"Closer Than Ever," the hit off-Broadway musical revue that opened in 1989, dares to look behind the private doors of our social, work, and love lives through a series of smart, clever songs by Richard Maltby Jr. (Lyrics) and David Shire (Music).

This musical is Jewel Box Musical Theater’s follow-up to "Starting Here, Starting Now," written by the same composers. While "Starting Here, Starting Now" was about fresh dreams and new ambitions, "Closer Than Ever" delves into the complicated lives of people in their 40s and up, exploring themes of romance, friendship, marriage, parenthood, aging, and everyday challenges.

Set in a small apartment in an unspecified big city, "Closer Than Ever" takes the audience on an intimate journey through the lives of four close friends, revealing their hopes, fears, idiosyncrasies, and periodic nervous breakdowns.

JBMT is thrilled to welcome actor Mariano Skroce as a new cast member, joining returning actors Krissy Dorn, John Rinaldi, and Merel Zeeman. The creative team from "Starting Here, Starting Now" is also back, with Heike Werntgen as Stage Director, Frans Heemskerk as Musical Director, and Maarten Helsloot at the piano.

Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, though not as famous as Rodgers and Hammerstein or Andrew Lloyd Webber, are formidable composers.  They wrote the scores for "Baby" (1983) and "Big" (1996), both of which won Tony Awards. Their musical "Take Flight" was presented in London in 2007, and their songs have been recorded by Barbara Streisand. The Original Cast Album of "Starting Here, Starting Now" (1977) won a Grammy Award.

David Shire is known for his film scores to "All The President’s Men," "Saturday Night Fever," "Short Circuit," and "The Conversation." Richard Maltby Jr. is best known for the Tony-Award-winning revues "Ain’t Misbehavin’" and "Fosse." They met at Yale and have been occasional collaborators ever since. They are currently working on a new musical revue which we hope to bring you in a year or two.