‘Starting Here, Starting Now’

Presented by Olympic Theatre Arts

Directed by Greg Scherer

When: 7:30 p.m. March 16, 17, 23, and 24; 2 p.m. March 18, 25

Where: Gathering Hall, Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim, Ave.

Tickets: Available at the box office, Monday-Friday, or online at www.olympictheatrearts.org

Olympic Theatre Arts is bringing together live theater and live music for a show that explores its characters through song.

“Starting Here, Starting Now” is a musical revue that runs from March 16-25 at Olympic Theatre Arts.

It combines the lyrics of Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, who wrote songs for shows that either closed out of town or were never produced. The two writers turned these songs into a revue and created, “Starting Here, Starting Now.”

“They pulled the best songs from all these unsuccessful shows,” director Greg Scherer said. “It’s as if you had taken a story and stripped all the dialogue away are just left with the songs.”

Scherer said this is his fourth show at Olympic Theatre Arts but this is his first time directing at the Gathering Hall.

The songs featured in this show are “story songs” each giving the characters a chance to explore a mini-drama.

In the first act, characters explore the ups and downs of city romances and in the second act the songs present characters that have had unlucky experiences in love and life with a chance to a new start.

“It is a musical revue that deals with first love, love loss, love regained and personal love coming to grips with personal worth,” Scherer said.

“There’s a small storyline and an individual presentation of characters.”

Josh Sutcliffe, Cathy Marshall and Christy Holy play the multitude of characters in this show accompanied by a live percussionist, bassist and pianist to bring the songs to life.

Sutcliffe said he hopes audience members walk away humming a tune or two after attending the show.

“The music is fun,” he said. “It’s very challenging and I enjoy singing.”

Marshall said while most of the music is unfamiliar it’s still enjoyable.

“It’s not what most people are used to in a musical but it’s great music and once I listened to it I fell in love,” she said.

Holy also shares both of her fellow actors’ sentiments.

“I love to sing and it’s really fun music and it seemed like it was going to be a really good time,” she said.

Scherer describes the show as “uplifting” and hopes it will be both entertaining and inspiring to audience members.

For more information about the show, call the theater at 360-683-7326 or visit www.olympictheatrearts.org.