Members of the press and assorted theatrical types shuffled into an Elgin Theatre rehearsal hall on Dec. 8 to hear a few words from one-time theatrical legend Garth Drabinsky (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime) and company talk about the world premiere of their upcoming new musical Sousatzka. The show is slated to begin previews on Feb. 25 at the Elgin Theatre before it heads off to Broadway. 

Following remarks by Drabinsky and British director Adrian Noble, the cast performed five selections from the new work based on the original novel Madame Sousatzka by Bernice Rubens. First up, "So Sing," a lively ensemble piece performed by Montego Glover and Fuschia! as leads that got the day's festivities off to a rousing start. Listen below.

Sousatzka "tells the story of a young musical prodigy torn between two powerful women from vastly different worlds: his mother, a political refugee, and his piano teacher, a brilliant eccentric with a shattered past." 

One of the stars of the show is a young actor named Jordan Barrow—who, if all goes according to plan will make his Broadway debut with the show—playing the young piano prodigy Manek. Obviously a man of considerable talent, Barrow performed the beautiful song "Gifted." Up next was a song from Madam Sousatzka herself, Manek's piano teacher in South Africa. Sousatzka is played by Tony Award winner Victoria Clark who performed the song "This Boy."

Another upbeat number, "All I Wanna Do (Is Go Dancin')" followed, with Barrow performing alongside the engaging and wonderful Sara Jean Ford and some of the ensemble.  

A duet with Victoria Clark singing alongside Judy Kaye was next up, followed by the closing number "Rainbow Nation" featuring a stunning performance by Ryan Allen in the lead with Barrow and the ensemble. Listen to a sample of "Rainbow Nation" below.