The Last 5 Years
The Last 5 Years
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#0The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 5:58pmI just recieved the cd for this show, and it is fantastic! It's funny, touching, and sad. Does anyone have any opinions on the show/cd?
#1re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 6:19pm
Well, its top on my list of things to buy, but as a nonworking teenager, its going to be a while. For right now I'm listening to downloaded songs from it, but downloading CDs always makes me feel guilty, so I never download all the songs. But I'm really addicted to the songs I have now, especially The Schmuel Song and Moving Too Fast. I bought the piano book, and I spend a lot of time working on the songs, they are pretty complicated but they sound great once I get them.
My general opinion is the same as yours: funny, touching and sad. And fantastic.
HROK?
#2re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 6:25pm
This is a fantastic show! I got to sing Climbing uphill for an audition and its such fun music to sing. Vey sad. Summer in ohio is a great song too. The song where Jamie says " Hey kid good morning , you look like an angel" i was like ahhhhh! Norbert is amazing and so sherie in the show. Truly genius work by jason robert brown......
"No not my shoes , stop looking at my shoes, i hate these ****in shoes, why'd i pick these shoes why'd i pick this career why!" LOL
Me tarzan nah nah nah nah....
WhatDoINeedWithLove?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/03
#3re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 6:32pm
I love L5Y!! Ive never seen it live (
) but I am obsessed with the music! "If I Didnt Believe in you" makes me cry every time! Also, you should check out Lauren Kennedys CD for her versions "Goobye Until Tommorrow" and "I can do better then that" becasue she is amazing too! :)
#4re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 7:19pm
I love it. I can't wait for the Jason Robert Brown Theatre!
-d.b.j-
Vary My Days.
#5re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 7:31pmI love Parade, but could never get into Last 5 Years. It just didn't grab me.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Updated On: 5/24/04 at 07:31 PM
Mattio98
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/03
#7re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 10:16pmI love L5Y and I saw Jason Robert Brown and Lauren Kennedy do a concert performance of it last November...its the most moving show around.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
#8re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/24/04 at 11:44pm
love the cd
did anyone see the pace university production of it?
#9re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 1:46am
I love this show. I've never seen it, but that doesn't stop it from being in my top two favorite soundtracks of all time (the other being the OBC of "Anything Goes"). I'm a writer, so I love it from a structural standpoint as well as a musical one.
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!
Broadway Matt
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/17/03
#10re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 1:55amIt's such an excellent show. JRB is earning his stripes as the "New Sondheim". I fell in love with the CD a few years ago, but it really takes a good production to fully appreciate the show's dramatic quality. I saw the California premiere in Laguna Beach (Kim Huber was fabulous) and left the theatre heartbroken, it was so well done. Also saw the Boston Speakeasy production a few weeks later. I'm curious to hear about the Lauren Kennedy/JRB concert production. JRB must be quite a singer to pull that off! Is there anything he can't do?
"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers
#11re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:19amI saw it in Philidelphia and then I saw the concert version in NYC. I just finished doing the show at the end of April. Cathy was one of the most challenging roles i've done, because you have to grow in reverse, you know? you have to "de-grow" its early, i can't think of the word, fogive me. At the same time though, i had more fun than you can imagine.
Il n' y a pas d'amour heureux.
#12re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:33amI saw it here at the Minetta Lane when it played NYC. What a brilliant production. Both actors were perfectly cast and had amazing voices and acting abilities. the set was gorgeous and the lighting was wonderful. My favorite moment in the show is "The next Ten Minutes".. in Central Park. The use of the rowboat was amazing and it all made perfect sense to me. I have female friends who hated it because they say it cast a bad light on the wife's role and didn't explore her character enough - but I disagree. I loved both characters and found them human to the max. Why this show didn't make it to Broadway is beyond me. (Well, I understand that there were legal problems. Still -I WISH it had played Broadway and, thusly, been exposed to so many more willing audience members). Even though I have problems with JRB as a person, I cannot deny that he has talent.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
twogaab2
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
#13re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 10:39am
Unfortunatly, the Minetta Lane production came under a LOT of critizism for Daisy Prince's production. This was completly unfounded. Her direction was excellent.
