Strange Sun Theatre Presents CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

Strange Sun Theater - under the direction of Artistic Directors Jessica Bashline and Evan Mueller - concludes its third season with a workshop/showcase production of the new musical, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. Performances will begin June 18 in The Black Box Theater at The Sheen Center, 18 Bleecker Street in Manhattan.

Based on the 1991 movie, "Across the Tracks" starring Rick Schroeder and Brad Pitt, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK charts the struggle of one family to find their way back to each other. Billy and Joe, teenage brothers from the wrong side of the tracks, have taken two very different paths, much to the dismay of their mother. One a gifted high school track star, one returning from a stint in prison, both desperately searching for something. The challenges Billy and Joe face: economic depression, substance abuse, crushing self-doubt and recovery are universal. Rivalry, redemption and forgiveness. CLOSER THAN YOU THINK is a story of what you are running from, who you are running to, and the struggle for one family to find its way.

Brett Kristofferson (Book, Music & Lyrics) is a composer/lyricist whose work can be heard in numerous venues throughout the city. An alumnus of the BMI-Lehman Engel Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop, he has written several musicals. In 2012 his work was featured alongside Joe Iconis and Maury Yeston as part of the "New Mondays" series at 54 Below. He is the recipient of the 2010 Bistro Award for Songwriting and a 2-time Dottie Burman Award Winner, in 2010 he won the MAC Song of the Year Award for his song, "Things That Haunt Me."

Directed by Jessica Bashline (Artistic Director, Strange Sun Theater) the cast of CLOSER THAN YOU THINK features a dynamic group of up and coming young musical theater performers including; Ashton Corey, Nathan Winkelstein, Nina Negron, Elena Glass, T.J. Newton, Shannon Rakow, Danny Harris Kornfeld, James Rose, Kevin Lagasse and Jillian Jameson. Rounding out the cast are the talents of Meg Pryor (Grease & Damn Yankees, Nat'l Tour), Doug Chitel (A New Brain, APAC) and Lisa Dennett.

The creative team for CLOSER THAN YOU THINK includes; Bryan Wade, Musical Direction (Finian's Rainbow, B'way; Chicago, Nat'l Tour); Kyle Pleasant, Choreography (Rosie's Broadway Kids); Carlos Aguilar, Set Design (Hot Season, Strange Sun); Benjamin Williams, Lighting Design (Boston: Elliot Norton Award Winner for The Aliens).

This is the first production of CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. In addition to development work with Strange Sun Theater, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK was a part of the inaugural Gallery Players Overtures series for new musical development.

Strange Sun Theater's mission is to tell stories that illuminate our humanity through a shared experience of the magic of theater. We are compelled to be of service to artists exploring new work that shares this vision. We are committed to developing work that focuses on this shared humanity, releases us from the ordinary and ignites within us the power of possibility.

Scheduled June 18 through June 26, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK will have a playing schedule of June 18-20, 24-27 at 8PM, June 22 at 7PM, June 20 & 27 at 3PM, June 24 at 4PM at The Sheen Center (18 Bleecker Street ). Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.strangesuntheater.com

For more information on CLOSER THAN YOU THINK or Strange Sun Theater, please visitwww.strangesuntheater.com.

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