In Development
Close Up brings together three time Bessie nominated artist Stefanie Batten Bland (SBB) and Emmy Award–winning composer and violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) in an intimate new concert of music and dance, where sound and movement entwine to reveal the stories our bodies carry. Conceived as a musical and physical lullaby, the work recreates the immediacy of a speakeasy—where the danger and thrill of proximity and truth can cut like a dagger or cradle us with love and acceptance. Blending classical, jazz, and post modern influences into one expression, Close Up explores deeply rooted cultural narratives shaped by ancestry and memory. Together, SBB and DBR celebrate the resilience of the human spirit, holding the beauty, humor, horror, and care within each body, and emphasizing the necessity of tenderness in turbulent times. Through this dialogue of bow and body, rhythm and resistance, they build a world both familiar and newly imagined: a sanctuary of sound, sweat, and grace.
Dramaturge: Dan Safer Costume Design: Shane Ballard Lighting Design: Jessica Drayton
Development Partners: New Music USA 2025, MIT Theater Arts, Arizona State University, Montclair State University
