On opening night of Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined, Burt Bacharach and the cast perform in Piccadilly Circus. Picture: Craig Sugden
The West End transfer of Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined, the new musical featuring Burt Bacharach’s songbook, opened last week at the Criterion Theatre, London. After the performance, Burt Bacharach joined the cast in Piccadilly Circus for a very special performance of ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’. See below for some brand new production images from Musical Theatre Review’s official photographer Roy Tan.
Performed by a young, multi-talented cast led by the visionary musician and performer Kyle Riabko, the show features Riabko’s new yet faithful interpretations of Bacharach’s classics. The show redefines the songbook musical by fusing this reinterpretation of more than 30 timeless Bacharach melodies with innovative choreography.
The show, newly renamed Close to You, premiered to critical acclaim and was a hit at New York Theatre Workshop, original home of both Once and Rent, becoming the longest running show in the history of that theatre, followed recently by a sold out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Directed by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett, best known for his iconic movement for such hits as Once, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Black Watch, Riabko leads a talented group of singers and musicians from both sides of the Atlantic through Bacharach’s greatest hits.
The full cast joining Riabko in Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined are Daniel Bailen, Greg Coulson, Anastacia McCleskey, Stephanie McKeon, Renato Paris and James Williams.
Close to You features music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David and others, with musical arrangements by Kyle Riabko who also conceived the show with Seltze. Set design is by Christine Jones and Brett Banakis, costume design by Matthew Wright, lighting design by Tim Lutkin and sound design by Richard Brooker.
The New York Theater Workshop/Menier Chocolate Factory production of Close to You is presented in the West End by David Lane Seltzer for Entertainment 360, the producing arm of Management 360, also responsible for the blockbuster TV series Game of Thrones and the upcoming Danny Boyle-directed Steve Jobs biopic.
Book Tickets for Close to You: www.musicaltheatrereview.entstix.com/tickets/close-to-you
Kyle Riabko in Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined at the Criterion Theatre, London. Picture: Roy Tan
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