The St James Theatre will host a brand new production of Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown’s first musical Songs For A New World this summer.
Directed by Adam Lenson, the musical will celebrate its 20th anniversary when it plays at the Victoria venue from 22 July (press night 24 July) to 8 August.
Songs For A New World, which first premiered Off-Broadway in 1995, weaves characters, locations, and time periods together in an extraordinary evening as it takes audiences from the deck of a Spanish sailing ship to the window ledge of a New York penthouse.
When the abstract musical returns to London it promises to bring with it an award-winning cast, which is still to be announced, and a five-piece band that will bring Brown’s stunning score to life.
Songs For A New World was the first of Brown’s musicals ever to be staged and established the New York native as an intriguing new talent. Since then he has gone on to write Parade, which won the 1999 Tony Award for Best Original Score, Honeymoon In Vegas, which is currently playing on Broadway, and The Last Five Years, which will soon be seen on the big screen.
Director Lenson takes the helm of the production following his recent stints as Associate Director on Olivier Award-winning hit Merrily We Roll Along, political comedy The Duck House and Fings Ain’t What They Used T’Be at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Songs For A New World will begin its three-week run at the St James Theatre following William Gaminara’s critically acclaimed play The Three Lions (24 March to 26 May) and the true story of WWI hero Captain David “Reggie” Salomons, The Dreamers (30 June to 11 July).