West End Frame - Close To You: Bacharach Reimagined to release cast recording
It has been revealed that the West End cast of Close To You: Bacharach Reimagined are in the studio recording a cast album. Following its UK premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Close To You transferred to the Criterion Theatre in October where it is currently booking until Valentine’s Day on 14th February 2016. Featuring new arrangements of Burt Bacharach’s songbook, Close To You broke box office records at the Criterion with the biggest advance in the venue’s history.
West End Frame Review - Close To You - Bacharach Reimagined at the Criterion Theatre
Accompanying themselves on all sorts of instruments throughout the show, the cast are ridiculously talented. Riabko leads the company terrifically; his stage presence is strong and he his cleverly placed vocal gymnastics sound so effortless. When Anastacia McCleskey sings for her life time stands still - she is phenomenal. #Bacharach #London #review #CloseToYou #WestEnd #CriterionTheatre #WestEndFrame
The Upcoming Review - Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined at Criterion Theatre
The energetic young cast of seven are fronted by Kyle Riabko (co-conceiver of the show and provider of the lead vocal and considerable guitar skills upon which its sound is built) in dancing the audience through his unique and fresh arrangements of over 30 Bacharach hits. The sheer range of talent on display facilitates masterful delivery in a variety of stylistic forms – from high-tempo, rocky interpretations of Message to Michael and Do You Know the Way to San Jose?, throug
The Telegraph Review 'a delirious dreamscape' - Close To You - Bacharach Reimagined at the C
Rather, familiar songs such as I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself or Windows Of The World find a renewed emotional clarity by virtue of Riabko’s aromatic, bluesy fretwork, folky backing harmonies and notably Anastacia McCleskey’s smoky soul vocals. #Bacharach #London #review #CloseToYou #WestEnd #CriterionTheatre #TheTelegraph
The Stage Review 'Electrifying' - Close To You - Bacharach Reimagined at the Criterion Theat
First produced at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop in 2013, it was then restaged at London's Menier Chocolate Factory last summer with co-creator and lead singer/guitarist Kyle Riabko recreating his New York troubadour performance, alongside fellow imports Daniel Bailen and James Williams, joining a new company featuring the big voiced American Anastacia McCleskey, the laid-back Dublin-born Stephanie McKeon, and British additions Greg Coulson and Renato Paris. The mus
Group Leisure Review - Close To You - Bacharach Reimagined at the Criterion Theatre
Admittedly, the stand-out individuals are definitely Kyle Riabko, who is the leading male vocal on the majority of tunes (who also plays the most epic guitar solo I’ve ever seen in theatre before), and Anastacia McCleskey, whose rendition of Don’t Make Me Over had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. #Bacharach #London #review #CloseToYou #WestEnd #CriterionTheatre #GroupLeisure