#26
Posted: 2/4/26 at 9:52am
I’m just not sure those songs justify the space.
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA) — Page 2
#27
Posted: 2/4/26 at 10:11am
Ok I got tix. FOMO got the better of me. Tickets aren’t as much as I thought they’d be (i mean they’re still stupid expensive for this show and this venue) but this is just the AMEX presale and they’re holding back 90% of the house, it looks like.
#28
Posted: 2/4/26 at 11:07am
Looks like they added more seats and jacked up the prices lol
The first maybe 25 rows or so are now around $500 each and then other seats start around $190. The back of the 4th level is $90
#29
Posted: 2/4/26 at 11:47am
I got in the queue before 10am. So used to being number two thousand something for a good concert.
Today I was number 68 in the queue.
#30
Posted: 3/25/26 at 8:49pm
Apparently, some confusion in London where a person purporting to be a producer stated that filming would be allowed from seats. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWestEnd/comments/1s37bhw/does_anybody_else_find_this_crazy/?share_id=XW1VKov8ANjSTA1pLUfcy&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1
But then just before show, front of house met and "no filming" was back in place. "No filming" signs out - ushers waving them around.
#31
Posted: 3/28/26 at 7:19pm
I’m not saying it’s the most believable definitive production of all time or the chemistry is 100% right but it might be the most musically artistic technical achievement of this score ever. Ben Platt ALMOST steals the show, so many moments but “nobody needs to know” was so vulnerable and complex. It was like taking his performance in Parade of “it’s hard to speak my heart” and extending it to twice as long with twice the emotion. Rachel Zegler is the most important young musical actress working today. She will absolutely be the next greatest of all time level, alongside Patti, Bernadette etc.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
Updated On: 3/28/26 at 07:19 PM
#32
Posted: 3/28/26 at 7:35pm
Our UK friends were pleasantly very surprised by this. They have continued to say how wonderful the evening was. Made me consider buying tickets.
#33
Posted: 3/30/26 at 5:46pm
binau said: "Rachel Zegler is the most important young musical actress working today. She will absolutely be the next greatest of all time level, alongside Patti, Bernadette etc."
Does she have a bit more nuance in her singing in this show than in Evita? There, she was blasting everything at one deafening volume without any finesse whatsoever. Even the first line of "Surprisingly Good for You" was deafening and aggressive. Unfortunately Patti had that too. It's the whole palette of the voice that makes someone the greatest of all time to me.
#34
Posted: 3/30/26 at 6:00pm
Seb28 said: "binau said: "Rachel Zegler is the most important young musical actress working today. She will absolutely be the next greatest of all time level, alongside Patti, Bernadette etc."
Does she have a bit more nuance in her singing in this show than in Evita? There, she was blasting everything at one deafening volume without any finesse whatsoever. Even the first line of "Surprisingly Good for You" was deafening and aggressive. Unfortunately Patti had that too. It's the whole palette of the voice that makes someone the greatest of all time to me."
I haven't seen her live, but it's interesting this comment is here because I just saw a clip of her singing "Summer in Ohio" and the whole time I thought "she is really hitting every note at 100%, she sounds amazing, but no nuance or levels, just full power through the entire song.
#35
Posted: 3/30/26 at 6:07pm
I can’t imagine they’ll be trying to add any nuance to their performances at Radio City. I still can’t believe “The Last Five Years” is playing there.
#36
Posted: 3/30/26 at 7:37pm
I lucked out and was invited to friends' front row garden box at the Bowl this Friday. Will report back!
#37
Posted: 3/31/26 at 10:41am
Observation said: "Seb28 said: "binau said: "Rachel Zegler is the most important young musical actress working today. She will absolutely be the next greatest of all time level, alongside Patti, Bernadette etc."
Does she have a bit more nuance in her singing in this show than in Evita? There, she was blasting everything at one deafening volume without any finesse whatsoever. Even the first line of "Surprisingly Good for You" was deafening and aggressive. Unfortunately Patti had that too. It's the whole palette of the voice that makes someone the greatest of all time to me."
