Songs for a New World follows the journey of four individuals who are all faced with a variety of obstacles in their lives, but all relate to having to make the choice of running to it or from it. Jason Robert Brown’s first musical, tells the story of hope for a better tomorrow and a new look at life at the turn of a profound moment. The original Off-Broadway cast featured Billy Porter, Andrea Burns, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Jessica Molaskey and premiered in 1995 at the WPA Theater. 

Filmed in 2020 and performed completely in isolation during the United Kingdom’s first shutdown, the London Palladium performance of Songs for a New World stars Ramin Karimloo as Man 2, Rachel Tucker as Woman 2, Cedric Neal as Man 1, and Rachel John as Woman 1.

The performance will be streamed February 21-28 via the stream.theatre platform and in select movie theaters in the U.K. 

The production was directed by Séimí Campbell, with musical supervision by Adam Hoskins and musical direction by Josh Winstone. The creative team also includes lighting design by Jack Knowles, design consultancy by Madeleine Girling, and sound design by Jonny Dickie for Robins Audio.

For more information and ticket information, visit HERE!

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The biographical musical about the history-making record label is set to hit London’s Shaftesbury Theater in early 2016.  As previously announced, Cedric Neal (After Midnight, Porgy & Bess) will be taking on the lead role of Berry Gordy and Lucy St. Louis (Beautiful, Book of Mormon, Ragtime) will join him as Diana Ross.  Sifiso Mazibuko will also join the cast as Marvin Gaye.

Motown the Musical opened in the spring of 2013 to mixed critical reviews, but global appreciation for its legendary music helped make it a box office success.  While the first U.S. National Tour made its debut in April of 2014, the Broadway production cited “retooling” efforts to minimize production costs as it temporarily closed the Broadway version this past January.  It was recently announced that Motown will return to Broadway for an 18 week run in July next year.

Brown’s portrayal of Smokey Robinson in the original Broadway cast of Motown earned him a 2013 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.  The Sister Act and Jersey Boys vet was one of the few original cast members to remain a part of Motown for the entire duration of its Broadway run.

Further casting for the West End production includes Keisha Amponsa Banson (Mary Wells), Cindy Belliot (Anna Gordy), Samuel Edwards (Jackie Wilson), Portia Harry (Teena Marie), Aisha Jawando (Martha Reeves), Joshua Liburd (Eddie Kendricks), Simeon Montague (Jermaine Jackson), Cleopatra Rey (Gladys Knight), Brandon Lee Sears (Tito Jackson), Jordan Shaw (Stevie Wonder), Cherelle Williams (Mary Wilson).  The UK has enlisted young locals Eshan Gopal, Kwame Kandekore, and Joshua Tikare to alternate the role of Young Michael Jackson.  Additional casting includes Daniel Bailey, Edward Baruwa, Tanya Nicole Edwards, Eddie Elliott, Christopher Fry, Alex Hammond, Edward Handoll, Simon Ray Harvey, Elias Hendricks, Brian JamesLeys, Jayde Nelson, Simone Mistry Palmer, Carl Spencer and Marcel J Whyte.  Final casting will be announced shortly.

London previews begin on Feb. 11, 2016 and is set for a March 8 opening.

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The dynamic cast includes Nova Y. Payton, (Dreamgirls Signature Theatre; Hairspray Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award) as Effie, Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors; 2013 Broadway World Chicago Best Actress, Black Excellence Award, Black Theatre Alliance Award for “Celie” in The Color Purple at Mercury Theater Chicago) as Deena; and Dan’yelle Williamson (Broadway: Memphis; National Tour: The Lion King) as Lorrell– collectively known as “The Dreamettes.” Rounding out the cast is Jared Joseph (Broadway: Holler if Ya Hear Me) as Curtis Taylor Jr.; Richard Crandle (National Tour: Hairspray) as CC White and Cedric Neal (Broadway: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess) as James “Thunder” Early, a role that won him the Helen Hayes Award in Washington, D.C. for the Signature Theatre production; and Nathaniel Stampley (Broadway: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, The Lion King; The Color Purple at Milwaukee Rep) as Marty.

Dreamgirls runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse until November 1, previews began on Sept 22 with an opening on September 26. Tickets starting at $30 can be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at 414-224-9490, or at the Ticket Office (108 E Wells Street).

If you are in the Milwaukee area, I’d advise you to see this show as fast as you can. It’s one you just do not want to miss. Don’t believe me? Just watch this clip of Nova Y. Payton singing “And I Am Telling You” and see if you don’t change your mind.

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