Songs for A New World
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"It's about one moment —"Opening"
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Songs for A New World is a musical revue by Jason Robert Brown featuring a variety of different musical styles from jazz to an homage to "Surabaya Johnny" to gospel to...
There is no main plot, but the songs are linked by themes of aspirations, decisions, and the power of "that moment before it all becomes clear."
"Stars and the Moon" is arguably the best-known song from the show, as it has been covered by numerous singers.
Tropes used in Songs for A New World include:
- All Musicals Are Adaptations: Averted.
- As the Good Book Says...: MANY songs fall prey to this.
- Babies Make Everything Better: Believed by the singer of "Christmas Lullaby."
- Bad Santa: What Mrs. Claus makes him out to be in "Surabaya Santa."
- Useful Notes/Christianity: There are definite Christian overtones to the entire show.
- Cry Cute: The subject of "She Cries."
- Fragile Flower: Depending on your interpretation, the subject of "She Cries."
- Hobo: The singers of "The River Don't Flow."
- "I Want" Song: Oddly averted: Although many characters complain or ask for help from God, they never explicitly say want they want.
- Non-Appearing Title: "On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492", "Surabaya Santa", "Christmas Lullaby", "The Flagmaker, 1775".
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: The woman in "Stars and the Moon" has to choose between two poor suitors and one rich suitor.
- Sanity Slippage Song: "The Flagmaker, 1775", yet, rather understandably.
- Santa Claus: Is the subject of "Surabaya Santa."
- Sexy Santa Dress: Some productions have Mrs. Claus dressed in one of these.
- The American Revolution: The setting for "The Flagmaker, 1775."
- No Plot, No Problem: Though some disagree
- Your Mileage May Vary: This show is either a terrible, badly strung-together group of songs or a wonderful surreal work of art.