Blake with Michael Caufield, Melissa Christmas, Dan Fish, Sara Mahoney, Tara Brooke Watkins, Suzette Whetstone
Final Transition........................................Allison Ross, Tim Semchenko, Cory Walker and Megan Wall
Hear My Song.........................................Company