BWW Interviews: Being Revived Theater to Present Rarely Performed Revue CLOSER THAN EVER

Closer Than Ever, the rarely produced musical revue by Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, will open this weekend through the Being Revived Theater Company at the Performing Arts Factory in Frederick, Maryland.

Closer Than Ever is produced by Being Revived, a brand new theater company focusing on performing and promoting unknown or rarely-performed musicals. The production, a musical revue focusing on love and relationships, is directed by D.C. Cathro with musical direction by Jonas Dawson.

"Being Revived specifically focuses on lesser known and infrequently produced shows that deserve an audience. We want to expose people to shows, new and old, that they rarely (if ever) get the chance to see. We want to expand knowledge and entertain!" said Cathro

Closer Than Ever was originally produced Off-Broadway in 1989 and has been professionally revived occasionally since its' debut, most recently in 2012. The revue features no dialogue and the plot, tied together by common themes of relationships, aging and marriage, is conveyed entirely through song.

"It's all songs, and each one tells a story, and features different characters. There's no real through-line, except thematically. The show is very emotional, not only for me, but also for the actors. Each of them bring a wonderful personal history, and so the songs have an impact on all of them in vastly different ways" said Cathro

"The intimacy of the show is enhanced by Shire's exclusive use of piano and bass for the orchestration, which is brought to life by the complexity and richness of the two parts individually. Shire's music is an elegant complement to Maltby's lyrics, offering contemporary styles mostly in the form of pop sprinkled with jazz sonorities and progressions, but occasionally diverting into country and rock" said Dawson

In addition to the songs in the original musical, the Being Revived Theater Company will be the first theatrical company to perform the show with the addition of two new songs.

"We are the first company to premiere two new songs outside of the now-closed Off-Broadway revival. We contacted the composers directly and are very fortunate to be able to present these songs to new audiences, and be among the first to do so! The two new songs are titled "Dating Again," about diving back into the singles scene, post divorce, and "There is Something in a Wedding," about the wonders of attending a wedding ceremony. Both of these new songs feature the entire cast" said Cathro .

"The smooth melodies are occasionally bolstered by dense vocal harmonies, and Shire's clever use of counterpoint permits the telling of multiple stories at once in various numbers" said Dawson.

"It is an opportunity to see a show that is rarely produced. There has been a lot of laughter and quite a few tears as well [during the rehearsal process]. I think the audience will really feel the emotional impact as well" said Cathro.

Closer Than Ever features Jonas Dawson, David Norman, Karen Paone, Tim Seltzer and Andrea Wildason as performers. The show will run September 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8:00 PM with one Sunday matinee on September 29 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $15 and may be reserved or purchased at the door. All performances occur at the Performing Arts Factory, 244 South Jefferson Street, Frederick, Maryland. For more information about the production or the Being Revived company, please visit www.beingrevived.com

Photo Credit: Joe Williams, Being Revived

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