From left: Sam Cornbrooks of Springfield, 17, Chad Vann of Lorton, 16, and James Woods of Alexandria, 16. Photo contributed
Metropolitan Youth Theatre students of the Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton will present its student-directed and produced performance of Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World” on Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at the W-3 Theatre at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online at www.metropolitanarts.org.
This production is completely student run and performed by Metropolitan School of the Arts high school students studying to have careers in theatre. Chad Vann of Alexandria is the director and Sam Cornbrooks of Springfield is the producer. James Woods of Northern Virginia is the music director.
Newcomer Jason Robert Brown, composer-lyricist of "Parade," has had the whole theatre community talking about his blend of showmanship and contemporary sound for years, starting with this revue.
Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue to meet a startling array of characters ranging from a young man who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams and a soulless marriage. These are the stories and characters of today, the songs for a new world.
“We continue to be awestruck by our student-run theatre productions,” said Melissa Dobbs, founder and president of Metropolitan School of the Arts Alexandria and Lorton. “Each part of the show, from direction and production to performance is carefully crafted,” said Dobbs.