Jason Robert Brown's SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD to Run 3/28-30 at BAC

The BAC Professional Theatre Series will present Jason Robert Brown's "Songs for A New World," Fri., Mar. 28, 7:30 p.m., Sat., Mar. 29, 7:30 p.m., Sun., Mar. 30, 4:30 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center (BAC), 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago.

"Songs for A New World" uses songs connected by the theme "moment of decision" to follow characters as they make the choice to "take a stand, or turn around and go back." "It's about one moment in time, and how that moment can change everything," said show director Shellee Frazee.

Four Chicago actors are featured in the production, Michael Mejia, Colleen O'Connor, Andres Enriquez and Kenesha Reed.

Michael Mejia performed in the BAC's production of "They're Playing Our Song" and he is an instructor at the BAC. Mejia's past credits include Brad in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Tony in "Tony and Timmy's Wedding" and Alex in "WTC View."

Colleen O'Connor will be performing at the BAC for the first time. Her Chicagoland acting credits include "Richard III" and "Inherit the Wind" at Oak Park Festival Theatre, and "Twelfth Night of the Living Dead" at Gorilla Tango Theatre.

Andres Enriquez recently made his debut at the Center in "BAC to Broadway." Other Chicago roles include Porter in "The Life and Death of Madame Barker," Francis in "Forever Plaid" and Kipps in "The Woman in Black." Enriquez performs with singing groups ClusterfuNk and the Frozen Robins.

Kenesha Reed has been performing since age 11, but has been a professional actress for only a year. She made her Chicago acting debut in "Shadow Town," which was named one of the top plays of 2013 by Chicago Theater Beat. "Songs for a New World" is Reed's first show at the BAC.

"Songs for a New World" director Shellee Frazee is Artistic Director of Theater and Dance at the Beverly Arts Center. A teaching artist and freelance director/choreographer, Frazee co-conceived and served as Managing Director for Third Time Theatre and Creative Arts Center, a not-for-profit in the Quad Cities. She was owner and Artistic Director of Center Stage Performing Arts Academy, also in the Quad Cities, and served as Managing Director for Redtwist Theatre in Chicago.

Music Director Frederick Harris is a BAC instructor, and teaches private voice, piano and acting. He also directs youth productions at BAC, and is a talented performer.

Harris music directed the BAC's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

Tickets to "Songs for a New World" are $22 ($20/BAC members). The BAC professional theater series continues with "Ain't Misbehavin'," June 13 through 15. Tickets and information: www.beverlyartcenter.org and 773-445-3838.

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