The Penn Yan Theatre Company (PYTCo), which has been providing live entertainment for residents and visitors of Yates County since 1978, has never shied away from a challenge. So when an opportunity arose to produce the vocally demanding musical Songs for a New World, the company quickly embraced the opportunity. The show replaces the previously announced summer production Children of Eden.
According to show producer and member of the PYTCo board of directors Daniel Green, the production team felt the winds changing when they saw the caliber of performers who turned out for Eden auditions. “We felt the group of auditionees would make an incredible cast for a production of Songs for a New World and made the decision to pivot to this production.”
The PYTCo board is excited to produce a show that hasn’t been seen in the Finger Lakes area. “While we all enjoy staging old favorites, it’s especially thrilling for us to bring something new to our audiences,” says board president Dusty Baker. “We can’t think of a better time to change things up in this way than this summer, while we’re celebrating our 45th anniversary.”
Songs for a New World is about the moment of decision, about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, take a stand, or turn around and go back. The first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County, The Last Five Years), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices we make.
PYTCo will present Songs for a New World for two nights only, August 10 and 11, in the Penn Yan Academy Auditorium, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at pytco.org/show or at the door. General admission is $15 and students are $12.