Hot on the heels of their award-winning production of Violet, Blue Saint Productions have announced they will present Jason Robert Brown’s stunning Songs for a New World at Chapel off Chapel in June 2016.
Songs for a New World is about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today. The first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges Of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices we make.
Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue to meet a startling array of characters ranging from a young man who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams and a soulless marriage.
Featuring a small, powerhouse cast and a driving, exquisitely crafted score running the gamut of today’s popular music, Songs For A New World is a great way to bring the next generation into the theatre.
Teagan Wouters (Woman 1) is currently performing as Tzeitel in Fiddler On The Roof. Before that she performed the role of Lisa Houseman in the Australian Tour of Dirty Dancing and Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family Musical.
John O’Hara (Man 1) recently toured in the tenth anniversary tour of Wicked, and has just been a part of the new and acclaimed staging of Stephen Sondheim’s Company.
Nat O’Donnell (Woman 2) has recently performed the role of Diana in Doorstep Productions’ production of Next to Normal at Hayes Theatre Co, she also received a Green Room nomination for her performance as Olive in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Linden Furnell (Man 2) recently cemented himself as a brilliant newcomer in the Australian theatre industry with his performance as Roger in the critically acclaimed production of RENT at Hayes Theatre Co. He also played various roles in the award-winning Sydney season of Violet.
Songs for a New World will be directed by Helpmann and Green Room award winner, Luke Joslin (Avenue Q, Les Miserables), Musical Direction by Geoffrey Castles (Les Miserables, Aladdin) and will be designed by Jacob Batista (Avenue Q, Carrie the Musical).
“When we were thinking about directors for this show, we wanted someone who could recreate this beautiful song-cycle as imagery plays an integral role in the story telling of this piece,” said Blue Saint Producers, Joshua Robson and Damien Bermingham.
“Luke Joslin has created a beautiful concept that pays homage to the original intent of the composer and a design for it to live and breathe in, focussing on the themes which make this production as timeless as it is.”
Songs for a New World
Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Season: 2 – 12 June 2016
Bookings: (03) 8290 7000 or online at: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For more information, visit: www.bluesaint.com.au for details.
Image: Nat O’Donnell, John O’Hara, Teagan Wouters and Linden Furnell to feature in Songs for a New World (supplied)