Good example: when Sheri Rene Scott sang "Week-end in Ohio" at Drama Desk awards without the staging she got almost NO laughs. When she did it on stage with Daisy Prince's stageing she got HUGE laughs.
Comeon reviewers-they don't make up their own staging as they go along.
Just my opinion, I may be wrong.
TWOGAAB
"A Class Act" will never die!
#14re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 10:47amI thought Daisy's staging was really excellent. I can't imagine people not liking this show. I remember the moment when Sherie sings the crazy version of the audition song (with the inner monologue going on at the same time) the house had been papered that night and there were tons of theatre people - I never heard such laughter in my life in the theatre as when she did that number...it was a magic moment.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
#15re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 1:04pm
re: The Last 5 Years
Posted On: 5/25/04 at 09:19:27 AM
I'm a huge fan of JRB, have been ever since my friend came back from nyc raving about a new show called Parade. When the OCR for Parade came out I was hooked. I can totally understand why it was not a comercial success though and I don't think it will ever be a stable of regienal theatre. Last Five Years on the other hand will have a long life through regional, community, and college productions. I saw it in Philidelphia and it was amazing. It was already one of my fave recordings, but after seeing it I consider it in my top ten shows of all time (along with Les Mis, 1776, Into the Woods, Cabaret, Rent, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Sweeny Todd, and Carousel). I hope Jason soon writes a show that becomes a huge comercial/critical hit (like Rent) on Broadway so we can look forward to a braodway revival of Last Five years.....wouldn't that be cool?
JakeB
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#16re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 1:12pm
This is the only 'musical' CD I listen to on a regular basis, I usually listen if I'm travelling alone because it's too absorbing just to have on in the background.. you have to listen to it. Every scripted note is exciting.
And no, I've never seen it, but I hear a production is being planned for London - but who knows if it'll happen. I'm praying that the Edinburgh Fringe has a production this summer, they did Songs for a New World last year.
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#17re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 1:28pmThis show has been discussed before, but it never hurts to bring it up again. I had never heard it till it was mentioned ont the board. People were so enthusiastic about it that I took a chance and am so glad I did. I find myself humming this score at the most unexpected moments. If you are not familiar with it, take a chance, as I did. It is a beautiful show.
PEACE.
#18re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 3:58pmPace did last 5 years nystateomind04?
Bobby is my hobby and I'm givin' it up!
#19re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 4:26pmGREAT small musical! Very clever. I love the part in the middle when their stories "meet" and then go off in opposite directions again. Sheri Rene Scott was, by far, the best Princess in Aida and was just as good in TL5Y! I also liked her in Debbie Does Dallas. She was very funny!
#20re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 4:30pm
My vocal teacher thought TL5Y was boring, but I thought it was really captivating. Very clever and very touching, I would love to actually see it done. I dont know if I'll ever get that chance, so I'm just gonna keep listening to the sweet vocals of Nobert and Sherie 
You've gotta have heart AND music
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#21re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 5:23pmi've never been fond of this show, particularly because jason robert brown's ex-wife whom the female lead was based upon is a friend of the family
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#22re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 5:57pmyes, iruvyou, but i didnt see it, i heard it was excellent though
#23re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:24pmDo you know someone from pace i can talk to my sister is planning to apply there for college
Bobby is my hobby and I'm givin' it up!
Updated On: 5/25/04 at 07:24 PM
tumadre2
Understudy Joined: 5/31/04
#24re: The Last 5 Years
Posted: 5/31/04 at 5:04pmHey....I didn't want to start a whole new thread for this, but I just thought I'd let everyone know that the George Street Playhouse (NJ) is doing a production of The Last 5 Years next year. Colin Hanlon (in Rent as Gordon right now, and played Jon in their production of tick, tick...Boom!) is playing Jamie, and Sarah Litzsinger (played Susan in their production of tick, tick...Boom! and was in Amour and is Beauty and the Beast's longest running Belle) is playing Cathy.
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