Players’ June musical presents ‘powerhouse singing’ and ‘poignant message’
“Songs for a New World,” opening June 20, is an abstract musical connected by a theme: the moment of decision.
Pivotal moments.
They can be monumental, occurring right before making a life-changing decision, such as leaving everything behind to start over. Or quiet, like giving a relationship one last chance.
In either case, the consequences that follow “are deeply human and timeless.”
This is how Jamie Cook describes the show she is directing for the Acton Players, “Songs for a New World.” It will be presented on June 20, 21, and 22 at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center.
Cook proposed “Songs for a New World” as part of Acton’s 250th celebration, “largely because of one extraordinary number” in it, she says. That piece is “Flagmaker, 1775,” in which a mother of a Revolutionary War soldier “turns to creating the first symbol of our nation as an act of defiance, resilience, and hope,” she says.
“What better piece,” Cook asks, “to honor the tenacity of our young nation 250 years later?”
Cook, who lives in Dorchester, wears many hats for the production. She is also choreographing the show and overseeing hair and makeup.
‘Powerhouse singing’
“Songs for a New World” is the first musical by Jason Robert Brown, who has since earned Tony Awards for “Parade” and “The Bridges of Madison County.” The show takes the audience on a ride that includes stops at the American Revolution, the deck of a Spanish sailing ship, and the ledge of a modern-day New York City penthouse. It has a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel, and jazz.
Brown has described the production as lying “between a musical and a song cycle, but it is neither. It is an abstract musical, a series of songs connected by a theme: ‘the moment of decision.’” That moment, he adds, involves someone “hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back.”
Eight actors comprise the cast, and the show, produced by Andrea Roessler of Framingham, contains no spoken dialogue — “just nonstop, powerhouse singing,” says Cook, who praises the production’s musical director, Ben Oehikers. “It’s a particularly poignant message for today’s audience,” she says.
Cast members are Amanda Atkinson of Arlington, Lucas Coura of Brookline, Jess Emerson of Salem, Kelly Hodge of Sherborn, Kenny Meehan of Chelmsford, Chantel O’Brien of Plainville, Miles Petrie of Somerville, and Meghan Rose of Framingham. The stage manager is the Players’ president, Nadine Sa of Westborough, and the assistant stage manager is Bill Fisher of Acton.
“Songs for a New World” will be presented at 51 Walden Street Performing Arts Center on Friday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 21, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 22, at 2 p.m. Admission is $20. For tickets and information, visit concordplayers.org or call (978) 369-2990.
