Review: VWCT’s Songs for a New World

By Dave Mosier

Van Wert Civic Theatre’s final production of the 2025-26 season is Songs for a New World, an interesting hybrid of theatrical song cycle and musical that presents situations and decisions related to the human experience. The title has a double meaning, since it refers to historical discovery as well as personal change.

The songs, written and composed by Tony-winning songsmith Jason Robert Brown, encompass a wide range of styles and subject matter, from wry humor to emotional loss, and usually involve some pivotal moment in a character’s life.

The play, which premiered off-Broadway three decades ago, is usually produced with a small cast — often just two men and two women who play a variety of roles — but The VWCT production doubles that number to eight — two men and six women — to give more actors an opportunity to participate.

The two-act show begins, as usual, with a big production number, while the remaining 15 songs are an eclectic mix that includes the darkly humorous “Just One Step” about a woman on a ledge trying to get her husband’s attention, “I’m Not Afraid of Anything” about being brave, “Stars and the Moon” about the consequences of choosing security over love, the rocking “Steam Train” about a man’s ambition that leads to tragedy and, my personal favorite, “Hear My Song”, which features a lovely duet between two
mothers as they talk to their daughters about . Another darkly comedic tune is “Surobaya-Santa”, which features a bitter Mrs. Claus complaining to a slobby, beer-drinking Santa about her disappointing life.

Two historical figures are also included in the play: Christopher Columbus in “On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492” and Betsy Ross in “The Flagmaker, 1775.”

Director Amy Boley has brought together a talented eight-person cast that includes longtime VWCT veterans, several actors seen in more recent Civic Theatre productions and some talented newcomers. The production is challenging for the actors, since each cast member must take on several roles.

Boley also wears many hats for the production, as she choreographed the show, designed the minimalist set and the light set-up, as well as directing. Music co-directors Mark Sampson and Dan Basinger also do a good job of providing the musical underpinnings of the show.

The cast includes decades-long veterans Nancy Shuffle and Kristin Lee, as well as Nick Long, who has acted in several recent VWCT productions (including this season’s Bonnie & Clyde musical), Sean Carpenter, Laura Wells, Alyssa Wells, Virgo Lee, and Amanda Block, with Shuffle, Kristin Lee, Long, and Laura Wells especially excellent.

The show is well worth seeing, includes a number of musical genres and is exceptionally tuneful, as well as thought provoking at times.

Songs for a New World premieres this Friday and runs through the weekend and the weekend of May 15-17. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 apiece and can be purchased online at https://vwct.org or by calling 419.238.9689.