SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD gets Toronto re-mount

November 21st marks the opening night of composer Jason Robert Brown's cult hit Songs for a New World at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Color & Light Production along with the original cast of the 2000 Canadian Premiere-Thom Allison, Tracy Michailidis, Sharron Matthews, and Jason Knight- are bringing this show about love, life and seizing the moment back to the Toronto stage. With the addition of Dora Award winning director Chris Abraham, Songs for a New World is a show that is not to be missed this theatre season. Songs for a New World was Jason Robert Brown's first professionally produced show. Considered a song cycle, this show is composed of a series of songs that are highly character driven. What makes Songs for a New World such an interesting production is the fact that within one show there is a broad range of musical genres including pop, gospel, jazz and classical. Quick Facts about the artist involved in Songs for a New World: … Composer Jason Robert Brown gained popularity and respect in the theatre world with the 1998 Broadway Musical Parade. He is now considered one of his generation's best songwriters. His list of works includes The Last Five Years, which was also a hit in Toronto during CanStage's 2004 season. Jason recently played a concert at the Glen Gould studio for his Toronto fans and visited with musical theatre students across the city. … Directing this production Dora Award Winning Director Chris Abraham is currently the inaugural Associate Artist with Necessary Angel Theatre Company, and also the founding Artistic Director of Go Chicken Go. Chris' impressive list of theatre and film credits is topped by a Dora Award for the stage play I, Claudia (Tarragon Theatre) and an Actra Award for the film adaptation (CBC Television). Other theatrical credits include Blue Orange (CanStage); Russell Hill (Tarragon Theatre); Easy Lenny Lazma, Boxhead (Theatre Passe Muraille) and most recently Cringeworthy (Theatre Passe Muraille, Dora Nomination). Chris has had a busy fall, as he is also the director of Insomina which will be going up at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Nov 7th. … Actress Tracy Michailidis was one of the first actress to perform Jason Robert Brown's work in Canada. She has had a busy year of successful performances throughout Canada in such productions The Mikado in the role of Yum Yum (Weston Playhouse), apple (Prairie Theatre Exchange) and Lost In Yonkers (Theatre Northwest). Tracy is also a series regular on OMNI's Metropia. … Sharron Matthews is taking time from her very successful cabaret performances at the Gladstone Hotel, Sharron's Party. Originally from Hamilton, Sharron has a generated a very loyal following of musical theatre lovers in Toronto from her outstanding performance in productions such as Les Miserable, and Outrageous. Sharron has also has been featured in such movies as Mean Girls and Cinderella Man. … Thom Allison has been a regular at the Stratford Festival starring in Into The Woods, Hello, Dolly, Henry VIII, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, King and I, and The Threepenny Opera. He was seen in both the Toronto and 2nd National tour of Rent and Take Me Out. Songs for a New World DATES: Previews November 17th 18th, 20th Opening November 21st - December 16, 2006 OPENING: Tuesday November 21, 2006 at 8:00pm SHOW TIME: Monday to Friday 8:00 p.m. 2 Performances on Saturday 7:00pm & 10:00p.m. TICKETS: Previews $24, Monday to Saturday $34, Students $20, (some service charges will apply). Limited rush seat are available prior at the box office prior to the performances. LOCATION: Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Distillery District BOX OFFICE: For tickets call the Young Centre Box Office at 416.866.8666 -30-