songs for a new world

[starsandthemoon]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 12:08pm

has anyone else heard about "songs for a new world" being done in NYC this fall?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 12:12pm

No

[seymour krelborn]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 12:20pm

I don't know about the fall, but I do know there is a production being mounted this weekend at The Mint Theater (311 W. 43rd st.) The college I graduated from mounts a different show off-off Broadway each year and this year its 'Songs for New World'. I don't know too much else about it other than I'll be there Saturday night.

[starsandthemoon]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 1:00pm

I saw a listing on playbill.com looking for actors - said it was performing in NYC this fall . . . the listing isn't up anymore . . . and I just found this on http://networkedartists.tribe.net/threads/rss . . .

PHOTO/RESUME REQUEST FOR 'SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD', NEW YORK

Thurs. May 15 and Fri. May 16 by appointment only. At Grey Matters Productions, 273 Bennett Ave., #4D. NYC. Grey Matters Productions is casting for its upcoming production of Songs for a New World. This is a union/non-union production and will be a (pending) AEA Showcase with a stipend available. Breakdown: Looking for all ethnicities, must KNOW/LOVE this show. Man 1: 20s, athletic singer/dancer. Tenor to C (Rock/R&B falsetto extension a plus), comfortable with intricate harmonies. Woman 1: 20s, singer/dancer. Soprano with contemporary lyric belt to Eb, mix to G, Comfortable with intricate harmonies. Man 2: 40s/50, singer/dancer. Mezzo with Broadway belt to D, Comfortable with intricate harmonies. Woman 2: 40s/50s, singer/dancer. Mezzo, with Broadway belt to D, Comfortable with intricate harmonies. Teenage Ensemble: 14-18 years, m/f singer/dancer. All must be comfortable singing intricate, close harmonies throughout their ranges. Sopranos to Bb, Belts to D (preferably E), Altos to F, Tenors to Bb, Baritones to F (some to Ab). Rehearsals in September, performances in October. Send your headshot and resume to: Bailie Slevin, 273 Bennett Ave. #4D, New York, NY 10040. Or send to [e-mail].

I didn't think JRB let the show go up in NYC.

Updated On: 5/22/08 at 01:00 PM

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 1:14pm

First of all, you just answered your own question. So there you go.

Secondly, this isn't Broadway. Is it even off-Broadway? Sounds like a regional limited run.

"I didn't think JRB let the show go up in NYC"

Uhh... well... if they get the rights, they can do it wherever they want. Jason Robert Brown doesn't really have much say in that.

[starsandthemoon]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 2:03pm

I'm not trying to be rude. I just wanted to know if anyone else had heard anything more about this production . . . so, no, I didn't answer my own question.

Also, no one can get the rights to the show with out JRBs approval - any living writer or estates of deceased writers have to give approval before the rights for a show are released. Writers/composers have ALL the power in releasing the rights unless they have sold them outright and very few do that. And as far as I know, JRB has never released the rights in NYC before, not since he MDed the original.

And yes, it is clearly not being performed on Broadway, but so few productions start there these days. Also, the ad said it was being done as an AEA Showcase, which is a limited run, but not required to be regional, and can be done with Broadway performers . . . so still pretty exciting to me since I love this show and didn't get to see the original 13 years ago.

So - that is why, when I came across this message board, I thought it was a good place to aske if anyone else had heard anything about this production.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 2:29pm

Composers have no say, if a liscening company owns the rights. MTI owns "Songs For A New World"
Updated On: 5/22/08 at 02:29 PM

[starsandthemoon]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 3:09pm

This was clearly the wrong place for me to bring my excitement. I thought the community on this message board would be open to discussing this show and how exciting it is that is aparantly coming back to NYC, but given the response I guess not.

And also, "TooDarnHot" you really might want to check your facts before you make some of those statements again.

[jrb]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 3:28pm

Apologies, starsandthemoon. I'd like to say that this sort of "in your face" response is rare here but you know the way public forums are (or maybe you don't). The disconnect brought about by typing and posting rather than speaking face to face affords some people the belief - incorrect as it may be - that they can be cold, acrid, and/or allow their opinions to overrule all others. (read: one opinion to rule them all)

As for how to cope? - literally block out the bs. I simply don't read anything that toodarnhot writes anymore. It's as simple as that. No offense to him. I am sure some people enjoy his style of post...it just doesn't interest me. Similarly, I never read posts about Mama Mia...I just filter out the things that don't interest me.

Unfortunately, coming in here for the first time, you have no idea who the true lovers of musical theater are...and who the zealots or shills or folks out for nothing more than drama are. So I do apologize.

I appreciate your excitement and bet that others do as well. Ignore the "First of all"s and the "Ummm...well...if they had rights" - it's all fluff and a waste of your eyes.

...or pick out the facts that they state and ignore the tone. Their finger strokes aren't worth the emotion.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 3:29pm

The facts are right here: http://www.MTIshows.com/show_home.asp?id=000191

MTI owns the rights, dear.

It's been performed in New York City before. My partner was actually involved in a NY production of it in early 2007.

[JRybka]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 3:30pm

Songs for a New World played as a concert version here in the Washington DC area with JRB on piano.

Alice Ripley was in it... She was wonderful.

I have always liked the music but I know that unless there is a clause about the compose or writer having final say, most shows can be done as much and as many time as the company who owns the rights feels they want it done. And I do believe MTI does own the rights so they can allow one or one million productions to play... it is not up to JRB.

[jrb]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 3:41pm

See...now what you do, Starsandthemoon, is use the link he included, read the facts, learn from them and ignore the "mti owns the right, dear" and all the other attitude. He has some good information when you boil it down to the essentials. He just didn't need to include anything but the link in that post.
The truth can be found. You just have to peel back the caddy rind.

[JRybka]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 3:56pm

some of us are also just big blobs of blabber who like to write in order to see his words in print.... oh wait, that would be me!

I just wish that Jason Robert Brown and Andrew Lippa would get together and create a musical... Now there would be a show!

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 4:25pm

"I simply don't read anything that toodarnhot writes anymore"

If you don't read what I write, how were you able to quote me in your post?

LuPwned.

[jrb]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 5:03pm

Damn! You caught me in a technicality...and there I go again. By merely typing this I am furthering my COMPLETE humiliation.

As for Songs for a New World...I would like to see a production of this, as I have never seen one before.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 5:35pm

jrb - I do love you. let's get married...

[withoutlove78]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 10:40pm

you were right starsandthemoon. this is the first NYC production of sfanw that JRB has ok'd since its run off-bway

[jake6970]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 12:09am

Yeah, I was just cast in the production at the ATA and they said this is the first time JRB has allowed it in NY since its off bway run.

[roquat]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 12:17am

I was involved in one regional production. The set and the overall concept (or lack thereof) were ghastly, and the actors were completely full of themselves--but they sang it gorgeously, and it was thrilling just to hear that music every night.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 2:00am

Jake... perhaps it's the first NY production Jason personally "sanctioned" but his approval means nothing.

there was a NY production in 2007 licensed my MTI. the company that owns the rights

[jake6970]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 7:06pm

Yeah, I don't doubt there was. The sheet just said it was the first production jason robert brown has allowed, so who knows what it means. just thought i would add that in because it seemed interesting.

[MissE]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 12:22pm

RE: Jason Robert Brown letting people do this show, I found this article on another message board about this show:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/nyregion/new-jersey/19songsnj.html?ref=new-jersey

Hope that clears things up.