Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed 2001 musical, The Last Five Years returns to the Sydney stage in a new production at the Ensemble Theatre for a strictly limited season from 29 March 2019.
Inspired by the American Playwright’s own failed first marriage to Theresa O’Neill, The Last Five Years is a two-person musical which tells the history of a relationship of two young and ambitious New Yorkers from two different perspectives.
Jamie, a writer, starts at the beginning of the story and progresses through marriage, infidelity, and divorce, while Cathy, an actor, begins at the end of the relationship and ends with the couple’s first date; the two actors’ only direct interaction takes place midpoint, during the wedding sequence.
The couple’s passionate romance is chronicled from both perspectives: Jamie with all the optimism of young love, looking to the future; Cathy with the hurt and disappointment of its end. The story of the musical represented O’Neill’s relationship with Brown so closely that she threatened legal action.
An Off-Broadway hit written and composed by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years has developed a cult following worldwide with its extraordinary ability to express universal feelings of love and heartbreak into a deeply affecting and intimate musical.
With a beautiful, witty and emotionally powerful score that will hook you from the first note, this new production features the incomparable talents of Elise McCann (Matilda The Musical) as Cathy and Christian Charisiou (Cry Baby) as Jamie, under the direction of Elsie Edgerton-Till (The Plant) and musical direction by Daryl Wallis (Strange Bedfellows).
“The Last Five Years is an enchanting musical that captures some of the most poignant and uplifting moments in a modern romance,” said Edgerton-Till. “This musical will resonate with anyone who has ever been, or ever hopes to be, in love.”
Jason Robert Brown is the Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist, and orchestrator for his groundbreaking work that includes Songs for a New World, Parade, The Last Five Years, 13, The Bridges of Madison County and Honeymoon in Vegas.
As a singer-songwriter, his albums include Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes, Jason Robert Brown Live in Concert and last year’s How We React And How We Recover. His emotionally incisive, ferociously energetic, and deeply human scores have brought his unique voice and highly personal songs to stages all over the world.
Jason has earned acclaim as a director, arranger, pianist, conductor and educator. A film adaptation of The Last Five Years starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan was released in February 2015. Future projects include a musical of Farewell My Concubine and a new show with Billy Crystal and Amanda Green.
Director: Elsie Edgerton-Till Featuring: Christian Charisiou, Elise McCann Musical Direction: Daryl Wallis Choreography: Daniella Lacob Set Designer: Michael Scott-Mitchell Lighting Designer: Karen Norris Costume Designer: Genevieve Graham Costume Supervisor: Hannah Lobelson Stage Manager: Lauren Tulloh Assistant Stage Manager: Alira McKenzie-Williams Sound Operator: Jessica Legg
The Last Five Years
Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli
Season: 3 – 27 April 2019 (previews: 29 March –
Information and Bookings: www.ensemble.com.au
Image: Elise McCann and Christian Charisiou star in The Last Five Years (supplied)