"Closer Than Ever”: How Heike Werntgen’s Masterful Direction Evokes Heartfelt Emotion

Photo: BoogArt Photographics

Behind the scenes: How Heike Werntgen brought our theater gem to shine

When we first embarked on our inaugural production, Maltby and Shire’s Starting Here, Starting Now, our excitement was centered around the singing. However, it quickly became clear that we needed a stage director to bring the songs and story to life. This led us to Heike Werntgen, an experienced musical theater director and performer who had studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Studio in New York. Heike’s immediate connection with the project helped create a true masterpiece with Starting Here, Starting Now, receiving rave reviews from both audiences and critics alike.

„Closer Than Ever“ – much more than an evening of songs

For Closer Than Ever, Heike crafted a narrative that isn’t a traditional storyline but rather an emotional exploration of timeless feelings. In Heike's telling of the story the musical centers on a class reunion where four friends gather, waiting for more guests to arrive, but no one else shows up. As the evening unfolds, the friends remain hopeful and pass the time, singing songs about their own lives and the absent guests they hope will still turn up. This framework beautifully ties the songs together while emphasizing themes of friendship, loneliness, and hope.

Character Development: Bringing the Songs to Life

In rehearsals, the anonymous characters – Man 1, Man 2, Woman 1, Woman 2 – developed organically from the songs and were given internal working names, though the audience never hears them. These characters represent a range of experiences and emotions that aligned perfectly with the music.

• Woman 1 Krissy Dorn, Soprano (Betty): A divorced woman who lives alone and serves as the evening’s hostess. Her character exudes wry humor, OCD tendencies (Patterns), and a sharp judgment of her friends (Life Story).

• Woman 2 Merel Zeeman, Mezzo (Jill): An impulsive, free-spirited character who struggles to maintain meaningful relationships despite her passionate nature (What Am I Doing?, Miss Byrd, Back on Base).

• Man 1 (John Rinaldi, Tenor (Chris): A successful, wealthy man with a romantic life that falls short of expectations (You Want to Be My Friend?). His persona is one of optimism but often reveals a gap between self-perception and reality (One of the Good Guys).

• Man 2 (Mariano Skroce, Baritone (Dave): A musician whose love for his craft doesn’t erase his profound dissatisfaction with life (If I Sing, I’ll Get Up Tomorrow Morning).

Story behind the Story: Heike Werntgen’s Masterful Use of Emotional Depth

As Richard Maltby Jr., the lyricist of Closer Than Ever, writes in his liner notes for the Starting Here, Starting Now cast recording:“These songs are deceptive, often containing subtext that is easily overlooked.” Heike’s direction skillfully brings out this subtext – the story behind the story – allowing us to explore each song through the unique perspective of the characters. Instead of relying on a traditional narrative, Heike guided us to focus on the emotions behind each song, making the 35-year-old material as fresh and relevant as when it was first written.

One of Heike’s standout creative decisions was to incorporate the absent guests of the class reunion, who are represented by headshots in the background. Through reminiscences and flashbacks, the characters reflect on and reenact moments with the missing friends, adding an extra layer of depth and connection to the songs.

Critic's and audience's reception

German critic Rolf-Rüdiger Hamacher wrote in MUSICAL-TODAY: “Under Heike Werntgen’s precise direction, the ensemble performs with vigor, inviting the audience to empathize with the characters and their dilemmas.” Cultural newspaper critic ElisabethEinecke-Klövekorn emphazises the warm-heartedness of the production and the comedic and melancholic elements of this "moving and entertaining sentimental journey". (Bonner Generalanzeiger 07/05/25)

Lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. has given a clear definition of what this type of song musical should be: “The ‘bookless book musical’ is held together by emotions rather than a narrative – and emotions are timeless.” Heike’s ability to tap into these timeless emotions has allowed Closer Than Ever to resonate deeply with audiences, both old and new, even more than 35 years after they were written.

A Universal Story Told Through Heike Werntgen’s Vision

Heike’s direction brings clarity to the often complex, emotionally charged world of Closer Than Ever. Through her thoughtful staging, the characters’ individual stories are unified into an emotionally cohesive experience. As an extra benefit, Heike’s concept of the class reunion helps German-speaking audiences better understand the multifaceted narratives, offering a sense of accessibility while still retaining the depth of the original material.

The Jewel Box Musical Theater is deeply grateful for Heike Werntgen’s exceptional vision, which elevated the production of Closer Than Ever. With her unique ability to focus on emotion rather than narrative, Heike has made the songs of Maltby and Shire feel as timely and poignant as ever. We eagerly look forward to the next collaboration with Heike, knowing it will bring another incredible experience to our audiences.

Closer Than Ever stage director Heike Werntgen