"Songs for a New World" new concept

I saw a very good production of "Songs for a New World" at the Spotlighter's Theatre in Baltimore last night. They set the show in a subway station--the stories came from various people passing through. The "King of the World" was a homeless guy ranting in people's faces. Santa was a Salvation Army bell-ringer. And the Flagmaker was apparently a poor flag-stitcher whose son was away in Iraq--during her song, the rest of the cast ominously folded a flag upstage, which was handed to her at the end, signifying that her son had died. Then he entered (as a ghost) to sing "Flying Home". Not seamless, certainly, but it was an enormous pleasure to see a real attempt to tackle this conceptually difficult show, with a passionate and well-sung cast.

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They expanded the cast to six, actually--kept the Afro-American concept, but it wasn't as central--these were just different people passing through the same subway station. The "River Won't Flow" performers were dressed as the janitorial staff. The two "I'd Give It All for You" singers were not singing to (or about) each other; they were each reading letters from long-lost lovers they were meeting (who entered to greet them at song's end.) The lighting was very evocative; a singer would be in the middle of a fantasy, and then a train would go by or several people would enter and break it up. All in all, as workable a concept as exists for this show.

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that really sounds enjoyable... i love it when new, thought-through concepts are employed, especially for tough shows like this...

can you tell me who was in the cast? i had a friend doing this show in baltimore, but i can't see it and wasn't sure what theatre he's doing it at...

my friend is doing lights at that show...

now im really interested in going to see it

really? i saw your into the woods.

I was the Baker's Wife!

lol Yes, she sure did. But, you try to learn Into the Woods in a WEEK! It was quite an experience. So cool that you were there!

go see it!!!!!!!!!!!

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Updated On: 7/19/05 at 04:27 PM