RIVERSIDE (Oct. 10, 2013)-California Baptist University's theater program will open the 2013-2014 season this weekend with the abstract musical "Songs for a New World." Performances are scheduled Oct. 11-19.

The play is considered an "abtract musical" because it features a series of songs all connected by a theme, the moment of decision. Performers do not literally play the same characters throughout the show, but each character they play is developed in the storyline.

"It's about one moment," said Jason Robert Brown, the show's composer. "It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, take a stand or turn around and go back."

Performances begin Friday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. and continue on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. offering. The play will resume Thursday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 19, with performances each evening at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. General admission tickets are $15, with discounts offered for matinees, senior citizens and CBU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets for the four-play series are also available at $49 for the evening series and $39 for the matinee series.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Wallace Theatre box office at 951.343.4319.

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