I haven't seen her live, but it's interesting this comment is here because I just saw a clip of her singing "Summer in Ohio" and the whole time I thought "she is really hitting every note at 100%, she sounds amazing, but no nuance or levels, just full power through the entire song.
"
To each their own, but part of the reason her Evita vocal performance has stuck with me months later *is* the nuance and range I found she brought to the score, from the D5s in Rainbow High and high harmonies in Goodnight and Thank You to the low notes in Buenos Aires and the faux-shy softness of DCFMA. (Not to mention, Evita is written so very “this role should be played loud” that I prefer the songs done full-throttle when possible; a gentle Evita makes the tone of the whole show feel off, but that’s a hyperspecific rant for another day lol.) I might agree more about TL5Y if I didn’t know that the bits people kept clipping were the climactic parts *written* to be belted/mixed; I think her quieter moments in See I’m Smiling or The Next Ten Minutes, for example, or even the middle bit of Summer in Ohio (which overall, to be fair, is not exactly a reserved song), are done just as well, but they aren’t the “iconic” moments a lot of theatre fans on social media remember most and want to hear bootlegged. Anyway, I’m looking forward to the reports from Hollywood Bowl and Radio City, especially on how it ultimately plays in such massive spaces!
#38
Posted: 4/4/26 at 12:52am
Live TL5Y album with Rachel and Ben on the way!
#39
Posted: 4/4/26 at 1:51am
Just got back home from this - WOW! Will write more on this tomorrow, but this was a truly exceptional evening of theatre. After having seen the less than spectacular Broadway debut of this show about a year ago, I had no idea what to expect seeing such a tiny show in a massive venue. What I encountered was 14,000 other kindred theatre folk indulging in a shared moment only we understood. Seeing JRB playing that beautiful score on the piano easily turned him into the third featured performer on that stage, and Ben and Rachel performed the vocals effortlessly.
To have this immortalized as the 25th anniversary live cast recording is a gift.
#40
Posted: 4/4/26 at 3:47am
Any opportunity to watch JRB tickle the ivories live is always a special experience -- and I'm thrilled about the upcoming recording. But I really hope they don't use the current, super awkward photo of the two as their album cover...
#41
Posted: 4/4/26 at 5:19am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh3B41zMSPw&list=RDVh3B41zMSPw&start_radio=1
Real chemistry here that I must admit you don't see with Platt & Zegler lol (even though I can't wait for the album).
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#42
Posted: 4/4/26 at 8:22am
binau said: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh3B41zMSPw&list=RDVh3B41zMSPw&start_radio=1
Real chemistry here that I must admit you don't see with Platt & Zegler lol (even though I can't wait for the album)."
I agree. This was stunning. Also I guess I'm naive, I knew Lauren could sing, but I had no idea she could sing like that. I will be watching on repeat.
#43
Posted: 4/4/26 at 9:27am
I will never understand the fascination with Ben Platt. He sounds like he is yodeling when he sings and other than his Dad having WICKED money behind him he is an average talent in every sense of the word. Rachel can crank , her voice is special, but I want EVITA with sets not the stripped down underwear version we are going to get!
#44
Posted: 4/4/26 at 3:22pm
I was at the Bowl last night and thought this was extraordinary. I've seen last year's misguided Broadway production, the 2016 Town Hall benefit with Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Henry, and a number of local productions (as well as the movie), and have never heard this score performed as well. Ben and Rachel are perfectly cast in this (Rachel, who I hadn't seen live before, was a revelation), and the orchestra under JRB sounded wonderful. I was most impressed by JRB's direction; some of the staging and costuming choices were just brilliant in how they echoed across the timelines and provided added depth and emotional connection. As much as I love this show, I never expected to be so moved by an arena performance, but the tears were coming a couple of times. (I did luck out with great seats that didn't require me to watch the screens, so YMMV.) My theater geek friends and I all agreed that we're not likely to see a better L5Y, and only regret that this didn't take the place of last year's Whitney White debacle...it definitely would have given Sunset and Gypsy a run for their money for Best Revival. I'm so grateful that the live recording will be released.
Here are some videos; i have a few others that I'll upload and post later.
