Songs for a New World
REIMAGINED THEATRICAL SONG CYCLE, EMPHASISING HOPE FOR A NEW DAY,
DONATES PROCEEDS TO TUCSON’S “ARTISTS RELIEF FUND”
PERFORMANCES STREAMED AT 2:00 P.M. AND 6:00 P.M.
NOVEMBER 21, 2020
The Southern Arizona Performing Arts Company (SAPAC), a new nonprofit organization
dedicated to bringing musical theater to the Tucson area, is thrilled to announce two virtual
performances of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World, being streamed at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2020. Net proceeds from these virtual performances will support Tucson’s Artist Relief Fund.
Reimagined through the lens of our current pandemic, Songs for a New World is about the moments that upend our lives… 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 – every one of them so different, but all representing our current world along with our hopes for a new world… a better world. And whatever our new world looks like, this production reminds us of the decisions we must make to get there.
The first musical from three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, Songs for a New World was originally produced Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1995. The show went on to become a regional hit, and received its U.K. premiere in 2001. A special Encores! Off-Center staged concert was performed at New York City Center in 2018, and the show continues to be successfully produced around the world.
Filmed entirely in isolation, SAPAC’s powerhouse diverse cast (comprised of some of Tucson’s most talented artists along with additional performers from around the country), comes together virtually to deliver an exquisitely crafted score that runs the gamut of today’s popular music, including pop, gospel and jazz.
“If ever there was a time for hope, this surely is it,” says SAPAC General Director Dennis Tamblyn. “Even though our world has been upended, it’s clear that we all have the power to shape our future through the decisions we make today. And that’s what Songs for a New World is all about – an examination of those moments in life when everything seems perfect and then suddenly disaster strikes. But even more, it’s about how we respond and how we learn to move forward within a new set of circumstances – a new world – even against seemingly overwhelming odds.”
Composer/Lyricist Jason Robert Brown has thrown his support behind SAPAC’s new production. “I had the pleasure of speaking directly to Jason about our take on this work,” says Tamblyn. “He was excited about our approach to the show and provided some wonderful new insights into both the songs and the characters.”
Tickets for SAPAC’s streamed performances of Songs for a New World are $25.00 (plus a $2.00streaming fee), and can be purchased through SAPAC’s website at www.sapactucson.org.
Net proceeds from this production will benefit Tucson’s Artist Relief Fund.
