Review: SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD Offers Look At Early Jason Robert Brown

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD is a musical theatre piece by Jason Robert Brown. Originally produced Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1995, this was Jason Robert Brown's first produced show. It is neither a book musical nor a revue and has been called a "song cycle", which was put together out of songs he had written for other venues and events. I was very much struck by the fact that many of these songs sounded like they could fit into his later shows such as "The Last Five Years" or "Parade". In the final analysis, calling this a musical is a stretch. What it all boils down to is a series of songs very loosely connected by the theme: "the moment of decision."

Carl Gonzales and Lacey Cannon Gonzales have staged this piece with consideration of the thrust stage so that all of the audience feels included. I found the overall staging to be very pleasant. The scenic art by Chelsea Beth is simple yet rustic and elegant at the same time. Amy Lewis' lighting design is quite lovely, adding much needed color to the proceedings.

Tyler Mabry has done a great job with a very difficult score and produces a very large sound from just a three piece combo. I also found this production to be one of the best miked shows I have seen in a long while.

Jeff Chamberlain, Kristin Hall and Chelsea Manasseri all handled the complex and challenging score quite ably and all possess great singing voices. Unfortunately, at the performance I saw, McArthur Moore was plagued by problems with enunciation, diction and pitch.

There are several stand out musical moments: "Just One Step," "I'm Not Afraid of Anything," and "She Cries". The two best moments of the piece are delivered by Chelsea Manasseri with "Stars and the Moon," a tale of two poor suitors and a woman who realizes what she has sacrificed by choosing wealth and comfort and "Surabaya-Santa," a devilishly funny parody of Kurt Weil's "Surabaya Johnny", where a distraught Mrs. Claus gives a musical heave-ho to the man in the big red suit.

In short, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD is a rare opportunity to hear some very interesting and moving musical work by a respected new voice in the Broadway musical theater. If you see this show, a new world of musical storytelling awaits you, whether you are familiar with Jason Robert Brown's work or not.

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Running time: Approximately 90 minutes including intermission

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, produced by Oh Dragon Theatre Company, at Trinity Street Black Box Theatre ( 901 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701).

Playing through Sept. 17, 2016. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm

General admission $20 Fridays and Saturdays, $15 other days

Box Office: https://secure.buyplaytix.com/ohdragontheatre/reserve/songs_for_a_new_world.html

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