Jon Lawrence Rivera will direct the Jason Robert Brown musical, which plays the Ventura theatre March 3-April 3. The official opening night is scheduled for March 4. The production will also feature musical direction by Brent Crayon and choreography by Kitty McNamee. Additional casting is expected shortly.

The creative team for Songs for a New World comprises Trefoni Michael Rizzi (set design), Steven Young (lighting design) and James Bobby (costume design).

Songs for a New World is a series of tunes loosely focused on change, newness and discovery. "Stars and the Moon" — which has been recorded by Audra McDonald and Betty Buckley — was the break-out hit of the show. The song cycle also features comic numbers — the frantic and dark "Just One Step" and the Christmas parody "Surabaya-Santa" — as well as quiet ballads like "The World Was Dancing" and "I'd Give It All for You."

Cindy Benson has been seen on Broadway in Cats and Les Misérables. Her other theatrical credits include Nunsense, Eating Raoul, Mack and Mabel, The First Picture Show, Ragtime, Mame and Blame It on the Movies. Anthony Manough's Broadway credits include The Lion King and Jesus Christ Superstar. He won the Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in God's Trombones.

The Rubicon Theatre is located at 1006 East Main Street in Ventura, CA. For tickets, call (805) 667-2900; visit www.rubicontheatre.org for more information.