I'm Still Hurting/Shiksa Goddess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FoOLuHq7xk
I'm A Part of That:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnXULikCsMw
The Next Ten Minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qILgHdzcRdY
Updated On: 4/4/26 at 03:22 PM
#45
Posted: 4/4/26 at 3:48pm
I’ve sorted my thoughts more, but don’t have much to add.
Last Five Years is a love letter of sorts to its followers, but doesn’t seem to have much appeal to a broader audience for commercial success. This felt like the way it should be seen: an almost Mandy/Patti-esque duo having a great time with the maestro himself leading the way. A love letter to the theatre kid in me who belted out Still Hurting with gusto from the back of his friend’s VW Jetta after summer community theatre rehearsal.
The trifecta of featured performers in this production offered so much buzz in the crowd - watching Jason Robert Brown masterfully execute and conduct his score from the piano (alongside an equally capable band), Rachel sending her flawless vocals soaring to heights with playful ease, and Ben giving an incredibly honest acting performance while tearing through the score in a way that pays homage to NLB while still completely his own. It felt like there were 14,000 others just like me in that venue - cheering for impressive performances but quieting down quickly before the vocals begin again. It was a great experience for people like us (or me, at least).
If one is to just listen to Ben Platt, or see him on screen, I think it’s harder to understand his appeal. He is a wonderful performer and he can do some exceptional things with his voice. I don’t see every show he’s in, but he has yet to disappoint me.
#46
Posted: 4/4/26 at 6:56pm
We were at the Bowl last night as well. For context, I had seen the Off-Bway revival some 15 years ago (meh)-- and the indie movie (Jeremy Jordan was great, Anna Kendrick much much less so). But I'm a big fan of the music and lyrics as an abstract song cycle if not as a stage show.
My husband was coming to the show brand new, and for the most part admired some of the score, but HATED the basic conceit that Jamie and Kathy would never really share the stage in a scene, and thus could never have a conversation to repair everything that was wrong in their relationship-- so OBVIOUSLY it was doomed to fail. He was tuned out for most of the night.
My take was pretty different-- I absolutely adored Ben and Rachel's performances and had never heard the score sung so well. For me, Ben's innate Jewishness served the script so well (has anyone landed The Shmuel Song so effortlessly?), and seeing a shlumpy 30-something Jamie actually fit the character perfectly. Rachel was at a disadvantage to start-- has anyone noticed how Jamie's first 3 songs all have major applause buttons while Kathy's first 3 get fadeouts with no room for applause?--So mean! But as Kathy grew younger, Rachel came into her own with feistiness and agency and so much humor-- she easily won the night for me.
Was it a concert or was it a play? It's a question I'd ask of every production of the show I've ever seen. I'd say last night fell halfway between the two. There was less scenery than in London (no wall of windows at the Bowl) and it was even missing the Central Park boat that the last Off-Bway show had. Every scene took place in a neutral space of platforms and stairs except for "Nobody Needs to Know" for which a double bed was awkwardly rolled onstage. Just once I'd love to see a set design that actually grounds the piece in specific imagery that puts Jamie and Kathy in a real NYC world. This wasn't that production.
What it had was two sterling perfromances, gorgeous music-making throughout, and a Bowl audience of some 14,000 fans who welcomed this rare treasure with open arms. Bravo for that!
#47
Posted: 4/4/26 at 9:03pm
Rachel, Ben, & JRB's bows and closing speeches including the announcement of the London live cast recording release:
https://youtu.be/TaIVgJzjquE
#48
Posted: 4/6/26 at 10:08pm
Well, that was insane. I have a hard time believing the score could sound any better than what I just heard. Getting to hear those orchestrations, especially accompanied/directed by the show’s own writer, was a transcendent experience.
#49
Posted: 4/7/26 at 9:57pm
Zegler is a force of nature.
#50
Posted: 4/7/26 at 10:50pm
Back at my hotel, and all I can add to others is that Rachel needs to be a fixture of Broadway. Let’s start with her amazing performance in Evita, let her win the Tony, and we can take it from there.
Everything, and everyone else, was….perfectly fine. I mean, just fine. I’ll just add that, no matter how much he works out, Ben will never play a legit sexual interest for a woman or a man: complete absence of chemistry.
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