#1
Posted: 4/9/07 at 2:56pm
Jason Robert Brown has been hailed as "one of Broadway's smartest and most sophisticated songwriters" (Philadelphia Inquirer). The New York Times refers to Jason as "a leading member of a new generation of composers who embody high hopes for the American musical." His most popular work, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, comes to the Illinois Theatre Center in Park Forest for a three-week run, opening Friday, April 20. ITC is the only Equity theatre in Chicago's South Suburbs.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS tells the story of Jamie Wellerstein, an up-and-coming writer, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress, as they meet, fall in love, get married, and ultimately break up. The show is uniquely structured, with the audience witnessing Jamie’s side of the story from the beginning to the end, while Cathy’s side is played out in reverse order, from the end to the beginning. The two timelines come together halfway through the show, at the wedding. It is the only time the two performers sing together.
Jason Robert Brown’s first musical, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, played Off-Broadway in 1995. He won a 1999 Tony Award for his score to PARADE. THE LAST FIVE YEARS premiered at Northlight Theatre in Skokie in 2001, and was cited as one of Time Magazine's 10 Best of 2001. It had its New York premiere in 2002, and won Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and Best Lyrics
Jason was also a Tony nominee for his contributions to the score of URBAN COWBOY – THE MUSICAL. His solo album, "Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes", was named one of Amazon.com's Best of 2005. Jason’s latest musical, THIRTEEN, premiered this January to rave reviews in Los Angeles, and opens on Broadway in 2008. His next project is a musical based on the film "Honeymoon in Vegas”.
The performers in THE LAST FIVE YEARS are both making their Illinois Theatre Center debuts. Cory Goodrich (Cathy) is one of the Chicago musical theatre scene’s busiest leading ladies, with credits from Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare, Apple, Theatre at the Center, and many others. Marc Pera (Jamie) has appeared in productions at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Northlight, Bailiwick, Light Opera Works, Noble Fool, Circle Theatre, and Peninsula Players, among others. The production is directed by David Perkovich, who has directed and performed at ITC numerous times over the past 30 years. His other recent directing credits include productions at Drury lane Oakbrook, Theatre at the Center, and Light Opera Works.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS runs Friday, April 20 through Sunday, May 6. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 and 7:30 PM. Tickets are priced at $20 on Fridays and Saturdays, $18 all other times. The Illinois Theatre Center is located in Downtown Park Forest at 371 Artists Walk – off Indianwood Blvd., adjacent to Village Hall. For tickets, call (70
481-3510.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS tells the story of Jamie Wellerstein, an up-and-coming writer, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress, as they meet, fall in love, get married, and ultimately break up. The show is uniquely structured, with the audience witnessing Jamie’s side of the story from the beginning to the end, while Cathy’s side is played out in reverse order, from the end to the beginning. The two timelines come together halfway through the show, at the wedding. It is the only time the two performers sing together.
Jason Robert Brown’s first musical, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, played Off-Broadway in 1995. He won a 1999 Tony Award for his score to PARADE. THE LAST FIVE YEARS premiered at Northlight Theatre in Skokie in 2001, and was cited as one of Time Magazine's 10 Best of 2001. It had its New York premiere in 2002, and won Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and Best Lyrics
Jason was also a Tony nominee for his contributions to the score of URBAN COWBOY – THE MUSICAL. His solo album, "Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes", was named one of Amazon.com's Best of 2005. Jason’s latest musical, THIRTEEN, premiered this January to rave reviews in Los Angeles, and opens on Broadway in 2008. His next project is a musical based on the film "Honeymoon in Vegas”.
The performers in THE LAST FIVE YEARS are both making their Illinois Theatre Center debuts. Cory Goodrich (Cathy) is one of the Chicago musical theatre scene’s busiest leading ladies, with credits from Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare, Apple, Theatre at the Center, and many others. Marc Pera (Jamie) has appeared in productions at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Northlight, Bailiwick, Light Opera Works, Noble Fool, Circle Theatre, and Peninsula Players, among others. The production is directed by David Perkovich, who has directed and performed at ITC numerous times over the past 30 years. His other recent directing credits include productions at Drury lane Oakbrook, Theatre at the Center, and Light Opera Works.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS runs Friday, April 20 through Sunday, May 6. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 and 7:30 PM. Tickets are priced at $20 on Fridays and Saturdays, $18 all other times. The Illinois Theatre Center is located in Downtown Park Forest at 371 Artists Walk – off Indianwood Blvd., adjacent to Village Hall. For tickets, call (70
481-3510. 
