‘Songs For A New World’ delights Five Towns College

By Jeff Kramer

Songs For A New World was an enrapturing premiere for FTC Productions that was presented in the Performing Arts Center from October 20th to 23rd. Alyse Arpino directed Songs For A New World, and Melissa Coyle was the music director. The show centers around how despite everyone’s backgrounds and varying life experiences, people are truly the same at their core.  Arpino said via Instagram, “Songs For A New World brushes on so many important questions that we can so easily relate to in our daily lives.  We can all relate to that one moment or many moments that have changed our lives.”

Many incredibly talented individuals from the Five Towns College Theatre Arts Department performed in the show, including Joshua Credle, who played “Man 1.” Credle discussed the significance of the production. “The importance of Songs For A New World is really one to appreciate the writing capability of Jason Robert Brown so that he could release these beautiful songs to the world. And two, for us to really hear our song. The message is, no matter what tribulations or problems you have in life, you’re going to get through it.” 

In addition to the on-stage roles for students, there were behind-the-scenes positions as well, and without that component, the show would not have been possible. 

Maxwell McKittrick, the show’s production manager, talked about what he hopes the audience could take from this production as a whole. “I think the audience learns that everyone can just come together. And at the end of the day, everyone’s just people, and we’re all similar at the end of the day, even though we’re still different in our own separate ways.” 

Here’s a clip from Songs For A New World:

FTC Reporter Rebecca Evangelist captured the production in photos:

The next FTC theatre production will be Motherf** ker with the Hat, performed from November 3rd to 6th in the FTC Performing Arts Center.  Tickets can be purchased here.

For more information and updates about future Five Towns College theatre productions, follow the Instagram page @ftctheatrearts.