Жаңа Әлемге Әндер: Музыкалық Сапар

1995 musical by Jason Robert Brown

Songs for a New World is a work of musical theatre written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. This was Jason Robert Brown's first produced show, originally produced Off Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1995. Brown and director Daisy Prince put together songs he had written for other venues and events, resulting in "neither musical play nor revue, it is closer to a theatrical song cycle, a very theatrical song cycle." The show lies between musical and song cycle, but it is neither; it is an abstract musical, a series of songs all connected by a theme: "the moment of decision." Because of its small cast and orchestra, Songs for a New World has become a favorite small show for colleges and local theatres, despite its vocally demanding score.

A workshop of the show was produced in Toronto. The original Off Broadway production ran for a limited 3 1/2 week run, which included two 1/2 weeks of previews at the WPA Theatre in 1995. The original cast consisted of Brooks Ashmanskas, Andréa Burns, Jessica Molaskey and Billy Porter, with direction by Daisy Prince. The original band consisted of Jason Robert Brown on piano, Randy Landau on bass, Tom Partington on drums, Joe Reina on keyboards, and Warren Smith and Rob McEwan on percussion. The first regional production was mounted by New Line Theatre in St. Louis in 1998. Songs for a New World premiered in the UK in 2001, at the Bridewell Theatre in a production directed by Clive Paget. The cast was led by Craig Purnell (Best Actor in a Musical, WhatsOnStage Awards 2002), Golda Rosheuvel, Sarah Redmond and Nigel Richards. The first professional revival in New York was staged in October 2008 at the Chernuchin Theatre, featuring a 14 member youth ensemble in addition to the four principal performers. The production was directed by Debbie Slevin. In 2013, the show premiered in Paris, France. In 2015, Songs for a New World was revived at the St James Theatre, London. The cast consisted of Cynthia Erivo, Jenna Russell, Damian Humbley and Dean John Wilson. The production was directed by Adam Lenson. A special Encores! Off Center staged concert of Songs for a New World was performed at New York City Center June 27 through June 30, 2018. The production was directed by Kate Whoriskey and starred Shoshana Bean, Colin Donnell, Mykal Kilgore, and Solea Pfeiffer. The show continues to be popular among amateur theatre groups with performances across Australia, the US and the UK. In July 2020, as theatres around the world remained dark due to the COVID 19 pandemic, The Other Palace (formerly St James Theatre) again revived Songs for a New World. Directed by Séimí Campbell, starring Rachel John, Ramin Karimloo, Cedric Neal and Rachel Tucker and featuring new graduate Shem Omari James, the digital production was filmed entirely in isolation with contemporary news footage interwoven with the musical numbers. The production had music supervision by Adam Hoskins. This production was transferred into a physical production for 2 shows at The London Palladium on 11 October 2020. Rachel John, Cedric Neal, Rachel Tucker and Shem Omari James reprised their roles from the digital production. The role of Man 2 was taken over by David Hunter and the show had an ensemble made up of 3rd Year students from Mountview Academy. Audiences were socially distanced and there were other safety measures put into place to protect from the spreading of COVID 19. The London Palladium production is set to have an official West End transfer and run from 5 February 2021 at the Vaudeville Theatre, on the strand. Both Rachels, Cedric and David are all set to reprise their roles.

The 1996 Off Broadway production was recorded by RCA and released in March 1997. The 2018 Encores! production was recorded by Ghostlight Records and released in January 2019.

The music of Songs for a New World is influenced by a broad range of musical genres, including pop, gospel and jazz. Many of the songs combine elements of two or more of these genres. The piano features heavily throughout the show's music. An extensive background and analysis essay about the show was written by Scott Miller. The Variety reviewer noted: "His debut foray into his own spotlight comes with 'Songs for a New World,' a musical revue that shows Brown to be a capable songwriter of the Alan Menken school: commercial show tune pop with palatable sentiment and easy to take melody 'Songs for a New World' seems to contain more cabaret convention and pianobar posing than any one revue should have to withstand."