SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
YOUNG ADULT CAST
AUDITIONS
SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Originally Produced by the WPA Theatre, New York City, 1995 (Kyle Renick, Artistic Director)
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Original Orchestration by Brian Besterman and Jason Robert Brown
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This contemporary song cycle weaves characters and history together, illuminating the timelessness of self-discovery.​
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​PRODUCTION STAFF
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Director: Jeanette Airen
Assistant Director: Alexuss Song​
Choreographer: Lauren Rachel
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PLOT​
It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice... or take a stand... or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical from Tony Award winner, Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
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Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge, 57 stories above Fifth Avenue, to meet a startling array of characters that range from a young man who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams... and a soulless marriage.
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With a small, powerhouse multi-ethnic cast and a driving, exquisitely crafted score that runs the gamut of today's popular music, Songs for a New World is a great way to bring the next generation into the theatre.
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CHARACTERS
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Roles can be played by actors ages 14-25.
The Young Adult Cast will join our Adult Cast in 2 performances. Everyone cast in the Young Adult Cast will be given 1-2 solos in the show and will perform ensemble songs with the Adult Cast for their 2 performances.
Please be aware that Songs for a New World does not have an official rating but it is considered to be PG-13 to R rated due to mature themes like life choices, relationships, social issues and emotional intensity. All songs that are not appropriate for our Young Adult Cast to perform will remain in the show but will be performed by our Adult Cast. Feel free to contact Miss Jeanette with any questions.
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Man 1—vocal range: HIGH TENOR (D3 to a full-voice C5 + high falsetto) / Ethnicity: All ethnicities
An optimistic and vibrant character, whose primary solos are in: “On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492,” “The Steam Train,” “King of the World,” and “Flying Home.” Man 1 plays a variety of characters in uncertain and oppressive circumstances, but who can lift up himself and those around him through faith and determination.
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Man 2—vocal range: BARITONE or BARITENOR (F4 to a full voice Ab4) / Ethnicity: All ethnicities
A reserved character, whose primary solos are in: “She cries,” “The River Won’t Flow,” “The World was Dancing” and “I’d Give it All for You.” More mature than Man 1, Man 2 plays a variety of characters whose life experiences have made them second guess their choices and whose fears have held them back from a more fulfilled life.
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Woman 1—vocal range: SOPRANO (G3–F5 with a strong mix) / Ethnicity: All ethnicities
A hopeful and headstrong ingenue, whose primary solos are in: “I’m Not Afraid of Anything,” “Christmas Lullaby” and “I’d Give It All for You.” Woman 1 plays a variety of young women, who use their strength to persevere through hardships including being left at the altar, an unplanned pregnancy, and a fractured romance.
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Woman 2—vocal range: ALTO or SOPRANO (F3–F5 with strong mix and belt) / Ethnicity: All ethnicities
A strong actor with comedic and dramatic skills, whose primary solos are in: “Just One Step,” “Stars and the Moon,” “Surabaya Santa” and “The Flagmaker, 1775.” More mature than Woman 1, Woman 2 plays a variety of characters whose lives did not end up as hoped. These characters reveal their dissatisfaction and longing in high stakes drama.
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REHEARSAL DATES
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January 12-March 14
​Tech Week: March 16-19
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The rehearsal schedule will be created based on the conflicts listed on your audition forms.
PERFORMANCE DATES
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March 20th and 27th
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Both performances are mandatory​
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AUDITION INFO
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This is an "open call" audition. Non-Equity.
There is NO-PAY.
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OPEN CALL AUDITIONS
Saturday, January 10th 12:30-3:00pm
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Required Audition Selections:
​Please sing a 1-minute cut of any song of your choice from the show. You can pick any song from Songs For a New World and prepare the following song. Choose 1 part to learn, either Woman 1, Woman 2, Man 1 or Man 2. We will have everyone sing the quartet song in groups of 4.
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Quartet - "Opening Part 1" m. 185-201
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LOCATION
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Jeanette Airen Performing Arts Studio Studio
1459 Thousand Oaks Blvd Unit C1
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
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Please email us to let us know you will be attending the audition.
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SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
Is presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.