A New World, A New Voice

Inside ThinkTank Theatre’s Bold and Intimate Take on Jason Robert Brown’s Timeless Song Cycle

By Avery Anderson

In a small, unassuming room on the campus of Tampa’s Jewish Community Center, a transformation is underway. The chairs will be set, the lights focused, and the music will begin—but the magic of Songs for a New World starts long before opening night. For ThinkTank Theatre’s producing artistic director Georgia Mallory Guy, this show has been on the wish list for years.

Now, with the perfect space, a powerhouse cast, and a mission to reach the "in-between" audiences so often overlooked in traditional theatre, her long-held vision is coming to life.

“I’ve been wanting to put this in a ThinkTank season for a very long time,” Georgia says. “And the second I stepped into that room at the JCC, I knew—we’re doing it here.”

The JCC space brings an intimacy to the show that feels just right for a work that defies traditional structure. Songs for a New World is not a musical in the typical sense—it’s a song cycle, where each piece tells a distinct story but connects through universal themes: change, resilience, identity, and the moments that define us. ThinkTank’s production runs May 8–18, with performances scheduled to honor Shabbat (no shows Friday nights or Saturday early afternoons), a meaningful collaboration with the Tampa Jewish Federation and a reflection of ThinkTank’s commitment to community-based storytelling.

But don’t mistake “intimate” for “small.” The cast is stacked with powerhouse performers, including Broadway veteran Kristen Carbone (recently seen as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast at American Stage), Cameron Cooley (a returning Tampa talent now balancing a legal career), Madeline Mako (a local standout returning home), and John Perez, whose vocals, Georgia assures us, are simply next-level. “These voices… oh man,” she says. “God almighty amazing.”

What sets this production apart isn’t just its vocals—it’s the inclusion of ThinkTank’s Young Artists Ensemble, a handpicked group of high school performers from across Tampa Bay who serve as the show’s ensemble. One standout senior, Ryan, will even step into the “Man 2” role for a night. “It just creates a different dynamic of generation,” Georgia explains. “Young people see themselves on stage. They recognize that girl from second period math. That’s the magic.”

ThinkTank Theatre—known for its bold commitment to theatre for young audiences (TYA)—is carving out space for what Georgia calls the “lost generation” of arts programming: middle schoolers to young adults who often find themselves skipped over in the theatrical journey from Frog and Toad to Chekhov. “We expect them to jump from lighthearted children’s stories to the density of classic plays without anything in between,” she says. “We’re building that bridge.”

Songs for a New World is the perfect vehicle for that mission. With music that swings from gospel to pop to folk, and lyrics that resonate across generations, it invites audiences of all ages to find themselves in its shifting melodies. “Each song is so relevant,” Georgia says. “You hear these stories—of love, loss, risk, and redemption—and you realize: this is now. These songs are today.”

And in the end, it all builds to one unforgettable final moment. “Hear My Song,” she says, eyes lighting up. “That last number makes you understand why you’ve heard all these stories. It just hits.”

🎭 Songs for a New World runs May 8–18 at the JCC on the Cohn Campus. For tickets and info, visit thinktanktya.org.