The Last Five Years

This article is about the stage musical. For the film adaptation, see The Last Five Years (film).

The Last Five Years
Original Off-Broadway playbill
MusicJason Robert Brown
LyricsJason Robert Brown
BookJason Robert Brown
PremiereMay 23, 2001: Northlight Theatre
Productions2001 Chicago
2002 Off-Broadway
2013 Off-Broadway revival
2015 Ireland
2016 Off-West End
2021 West End
AwardsDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Music

The Last Five Years is a musical written by Jason Robert Brown. It premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally.

The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt,[1] a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Jamie's story is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met) and Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect.

In 2014, a film adaptation directed by Richard LaGravenese starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan was released.

  1. ^ Brown, Jason Robert (May 22, 2012). "The Schmuel Song". Jason Robert Brown. Retrieved July 4, 2014.