Defying musical theatre tradition, 'Songs for a New World' takes you on a moving journey through the human experience. The song cycle's mini one-act plays span the gamut from sweetly poignant to hysterically funny to gut-wrenching; the Running to Places (R2P) production runs July 5-14 at the Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca.

Each song in the show is its own self-contained story, connected to the other songs by an underlying theme: the moments of decision in our lives. Should I answer the call of the open road? Should I make a commitment, and what will I miss out on if I do commit? Fear, courage, love and hope intertwine in complex ways throughout the show.

"Some of the stories are familiar: should I end this relationship and move on? Some are more unexpected, like Mrs. Claus feeling that Santa is not attending to her needs. Zoe Klausner, who plays Mrs. Claus, has an incredible instinct for comic timing, and she gives a truly hilarious performance," says R2P artistic director Joey Steinhagen.

The cast includes many of the talented company members seen in other R2P shows, as well as some R2P debuts, including that of Davina Barrett. "A number of songs in this show draw on gospel influences," says Jeremy Pletter, resident R2P music director. "Davina has grown up singing that music, and it's in her bones. She sings it like no one else – it will send chills up your spine."

The ensemble show was written to be performed by four people playing numerous characters, but with 16 cast members Steinhagen and co-director Caitlin Mallory had more leeway.

"We wanted new ways to interpret the compositions," says Steinhagen, pointing to "King of the World" as an example. "The song seems to be about a man in prison, maybe a political prisoner or perhaps it's a metaphorical prison in his mind. Because Maddi Carroll, a social activist, is singing the song, we explored ways it could make a statement about the disproportionate incarceration of African-Americans in this society. Maddi is deeply passionate about this opportunity to use art to say something important."

The student team of Mallory and Alana Craib are designing costumes for the show. Other members of the design team include choreographer Harmony Malone, set designer Deborah Drew, sound designer Jordan Fearon, prop master Janet Olsen and lighting designer Evie Hammer-Lester.

The show is exclusively sponsored by CSP Management, with scholarship level support from Squeaky Clean Car Wash and an anonymous fund at the Community Foundation of Tompkins County. Additional grant support is provided by the Park Foundation and the Triad Foundation, and is made possible in part with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, with season-long support from CSP Management.

'Songs for a New World' runs over two weekends, July 5-14, Wednesday through Saturday at 7 PM, Saturdays and Sunday at 2 PM.

Performance Dates:
Thurs. July 5, 7 pm
Fri. July 6, 7 pm
Sat. July 7, 2 pm, 7 pm
Sun. July 8, 2 pm
Wed. July 11, 7 pm
Thurs. July 12, 7 pm
Fri. July 13, 7 pm
Sat. July 14, 2 pm, 7 pm

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