If Life Had A soundtrack...

In February 2008, Collaborative Arts Theatre presented...

Closer Than Ever

by Maltby and Shire

A funny, heartfelt look at modern life: love, families, careers, joys and heartaches, set to the music and lyrics of one of Broadway's most beloved songwriting duos, Richard Maltby and David Shire.

Each musical number is its own story. You’ll meet a man who spends a night on a rooftop, in the rain, wondering What Am I Doin’? (falling madly in love, of course). Then there’s Miss Byrd, an unassuming real estate agent with a very saucy secret life. In Fathers of Fathers, you’ll share the joys and challenges of fatherhood, from both sides of the generational divide. Have you ever ended a relationship with the question, ‘Can we still be friends?’ You Want To Be My Friend? is one scorned woman’s hilarious answer. And there are many more, each with its own musical view on the journeys we take through life today.

Featuring the vocal talents of five of Charlotte's finest actor/singers:

Dan Brunson · Jerry Colbert · Joe Klosek · Lisa Smith · Amy Van Looy

Director: Elise Wilkinson

Musical Director: Marty Gregory

Musicians: Marty (keyboard) , Don Yaeger (bass), Chris Mullins (percussion)

Set Design and Construction: Andrew Gibbon

Choreographer: Greta Zandstra

Lighting Design: Stephen Clifford

Stage Manager: Stephanie Phillips

Assistant Stage Manager: Liz Wooley

Production Assistance: Joe Copley

February 28th - March 15th, 2008

Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm

Sunday, March 9th at 2:30 pm

Wednesday, March 12th at 8:00 pm

performed at the Duke Power Theatre, Spirit Square
with cabaret-style seating

Images

Production photos were taken by Mitchell Kearney.

Graphics were created by Elise Wilkinson and Joe Copley.

Notes

This was Collaborative Arts' first full-on musical. This was also our first production to use cabaret-style seating, which was well-suited to the intimate nature of the show.

Director Elise Wilkinson generally took a minimalist approach to the production. Andrew Gibbon's set design, although very elegant, was simple (see the photos). Likewise, Greta Zandstra's choreography was nicely understated, with a few well-chosen exceptions.

This approach allowed the show (a revue of 24 songs in two hours) space to breathe, and allowed the music and the actors to fill that space.

And fill it they did. Closer Than Ever was universally loved by audiences, and had several sold-out performances.