Songs For A New World
To guarantee commercial success, the current trend in musical
theater seems to favor light-hearted, feel-good comedies full of
spicy, naughty-but-nice innuendo--all of it wrapped up in bright
colorful costumes on boldly designed sets.
This musical format is certainly a lot of fun and there's
nothing wrong with it. In fact, critics enjoy these entertaining
productions along with everyone else.
If, however, you want to experience an exceptional musical
with a truly important theme, make sure to see International
City Theatre's current production, "Songs for a New World."
Written by Jason Robert Brown in 1995 (long before the
Philadelphia Inquirer dubbed him "one of the most sophisticated
songwriters since Stephen Sondheim"), this show is a compilation of
individual songs with lyrics that touch your heart, soul, and social
conscience.
Since 1995, Brown has written "Parade" (1999), for which he won a
Tony Award), "The Last Five Years" (2001), and "13" (2008). But when
he wrote "Songs for a New World," he was an unknown college drop-out,
a struggling composer full of hope for humanity and the American
musical.
Lucky for us, ICT picked Jules Aaron (the perfect director for
this work) and four brilliant performers to deliver Brown's dreams:
Jennifer Shelton, Brent Schindele, Anthony Manough and Parnia Ayari.
There are no heros or important figures in this plaintive paean,
just struggling loners with fervent hope for better days to come.
Aaron (a veteran ICT director) has his finger on the pulse of each
number. Under his superb guidance, the performers are on stage
through both acts, weaving 19 songs into a beautiful, meaningful
tapestry.
Each composition is a complete little play. Beginning with a
piece that charts the entire work's direction, the audience follows a
cross-section of characters through New World experiences on Stephen
Gifford's metaphoric set under Jared A. Sayeg's piercing light
design.
The songs address universal problems: struggling, scheming,
climbing, love, loss, and dreaming are things everyone can identify
and understand. Shelton's "I'm Not Afraid of Anything" and Ayari's
"Stars and the Moon" are sure to be favorites; as are Shindele's "She
Cries" and Manough's "King of the World. In the end, "Hear My Song"
brings humanity together.
We can't rave enough about the extraordinary voices in this
production. Regular ICT patrons are familiar with the talents of
Jennifer Shelton; but Ayari, Manough, and Schindele are making their
debuts. Sometimes they have solos, other times they perform
together. Either way, all four performers are knock-outs.
Whether portraying the plight of explorers, pioneers,
prisoners, immigrants, star-crossed lovers, whistlers-in-the-dark,
even the neglected wife of jolly old St. Nicolas--each vignette
enthrals the audience.
An on-stage three-piece band conducted from the piano by Brent
Crayon accompanies the troupe, which is beautifully choreographed by
Allison Bibicoff.
ICT's production of "Songs for a New World" continues
Thursday-Sunday, through November 15 at the Long Beach Performing
Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. For ticket information call (562)
436-4610 or www.ictlongbeach.org