Students can watch sailors on a Spanish ship in 1492, the mother of a Revolutionary War soldier, a side of Mrs. Santa Claus not commonly seen and more - all in a few hours.
The Department of Theatre and Dance and the College of Fine Arts will present "Songs for a New World" from Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Edward S. Strother Studio Theatre, located at the north end of the Arts and Communication Building.
According to the musical's official Web site, "Songs for a New World" is a series of individual, and seemingly unrelated, stories ranging from lost love and relationships to the American dream and the questioning of faith.
Bill Jenkins, director of the production, said the situation each character faces, however, links the scenes together.
"To me, it's a musical revue that focuses on ordinary human beings going through extraordinary moments in their lives and the decisions they make in those moments," Jenkins said.
Harold Mortimer, music director for the show, said the music selection is more contemporary, incorporating a variety of styles like rock, gospel and jazz. Instead of a larger orchestra typical of traditional musicals, he opted for a small instrument combo of bass, drums and a piano, which "really rocks the house at times," he said.
Because this show was an addition to the usual annual theater schedule, the 14-member cast provided its own costumes in order to not overburden an already overtaxed costume and set budget, Jenkins said.
Audience members will notice the production's simplistic technical effects, which is meant to emphasize the actors more than in other musicals, he said.
Jenkins said directing a production involving multiple scenes, time periods and characters wasn't more difficult than directing one with a single plot. The only difference was ensuring each scene could be linked to other scenes with a thematic idea.
"Any time you do a revue like this, each song, whether it's a solo or a duet, is a pearl," Jenkins said. "It's the director's job to make sure there's a strand to connect those pearls."
Additional performances will be Nov. 2 at 2:30 p.m. and Nov. 4 through 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for Ball State University students are $8.50.
CastPrinciple singers:Kayla MarshMatt PrestonBen ClarkMaren RitterAshton NapierChris ChamberlainChelsea PickenCarlie MayoJaclyn HennellMichael Warrell
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