A dozen Drew University students are producing a musical review, "Songs for a New World," that they hope will help people heal and rejoice in life, a year after the terrorists attacks in the U.S.

The production, which the students are staging and financing on their own, will be held Dec. 7, 8, 9, and 10 in the New Jersey Playwrights Theatre on Green Village Road in Madison.

Drew student Jared Eberlein, who sings baritone and is a main force behind making the production a reality, said the first time he heard songs from the review he was "knocked out."
Eberlein believes that the "immediacy of the lessons being taught through the songs in the review" will have special impact and meaning in our post 9-11 society. "I believe the songs can act as a healing process for anyone who hears them," he said.

Songs for a New World was written by Jason Robert Brown in 1995. Brown is best known as the composer and lyricist of the musicals, Parade and The Last Five Years which won awards for best music and best lyric in 2002, and was cited by Time magazine as one of the ten best musicals of the year. Brown will come to Drew on November 24 to conduct a workshop for students in the production.

The show will have four performances on December 7, 8, 9, and 10, all performances start at 8 p.m. Tickets for the musical are $5 and may be purchased by calling 973/236-2926.

Featured singers in the production are sisters Jennifer and Lauren Brader, of Hillsborough,NJ; Jason Rogers, of Montclair, NJ; and Eberlein, of Parkton, MD.

Director and choreographer is Maris Smith, of Alexandria, VA and Musical Director is Michael Adams, of Cape May Courthouse, NJ.

Other students involved include Maris Smith, Alexandria, VA; Esme Allen, Marblehead, MA; Melissa Casciano, Oak Ridge, NJ; David Fusco, Bridgeton, NJ.