On Stage: Songs for a New World

The themes of hope, love, loss and the power of choice are enthusiastically brought to life by a team of talented young performers in Songs for a New World.

This new production, which follows a successful run in 2023, is on stage at Chapel off Chapel until August 10.

Unlike the original show, created by American musical theatre composer, lyricist and playwright Jason Robert Brown in 1995, this production features more performers together with dance sequences created by the show’s producers Soundworks Productions.

However, the show’s theme and the songs remain the same.

Unlike many musicals, Songs for a New World, has no storyline. It’s a collection of standalone songs, each a self-contained story or moment in time highlighting different emotions, dreams, beginnings, life-altering moments and choices that have to be made.

The opening song, The New World, for example highlights that even when everything seems stable and certain, there is one moment that can upend and change anyone’s life. In The World Was Dancing a man tells the story of how his father bought, then lost, a store, and how the experience influenced his decision to leave his fiancée.

I’d Give It All for You sees a pair of former lovers reunite after attempting to live without each other. Stars and the Moon recounts the story of three women in search of the perfect partner while The Steam Train sees a teenager from a poor neighbourhood boast of a possible future as a basketball star.

In Christmas Lullaby a woman reacts with wonder and joy to the discovery of her pregnancy, comparing herself to The Virgin Mary.  King of the World sees a man in some form of prison, either literal or metaphorical, demands that he be freed and returned to his rightful place as a leader of men.

In total the 100-minute production features 19 songs blending numerous musical styles.

Bringing these songs to life are 15 performers (as opposed to four performers who usually feature in a production) and a 10-piece band.

Performers Isabella Gangi, Kelse Halge, Anna Francesca Armenia, Ken Paolo Gilua, Ethan Cooper, Dan Ham, Ben Goldsbrough, Maddi Xuereb, Alessandra Merlo, Benoit Vari, Campbell Bonello, Mollie Williams, Tayla Muir, Teo Vergara and Zac Parkes are all given a chance to shine.

They all take full advantage of this to show their acting, vocal and often dance skills as they play a range of characters, sometimes as leads, other times in support roles and sometimes as dancers.

Their enthusiasm and skills were understandably warmly received on opening night by a very supportive and appreciative audience.

Songs for a New World is playing at Chapel off Chapel until August 10. For more information and tickets visit the Songs for a New World website.

*Photo credit: Matthew Chen

Jenny Burns attended the opening night of Songs for a New World  as a guest of the production company.