Photos: Jason Gotay, Jay Copeland, Nikki Renée Daniels, Jill Paice in Songs for a New World Concert

The one-night-only performance of the Jason Robert Brown song cycle benefited Off-Broadway's York Theatre.

March 31, 2026 By Andrew Gans, Logan Culwell-Block

Jason Gotay, Jay Copeland, Nikki Reneé Daniels, and Jill Paice in *Songs for a New World* (Shawn Salley)

York Theatre presented a one-night-only benefit performance of Jason Robert Brown's song cycle Songs for a New World March 30 at Theatre at St. Jean's.

Jessica McRoberts directed a cast that included Jay Copeland (The Wiz), Nikki Renée Daniels (Once Upon a Mattress), Jason Gotay (Floyd Collins), and Jill Paice (The Woman in White).

Check out photos from the Spring Benefit in the gallery below.

Photos: Songs for a New World Spring Benefit at The York

Premiering at WPA Theatre in 1995, Songs for a New World launched the career of now-Tony winner Brown, who was all of 25 years old when the musical debuted. The work presents 16 narratively unconnected songs written on the connecting theme of moments of decision. Many of those songs have become favorites within Brown's body of work, including "Stars and the Moon," "I'm Not Afraid of Anything," "I'd Give It All for You," "She Cries," and "Christmas Lullaby." The original production featured a cast of newcomers that have all gone on to become Broadway favorites, including Brooks Ashmanskas, Andréa Burns, Jessica Molaskey, and Billy Porter. Brown would go on to write the score for beloved musicals such as The Last Five Years, Parade, and The Bridges of Madison County.

York's performance was presented via special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
York also presented the evening in association with L.L. Ordinary Productions.

Visit YorkTheatre.org.