The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years is a musical written by Jason Robert Brown. It premiered at Chicago’s Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March of 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally, as well as having been made into a motion picture starring Anna Kendrick.

The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy’s story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie’s is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect.

Directed by Otto Layman, with set design by Layman and Jonathan Mitchell (who also will design the lighting), The Last Five Years features two couples, singing on alternate days: Josie Gillingham and Carter Beaudette, Daniel Sabraw and Logan Fleming. On the final performance, the couples will switch, with Sabraw singing with Gillingham, and Beaudette with Fleming. Performances are December 13 at 7pm (Carter / Gillingham), December 14 at 7pm (Sabraw/Fleming), and December 15 at 2pm (Beaudette/Fleming) and 7pm (Sabraw/Gillingham). Tickets are $20.00 reserved orchestra, $10.00 General Admission, and $5.00 for students.