The West Virginia Wesleyan College Departments of Theatre & Dance and Department of Music present Maltby and Shire’s “Closer Than Ever” Thursday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and also Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. in the Balcony Theatre at the Colonial Arts Center in downtown Buckhannon.
Tickets are available at the door one hour prior to curtain and are $10 for general admission, $5 for seniors, students or anyone with a WVWC ID.
A look into the private song vault of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire (“Big,” “Starting Here, Starting Now,” “Baby”), the revue “Closer Than Ever” is filled to the brim with the brilliance for which these musical theatre giants are known.
“Closer Than Ever” is a nonstop exploration of everyday struggles in the “modern world.” Topics ranging from unrequited adoration to aging are tackled with resounding sincerity and precisely placed hilarity. Each song is a unique story told by a new character, taking audiences not only into the songbook of Maltby and Shire, but into the minds of the individuals facing these completely relatable challenges.
Wesleyan’s cast includes senior Musical Theatre/Communications double-major Ashton Nardella ’26, of Bridgeport; junior Creative Writing major Amelia Hughes ’27, of Bridgeport; sophomore Musical Theatre major Adrian Legg ’28, of Charleston; freshman Musical Theatre major DeAndre Jones ’29, of Morgantown; and freshmen Vocal Performance majors Kendall Marcum ’29, of Hurricane and Alexis “Ness” Schauman ’29, of Elkins.
Junior Acting/Directing major Rhyan Sebring ’27, of Caldwell, Ohio will be the Stage Manager, with set and lighting design by Boyd Wolz, Director of Technical Theater, and costume design by Jody Wolz. Associate Professor of Music Dr. R. Daniel Hughes provides musical direction, working with Lauren Hull ’22 (piano), Leo Dunmire ’28 (drums), of Elkins, and Mason Atha (bass). Caleb Waybright serves as choreographer. The musical is directed by guest artist Katherine Smart Hughes.
