Production History

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show’s unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show. JRB won Drama Desk Awards for the music and the lyrics after the Off-Broadway premiere in 2002 starring Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott. The show has since been produced throughout the US and in countries around the world. A much-anticipated revival, directed by JRB, opens at Second Stage Theatre off-Broadway in March 2013.

Reviews:

A Young Composer’s Wonder ‘Years’ 2005-06-17
The Washington Post
Scott Vogel

Rising composer’s play headed here 2004-03-11
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Christopher Rawson

He sings, she sings 2003-12-28
The Los Angeles Times
Robin Rauzi

‘The Last Five Years’ 2003-06-20
The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia)
Louise Nunn

5 who can put on a grown-up show 2003-04-02
The Philadelphia Inquirer
David Patrick Stearns

Working for a Song 2003-03-18
The Philadelphia Inquirer
David Patrick Stearns

Interview for the L5Y Program 2003-03-01
Philadelphia Theater Company
Michele Volansky

Two halves of a story glued cunningly back to front. 2002-08-31
The Sydney Morning Herald
John Shand

Brown’s Tony-winning work 2002-08-23
The Houston Chronicle
Everett Evans

Good Music, Lousy Show? The CD Helps 2002-06-30
New York Post
Clive Barnes

Review: The Last Five Years (CD) 2002-06-01
Billboard
WH

Review: The Last 5 Years CD 2002-05-28
TalkinBroadway.com
Jonathan Frank

Review: The Last Five Years (Jason Robert Brown) 2002-05-01
Musical Stages (UK)

“The Last Five Years” Was a Labor of Love for Composer Jason Robert Brown 2002-04-09
Playbill
Harry Haun

CDs: I Do! Do I? 2002-04-09

Ken Mandelbaum

The Last Five Years 2002-03-26
The Dallas Morning News (WFAA)
Lawson Taitte

The Last Five Years 2002-03-04
Variety
Robert Hofler

The Last 5 Years 0000-00-00
Theatermania.com
David Finkle

Novelist and an Actress Sharing a Leaky Boat 2002-03-04
The New York Times
Ben Brantley

‘5 Years,’ Two Careers, One Romance 2002-03-04
New York Newsday
Linda Winer

Two Come Apart At the Songs 2002-03-04
NY Daily News
Robert Dominguez

Goodbye Until Tomorrow 2002-03-03
Broadway.com
Ken Mandelbaum

Building a musical-theater relationship with `The Last Five Years’ 2002-02-28
Associated Press
Justin Glanville

Theater: Matrimonial Warfare 2001-07-10
The Wall Street Journal
Joel Henning

Better Than “The Producers” 2001-07-02
Time Magazine
Richard Zoglin

The Last Five Years 2001-05-25
The Chicago Sun-Times
Hedy Weiss

‘Last Five Years’ gives romantic tale unique spin 2001-05-24
The Chicago Tribune
Richard Christiansen

Tony winner debuts musical at Northlight 2001-05-23
The Chicago Sun-Times
Hedy Weiss

After ‘Parade’, songwriter does show of his own 2001-05-20
The Chicago Tribune
Richard Christiansen

My Big Hit 2001-05-01
Stagebill Magazine
Jason Robert Brown

Off Broadway: The Last Five Years 2002-03-04
Associated Press
Michael Kuchwara