SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD GOES NORTH

** Rockdale Musical Society today (May 8, 2012) announced that - due to forces beyond its control - it has had to cancel its planned 'touring' return season of Songs for a New World. ** 

Following a successful season in Sydney’s south, Rockdale Musical Society’s production Songs for a New World travels to Chatswood’s Zenith Theatre in May.

Songs for a New Worldis about one moment — or rather, isolated moments in the lives of many characters — in a variety of eras. Jason Robert 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. They range 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. These are the stories and characters of today, the songs for a new world.

Director Osman Kabbara says:

“Songs for a New World is that very rare beast: an abstract musical. There is no specific location other than the human heart and mind but the moments in life it captures are very real, very universal: the loss of a job; an unexpected pregnancy; the death of a loved one; the end of a marriage; imprisonment and more.

“These scene-songs chart the survival process of the modern individual through these challenges… their journey to the New World.”

Stage Whispers asked Kabarra about the challenges of remounting the show in a different, somewhat more sophisticated venue.

“We are not trying to reinvent the wheel for the return season of SFANW, but merely trying to create a better experience for the audience. The whole set itself was designed not only work for Bexley RSL, but we had enough verbal agreements from the Zenith that the show would continue to that venue, I ensured that a few pieces of the set met the audience perspective especially due to the auditorium styled seating there.

“Technically the staging of the show will not be affected, but the ability of the audience to move away from "the proscenium arch", will give them a whole new experience for the emotions and performances.”
Though originally performed on Broadway with a cast of four, RMS expanded this to eleven for their Bexley season as readers of our review will be aware, and are still using an expanded cast of seven for the Zenith season. Stage Whispers asked Kabbara what sort of changes audences are likely to experience as a result.

“There is always the possibility that people may not be available for a second run. In this case we lost five members and gained one. The fundamentals of the harmonies and the performances remain, but there is a re-work of the blocking that is underway.

“The smaller cast pack a punch, and in no way are any of the performances or the story telling lost by the smaller cast, in fact it has enhanced the moments of each of the individuals allowing them to shine in different moments across the show.

“While it was extremely daunting thinking about restaging the show while losing 5 members of your cast, you have to remind yourself that you have the talent to work with and now you get the chance to allow them to shine.

“A few of the scene-songs have been reworked to best fit some of the cast’s experience and talents.

“We have been lucky to keep Rod Bertram on with us for the second run, Rod and I spent countless hours working out the technical lighting and emotional effects the audience was going to experience during each number.”

Alongside Kabbara are musical director Adam Vujic, his orchestra led by Alex Ash and a cast  featuringAdam Ring, Anita Margiotta, Brad Facey, Elise Atkins, Kath Sharpham, Rachael Thompson and Tim Moxey.

Songs for a New Worldboasts an exquisitely crafted score running the gamut of today’s popular music styles and is a great introduction to the next generation of theatre audiences.

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
Zenith Theatre Chatswood, Corner McIntosh and Railway St (minutes from Chatswood Station)
Fri 18, Sat 19, Thu 24, Fri 25, Sat 26 May at 7.30pm; Matinee Sat 19 & 26 at 2pm, Sun 20at 3pm
Prices: Adult $30, Concession $25, Children $20
Bookings 9777 7555 or www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com  

Our earlier coverage

http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/songs-new-world-sydney’s-south

http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/songs-new-world

More Community Theatre

Community Theatre Seasons 2012 - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/community-theatre-seasons-2012

More Community Theatre - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre