Closer Than Ever
Closer Than Ever
A Musical Revue for Real Life
May 15 - June 13, 2015
Springer Theatre
“Everywhere another door.”
Produced in Association with Western Canada Theatre, Kamloops, BC.
Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Music by David Shire
Conceived by Steven Scott Smith
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As Bette Davis famously said, "Growin' older ain't for sissies."
CLOSER THAN EVER is an award-winning “how-to” guide for all of life's surprises – told entirely through song! This hilarious, poignant and deliciously tuneful journey presents us with fully realized stories in each fantastic musical number: a timid Realtor is keeping some sexy secrets, a man and woman venture into a second marriage (to each other...again!), and a female zoologist is unimpressed with the male species. These are just some of the stories inspired by real-life experiences in this whip-smart show. Performed by some of Canada’s finest musical theatre actors – you are not going to want to miss this one!"An infectious sense of joy."
- CBC"Deliciously tuneful."
- Theatremania
Student Matinee Presented by TD Bank Group
Thursday May 21, 2015, 11:00am
With affordable group rates, free workshops, a curriculum-based study guide, and a post-show Q&A with the actors, your students will connect directly with some of Canada's most prominent professional artists. < Read More
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Playing at the Springer Theatre
from May 15 - June 13, 2015Tuesday to Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8pm
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday. . . . . . . . . . 2:30pm
(No Saturday matinee on opening day of shows)
Student Matinee Presented by TD Bank Group: Thursday May 21, 2015, 11:00am
Running Time: approximately 1 hour, 50 minutes including intermission.
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Cast
Steven Greenfield
David Keeley
Sharron Matthews
Leon Willey
Patricia Zentilli
Creative
Director: Daryl Cloran
Choreographer: Valerie Easton
Set & Lighting Designer: Ross Nichol
Costume Designer: Cindy Wiebe
Sound Designer: Adam Harendorf
Music Director & Piano: Steven Greenfield
Stage Manager: Skylar Nakazawa
Assistant Stage Manager: Isabelle Ly
Musicians
Bass: Paul Clifford
Piano: Steven Greenfield
PAUL CLIFFORD (Bass)
Paul Clifford is a native of Kingston, ON. He began playing bass in the early 90s in local bands and later studied jazz bass at the University of Toronto with bassists Jim Vivian and Dave Young. He also studied jazz composition with Phil Nimmons and jazz improvisation with Kirk MacDonald and Jim Lewis.
DARYL CLORAN (Director)
For the Playhouse: The Importance of Being Earnest, Boeing Boeing, Till it Hurts, Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad.
Elsewhere: Liberation Days (Theatre Calgary); Tribes (Canadian Stage/Theatrefront); Afterplay (Shaw Festival); All for Love (National Arts Centre); Generous (Tarragon); This is How it Goes (Neptune); The Last Five Years (Manitoba Theatre Centre); Peter & the Starcatcher, Les Miserables (Western Canada Theatre); UBUNTU (The Cape Town Project), RETURN (The Sarajevo Project), The Mill (Theatrefront); Time Stands Still (Theatre Aquarius).
Upcoming: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Bard on the Beach, Vancouver).
Other: Daryl has received the Canada Council’s John Hirsch Prize for Outstanding Emerging Director, the Toronto Theatre Emerging Artist Award and Halifax’s Merritt Award for Outstanding Direction. He is the Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops, British Columbia and the Founding Artistic Director of Theatrefront (Toronto).
VALERIE EASTON (Choreographer)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: (selected credits include) Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, West Side Story (Ovation Award), Hairspray, White Christmas, Mary Poppins (Ovation Award) (Arts Club Theatre); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Fiddler on the Roof, Closer than Ever (Western Canada Theatre Co.); Anne of Green Gables, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan (Gateway Theatre Co.); Music Man, 42ND Street (Royal City Musical Theatre Co.); Loves Labours Lost, Much Ado, As you Like it (Bard on the Beach).
Other: Artistic Director of Royal City Musical Theatre. Selected directing credits include-Legally Blonde (Tuts) Oklahoma, Annie, Hello Dolly, Will Rogers Follies, A Chorus Line(RCMT); Red Rock Diner (Arts ClubTheatre).
Upcoming: Les Miserables (Arts Cub Theatre Co); Loves Labours Lost (Bard On the Beach).
STEVEN GREENFIELD (Music Director, Piano & Performer)
For the Playhouse: Waiting for the Parade.
Elsewhere: Gunmetal Blues (Globe Theatre); The Secret Garden (Capilano University); James and the Giant Peach, Busytown (Jessie, OVATION! nominee), The Wizard of Oz (Jessie nominee), Seussical (Jessie Award, OVATION! nominee)(Carousel Theatre for Young People); Darling (Springboard Theatre Productions); The Chariot Cities (Vancouver Fringe Festival); Red Rock Diner (Arts Club Theatre); The Spitfire Grill (OVATION! Award) (Pacific Theatre); Edges (Jessie nominee) (Streamlight Productions).
Other: Born and raised in Calgary, Steven has been based out of Vancouver since 2006. A graduate of Grant MacEwan College's Theatre Arts program, Steven is currently a member of the Theatre faculty at Capilano University. Thanks to Daryl and Valerie. Special thanks to family, friends, Jessie and Gotham for their love and support. And thank you for choosing live theatre as your entertainment option today!
ADAM HARANDORF (Sound Designer)
For the Playhouse: Educating Rita, Driving Miss Daisy, Third Floor.
Elsewhere: Cannibal! The Musical (Starvox); Alligator Pie, The Cherry Orchard (Soulpepper); Sweeney Todd, Elf – The Musical, La Cage aux Folles, The Jungle Book (Neptune); James and the Giant Peach (YPT); Lost In Yonkers, Visiting Mr. Green (HGJT); For The Pleasure Of Seeing Her Again (Festival Players of Prince Edward County); Fool For Love (Red One Theatre); The Shepard Plays (Candles are for Burning Co.).
DAVID KEELEY (Performer)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: DINK (Nextstage); Company, Bloodless (Theatre 20); Les Miserables (WCT); Bingo (Factory); Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages (Mirvish); True Love Lies (Citadel); Wrong Son (NAC); Mamma Mia (Broadway); Urinetown (Canstage - Dora Award); Hamlet, Richard III, Coriolanus, Oklahoma, Fuente Ovejuna, Trojan Women, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Changeling (Stratford Festival).
TV and Film: Murdoch Mysteries, Republic of Doyle, Saving Hope, The Listener, Copper, Flashpoint, Haven, Rookie Blue, Lost Girl, Missing, Turn the Beat Around, The Barrens, The Armoire, Manchurian Candidate.
Upcoming: Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (MTC).
Other: Artistic Director Theatre 20.
ISABELLE LY (Assistant Stage Manager)
For the Playhouse: 10th Season, including Driving Miss Daisy, Boeing Boeing, Little Shop of Horrors, Summer of My Amazing Luck, Anne and Gilbert, Perfect Pie, Anne of Green Gables.
Elsewhere: Infinity (Tarragon Theatre/Volcano Theatre); 4 seasons with Western Canada Theatre including: Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Where the Blood Mixes (WCT/Theatre Aquarius); Palace of the End (Canadian Stage); The Eco Show, Insomnia (Necessary Angel); What Lies Before Us (Crow’s Theatre/Canadian Stage).
Upcoming: Stage Manager for Tuesdays with Morrie (TIP); Mary Poppins (WCT/Persephone).
Other: Interim School Technical Coordinator and rehearsal ASM on the world premiere of the ballet Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, various Marketing and PR positions with the Corporation of Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall, Nightwood Theatre, Soundstreams, and the Luminato Festival. Isabelle is a graduate of the drama department at Queen's University, and so excited to be celebrating 10 years with TIP!
SHARRON MATTHEWS (Performer)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: Closer Than Ever (Western Canada Theatre); Love, Loss and What I Wore (Panasonic Theatre); Les Miserables (North American Tour); Songs for a New World (Canadian Premiere, Young Centre); Wizard of Oz, Seussical (YPT); Showboat (Original Revival Company w/ Livent); Beauty and the Beast (Mirvish Productions).
Other: Sharron’s solo cabaret pieces have toured the world (Scotland, London, New York, South Africa) and been hailed as “Best of the Fest” at the Edinburgh Fringe, and the “#1 Cabaret in New York City”. Sharron was named the “Woman of the Year 2012” by the New Current in the UK and “Best Cabaret Performer” by Toronto’s NOW Magazine. Sharron is the Cabaret Artist in Residence at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto and she just completed a cross Canada tour with comedy icon, Mary Walsh. www.sharronmatthews.com
SKYLAR NAKAZAWA (Stage Manager)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: Selected credits: 39 Steps, Liberation Days, Peter and the Starcatcher, Driving Miss Daisy, Closer Than Ever, Silent Chap, Les Misérables, Boeing Boeing, Fiddler on the Roof, Educating Rita, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Christmas Story, Harvest, Noises Off (Western Canada Theatre); A Shayna Maidel (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Alice in Wonderland, The Last of the Dragons, Fantastic Mr. Fox, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, James and the Giant Peach, Romeo and Juliet, Munsch Ado About Nothing, The Compleat Wrks of Wllm (Project X).
Upcoming: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (Project X); Miss Caledonia (WCT).
Other: Skylar is overjoyed to be delving back into this charming piece. She would like to thank Ashlie and Daryl for having her at the Playhouse this season.
ROSS NICHOL (Set & Lighting Designer)
For the Playhouse: Waiting for the Parade, Boeing Boeing.
Elsewhere: The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon (Theatre North West, Prince George BC); The 39 Steps (Western Canada Theatre, Kamloops BC); Closer Than Ever, Never Shoot a Stampede Queen, Dreary and Izzy (WCT); and almost 200 more across Canada.
Upcoming: Miss Caledonia, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline (WCT).
Other: As well as designing, Ross has been Production Manager for Western Canada Theatre. He has taught for both Studio 58, Langara College, Vancouver BC and Stagecraft and Event Technology, Douglas College, New Westminster, BC. He is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology. Ross would like to thank the production staff for all their work to get the show on stage!
CINDY WIEBE (Costume Designer)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: Bird Brain (WCT Co-production with Thompson Rivers University Actors Workshop Theatre); Are We Cool Now?, Dreary and Izzy, A Christmas Story, Never Shoot a Stampede Queen, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Betrayal, A Christmas Carol (Western Canada Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Elizabeth Rex, The Tempest (Project X).
Upcoming: Miss Caledonia (WCT).
Other: As well as designing, Cindy has been the Head of Wardrobe for Western Canada Theatre since 2003.
LEON WILLEY (Performer)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: Al Capone Documentary (Moose Jaw Saskatchewan); Peter And The Starcatcher (Canadian Premiere - Western Canada Theatre); The Last 5 Years (Golden Apple Theatre); Girl In A Goldfish Bowl (Rubarb Productions); Don Lockwood (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Persephone Theatre); Noises Off (WCTheatre/Chemainus); Joseph...Dreamcoat (WCTheatre); Aladdin (MJCC); Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Winters Tale, The Merchant Of Venice, Merry Wives (Shakespeare On The Sask.); Dead Peasants (Playwrights Festival); The Full Monty (Patric Street Pro/Persephone Theatre), Ain't We Got Fun!, Co-Producer, (Live Out Loud Theatre); Temptation (Tant Per Tant Theatre); Anything Goes, Murder on the Nile (Chemainus); Bobby Strong, Hotblades, Urinetown, (Firehall Theatre); Cabaret (Arts Club Theatre).
Upcoming: Hercules (Sum Theatre); Mary Poppins (WCT/Persephone Theatre).
Other: Born and raised in Vancouver BC, but living in Moose Jaw, SK for around 6 years, Leon has worked in the western part of Canada for his career and is excited to have to opportunity to be out east and a part of the Thousand Islands Playhouse team this season. Thanks to my beautiful wife KJ Konkin, and equally gorgeous daughter Sawyer. www.leonwilley.com
PATRICIA ZENTILLI (Performer)
For the Playhouse: Debut.
Elsewhere: Selected Theatre: The Gravitational Pull of Berenice Trimble (Theatre Network); Mack and Mabel (Plain Jane Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (WCT); Little Shop of Horrors (Canstage); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Mayfield); Rabbit Hole, Hamlet, What the Butler Saw, Of Mice and Men, Grease, The Member of the Wedding (Neptune Theatre); A New Brain (Acting Upstage); Noises Off (ATF).
Selected Film/TV: Delmer and Marta (APTN); Tiny Plastic Men (Super Channel); The Jane Show (Global) Rick Mercer Report (CBC); Dan for Mayor (CTV), Call Me Fitz (HBO Canada).
Upcoming: The Last 5 Years (Theatre Network).
Other (CD): Pull Me Through (Available on iTunes). -
[nggallery id=14]
CLOSER THAN EVER at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, 2015. Photos by Jay Kopinski.[nggallery id=11]
CLOSER THAN EVER with our co-producers, Western Canada Theatre, 2014. Photos provided by WCT.Ashlie's Inside Story
[embed width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_-AV8pHgSI[/embed]
Closer Than Ever Team excited to come to Gananoque!
[embed width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQYitsXnmBg&feature=youtu.be&theme=light&color=white&rel=0[/embed]
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REVIEWS
5 STAR Review: Closer Than Ever opens at the Thousand Islands Playhouse
North Country Public Radio. May 19, 2015
If you like good songs, good singers and terrific piano playing, "Closer Than Ever" is for you... <Read MoreA Musical in the Truest Sense
Kingston Whig Standard. May 21, 2015
For many people, turning 40 years old is something to be dreaded. For lyricist Richard Maltby Jr., it offers up a gold mine of comedic material... <Read MoreSummer "Closer Than Ever" At Playhouse
A Fresh News Start. May 27, 2015
Bright and upbeat, it features a string of sparkling musical performances by an amazing cast, all of whom are playing in Gananoque for the first time... <Read MoreVIDEOS
Eastern Ontario Network video preview and interview with Director Daryl Cloran. Click image to watch video!
PREVIEW ARTICLES
Playhouse Season Opens
The Gananoque Reporter, May 19, 2015.
The Thousand Islands Playhouse has opened its 2015 season with a clever musical called Closer Than Ever that is designed to appeal to... <Read MoreMiddle Age, Modern Era
Kamloops This Week, September 10, 2014
The musical revue, which kicks off WCT’s 2014-2015 season, takes aim at middle age in all its glory — and folly. Originally staged off-Broadway 25 years ago... -
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Founding Sponsor
Summer Fun Sponsor - Closer Than Ever
