Lynne Wintersteller - "Life Story" from CLOSER THAN EVER

Lynne Wintersteller sings "Life Story" from the musical CLOSER THAN EVER written by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.

From IF IT ONLY EVEN RUNS A MINUTE (3/26/12), created by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Kevin Michael Murphy, and Caleb Hoyer.

I saw the original run of CLOSER THAN EVER at the Cherry Lane Theater off-Broadway in the 1990s. This particular song, and Lynne's fantastic performance, stayed with me for days. I played the recording over and over back then.

The night I saw the show for the first time, I rode the subway home with my friend Bryan Landrine, who knew Lynne. So, for an almost 30 minute subway ride, I had the chance to get to know her a bit and hear about the experience of doing the show. I worked hard not to turn into "fan boy" at the time. It was hard, but I stayed calm.

Fast-forward to a few years ago, I was choreographing a new musical at the New York Musical Theater Festival called PLANE CRAZY. At a press event for NYMF my show performed a number and a woman from another show performed. I remember thinking "Wow. She looks just like Lynne Wintersteller. But surely they can't afford her off-Broadway." I went up to say hello, and it WAS Lynne and she remembered me from our brief meeting years before. Still just as charming and warm as a decade before. Thus, further cementing her place in my admiration.

The song portion of the video begins around the 6:00 mark.

To see her perform the song now is a master class in voice and acting. Nothing is hard; she makes it look so simple. But what an amazing journey she takes us on. How note how she takes her time near the end without being indulgent. And in her eyes, you see how present she is in every moment of the song.

Art.