Rebecca Burnham

According to music historian Ted Gioia, society leans toward its own self-destruction by dividing into enemy factions. But music is a mighty tool that can help us reconnect. It's not just theory. I saw it in practice this week in my tiny town's elementary school gymnasium.

Kurt Bestor is an accomplished musician and composer who has scored films, written for the Olympics, and popularized instrumental Christmas music. But "Prayer of the Children" is his most famous piece of music, and he didn't write it to share. It was an outpouring from his heart that he threw into a concert last minute. And it has been touching hearts ever since.

Meet the Eyes Wide Open musical (plus media course), and protagonist: Ruby Ravenswood. She is a villain in training. And her "I Want" song explains why she responded to a newspaper ad about revenge and joined master villain Ira Spornova's army of malcontents.