Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown’s hot off Broadway musical revue, “Songs for a New World” will be performed on Nov. 23 and 24 at Corthell Hall.
The musical revue will showcase 10 of The School of Music’s performers. Director Edward Reichert believes the show is “all about their talent.”
“Songs for a New World” performs songs about characters in difficult moments in their lives.
“The content of the material everyone can relate to,” said Reichert. “They are all linked by a common theme of dealing with a special moment or crisis in their life.”
Many of the songs are sung from characters from history though Brown’s lyrics never name the individual. A song entitled, “Flag Maker,” tells the story of a woman who is overcome with emotion after all the men have to go to war. To help relieve her sorry she sits and sews a flag. The songs alludes to Betsy Ross though she is never named in the song. The song could be about any woman.
“That’s the genius part of his (Brown’s) writing. He has fully developed characters in each song,” said Reichert.
The concert will be performed quite like it was staged in New York City, where it premiered. Reichert won’t disclose the uses of the stage saying instead, “the most important presentation of the songs are the music and lyrics.” The performance will be true to the NYC presentation of a bare bones set.
“The revue is all about the performers and what they have to say through the songs.”
The composer, Brown, is being hailed as the next Stephan Sondheim, his generations most talented songwriters. Reichert calls him the “greatest hope for American musicals.” The cast of the show along with the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) will be raising funds to bring Brown to USM in April. He will offer workshops and a master class in which he will direct the performers in his songs. The cast will perform songs from all his plays including “Songs for a New World” and “Parade.”
Reichert believes the show has a great heart with talented performers. The show takes people from everywhere in history from Christopher Columbus to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The show ends with the entire cast singing “Here My Song”. Reichert feels the songs brings out the backbone of the show.
“The song says, everything is fine. Have faith in yourself and in music.”