Programme

And in that one moment…

In 2008 David Reynolds and Laura Foxcroft met as the incoming production team for a local Stafford youth group, putting on Seussical the Musical.They enjoyed working with each other, and had the same drive to develop talent in young people, and strive for excellence. They went on to produce Children of Eden (which won two NODA awards), Les Misérables, Footloose and West Side Story.

Knowing West Side Story was the last show David and Laura were scheduled to do together an idea formed. As they prepared for opening night of West Side Story, in a brief moment in the Gatehouse Theatre in Stafford - in that one

moment - the idea to run their own theatre company was born.

And now, just one year later Theatre1 brings you Songs For A New World, by  Jason Robert Brown.

We hope you enjoy it!

Cast and crew of Theatre1 X

Jason Robert Brown Born in the New York suburbs in 1970 Brown was influenced at an early age by Stephen Sondheim, with an early career as arranger, conductor and pianist. The director Daisy Prince then compiled Brown’s own songs into “Songs For A New World”, putting him on the map as a composer.

Prince then hired Brown to write the music for Parade which won Brown a Tony award in 1999 for Best Original Musical Score. Prince and Brown then went on to write The Last 5 Years, inspired by Brown’s failed first marriage and recently made into a film. Brown’s most recent production is The Bridges of Madison County, which premiered in 2013.

ACT I 1. Opening Sequence

- A New World 2. On The Deck Of A

Spanish Sailing Ship (1492)

3. Just One Step 4. I’m Not Afraid Of

Anything 5. The River Won’t Flow 6. Stars And The Moon 7. She Cries 8. The Steam Train

ACT 2 9. The World Was Dancing 10. Surabaya-Santa 11. Christmas Lullaby 12. King Of The World 13. I’d Give It All For You 14. The Flagmaker, 1775 15. Flying Home 16. The New World 17. Hear My Song

Songs For A New World

When everything seems stable and certain, there is "one moment" that can upend and change anyone's life.

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

Music & lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Originally produced by the WPA Theater, NYC, 1995 (Kyle Renick, Artistic

Director). Original orchestration by Brian Besterman and Jason Robert

Brown. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef

Weinberger Ltd. on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

David Reynolds David is well known to the youth of Stoke, Stafford and the West Midlands for his unique directing style, and passion for theatre. David has directed household classics such as Les Misérables, Footloose and West Side Story, and brings a contemporary and stylistic directorial style we hope you enjoy!

Laura Foxcroft Laura has made a career of teaching music to young people and has musically directed shows in Stafford and Stoke for the past 8 years, many of them with David. A Birmingham Conservatoire trained musician herself she has a passion for musicals and musical theatre.

The show begins with a spotlight on a single woman, growing to all 8 of the company. They sing about their hopes, dreams and ambitions as if they were explorers looking for a New World.

We are taken aboard a 15th Century ship taking passengers to shore. As they struggle to survive the crossing they think about God and ask for support in their new life (“On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship”).

A woman standing on a ledge of her penthouse is threatening to take “Just One Step” and jump as a crowd gathers below to watch her suicidal mission. She is scared about stepping forward into a new life.

A new mother appears and sings to her new born child, saying that strength will see her through (“I’m Not Afraid of

Anything”).

We then see two men talking about the idea of wealth and rewards, wondering why some are lucky and others are not (“The River Won’t Flow”).

Meanwhile, a woman who has married into wealth looks back at her life and questions the decisions she made and if she really is

happy (“Stars and the Moon”).

We then see a different form of relationship as a man struggles with the woman he loves who continues to lie to him. Despite this, he chooses to go back to her (“She Cries”).

In the Bronx a hard young man dreams of being a basketball star and his passion inspires him to fight to achieve his goals (“The Steam Train”).

Synopsis

As the second act begins we see a man struggle to talk to his father after he has failed in life and is unable to make a clear decision (“The World Was Dancing”).

Mrs Claus enters and laments about being married to Santa Claus at the prospect of spending another festive season on her own (“Surabaya-Santa”).

In direct contrast, a less fearsome woman turns to God to help her find purpose in the real world as she sings a “Christmas Lullaby”.

We cut to a man in his prison cell who questions why he is there and the actions he has taken (“King of the World”).

Straight afterwards we see a couple separated, trying to make their life together work (“I’d Give it All For You”).

A mother of an American Revolutionary soldier sews a flag whilst waiting for news of her son (“The Flagmaker”).

A young man hears the voices of angels and realises he is “Flying Home”.

All the singers come together to talk once again about the hopes, dreams and ambitions they hope to carry on to the New World (“Hear My Song”).

Becky Lyle

Tom Slade

Alistair Peet

I’m pretty sure this meerkat is

not in the show?

Hannah Morris

Sam Parton

Tom Gosling

Emma Sanders

Emily Di- Silvestro

Emily Di-Silvestro Tom Gosling Becky Lyle Hannah Morris

Sam Parton Alistair Peet Emma Sanders Tom Slade

The Cast

The TeamDirector Musical Director Choreographer Piano Keyboard Drums Bass Sound Lighting

David Reynolds Laura Foxcroft Hannah Morris Roger Foxcroft Laura Foxcroft Matt Davis Jon Burr Five Towns Technical Gatehouse Theatre

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