"Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has just announced that Jason Robert Brown’s musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS has been added to the company’s upcoming 2012-2013 season. The musical, which has not been seen in New York City since its brief off-Broadway run over ten years ago, will be directed by Mr. Brown..."
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jason-Robert-Brown-to-Direct-THE-LAST-FIVE-YEARS-at-Second-Stage-in-Spring-2013-20120530
I'd love to see Santino Fontana as Jamie opposite Elizabeth Stanley as Cathy.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Extremely excited about this and all, but isn't their mission to do new works...
Artistic Mission (http://www.2st.com/about_2st/mission)
Second Stage Theatre produces a diverse range of premieres and new interpretations of America's best contemporary theatre. Founded in 1979 to produce "second stagings" of contemporary plays, Second Stage Theatre has expanded its mission to include the development and production of new plays and the creation of programs that nurture young theatre artists. This commitment has manifested itself in many ways, from presenting new productions to providing long-term residencies for playwrights, directors, composers and lyricists.
Why do I have this gut feeling that 2st wants "The last 5 years" in the Hayes as their inaugural production, since it would almost guarentee them a Tony Award for Best Score...there has to be some clause in their contract for the Hayes that allows them to evict Rock of Ages after x amount of years or at least start collecting rent from them.
*this is technically a second staging of The Last 5 years so they still following their mission statement*
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 02:06 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Would it be eligible for Best Score?
I don't think so. It's become something of a staple among theater lovers and auditioners. ASSASSINS wasn't nominated for Score in its "Broadway Premier" in 2004.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I don't think any company picks its season in order to "almost guarantee" Tony awards. And, in any case, this show would be almost certainly ineligible for Best Score.
They're doing it at their current theatre, right? Not on Broadway? Because I doubt their renovations would be finished by spring 2013.
Rock of Ages isn't rent free now...of courst 2nd Stage would begin collecting rent from them...as soon as they are officially the owners.
Legally, they would have to honor the contract they have with the current owners.
i retract my statement about the the last 5 years score, I have spent the past 20 min trying to find something to support it and there is nothing. But I still believe that 2ST will most certainly wants to begin their Broadway run with a BANG. If TL5Y is produced on broadway they can argue that Starmites premiered off Broadway in 1980, and was still eligible for best musical in 1989, especially if JRB reworks it even in the slightest.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
Lauren Kennedy and Santino Fontana, please.
(If only Brian D'arcy James was younger.... Damn, he'd sing the heck out of it.)
Kennedy is 40...and she DEFINITELY wasn't passing as a teen/twenties in VANITIES.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
It just feels so.... Roundabout of them to slip away from their mission for a popular show. Have they done other revivals?
http://www.2st.com/about_2st/mission
Featured Actor Joined: 3/12/12
I would love to see this.
No this is the 2nd New York Staging of The Last 5 years which is fully within their original mission statement.
SexyPants88, they do revivals all the time. They just did HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE this past season alone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
Kennedy can't pass for 30? I haven't seen her live in ages, so I can't say.
Some call Raven.
She seemed way too mature when she did VANITIES, where her character ages from 18-30. I'd like to see someone in the role whose age range more closely adheres with the character. (Also, it would be great if they chose someone who hasn't already done the role).
Morgan James?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
Oooooh, I like that idea! Morgan would sing the heck out of it.
Brandi Burkhardt? Kate Shindle?
Stand-by Joined: 2/17/10
Let the casting begin!
First choice would be Jeremy Jordan and Ashley Spencer.
Second would be Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele.
Cathy is a very difficult role to cast. While the actress who plays her looks like an ingenue, she has to be able to pull off a stirring ballad like "Still Hurting" and a quirky character piece like "A Summer in Ohio" in equal proportion. The women who can do that are few and far between.
People like Morgan James and Kate Shindle would sing the score beautifully, but I don't think either carries anywhere near the dramatic weight to pull off the role from an acting standpoint. Names like Elizabeth Stanley, Laura Benanti, Betsy Wolfe, and Teal Wicks are much more appealing.
Stew, Lea Michele? Really? Jamie sings a song about Cathy called "Shiksa Goddess." Lea Michele could not be further from looking like anything remotely resembling a shiksa.
I like the idea of Teal Wicks, actually, though I can't say her acting ability really stood out to be in Wicked or The Blue Flower. I wouldn't discount Morgan's acting ability--she's a very strong actress who hasn't always taken the best of roles.
Stand-by Joined: 2/17/10
Ok fine, good point. Megan Hilty then.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
Would Laura Osnes be free around this time or not? If so my vote is for her to play cathy and Aaron Tveit to be Jamie.
random, back on the ethnicity front, Jamie's Jewish identity is a defining aspect of his character. Blonde haired, blue eyed Aaron Tveit is the poster child for the Aryan race.
please keep Lea as far away from this as possible.
Laura B, however, is an interesting thought.
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