pixeltracker

Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage

Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage

somethingwicked Profile Photo
somethingwicked
#1Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 1:45pm

"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.


Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 01:45 PM

#2Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:06pm

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.

bdn223 Profile Photo
bdn223
#2Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:06pm

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

#3Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:09pm

Would it be eligible for Best Score?

jv92 Profile Photo
jv92
#4Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:38pm

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.

#5Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:44pm

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.

AC126748 Profile Photo
AC126748
#6Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:45pm

They're doing it at their current theatre, right? Not on Broadway? Because I doubt their renovations would be finished by spring 2013.


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

dramamama611 Profile Photo
dramamama611
#7Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:50pm

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.


If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

bdn223 Profile Photo
bdn223
#8Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:52pm

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.

iluvtheatertrash
#9Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 2:53pm

Lauren Kennedy and Santino Fontana, please.

(If only Brian D'arcy James was younger.... Damn, he'd sing the heck out of it.)


"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 02:53 PM

AC126748 Profile Photo
AC126748
#10Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:00pm

Kennedy is 40...and she DEFINITELY wasn't passing as a teen/twenties in VANITIES.


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#11Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:01pm

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

ChildrenwillListen
#12Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:11pm

I would love to see this.

bdn223 Profile Photo
bdn223
#13Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:14pm

No this is the 2nd New York Staging of The Last 5 years which is fully within their original mission statement.

somethingwicked Profile Photo
somethingwicked
#14Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:15pm

SexyPants88, they do revivals all the time. They just did HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE this past season alone.


Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

iluvtheatertrash
#15Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:18pm

Kennedy can't pass for 30? I haven't seen her live in ages, so I can't say.

Some call Raven.


"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

AC126748 Profile Photo
AC126748
#16Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:20pm

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?


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

iluvtheatertrash
#17Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:28pm

Oooooh, I like that idea! Morgan would sing the heck out of it.

Brandi Burkhardt? Kate Shindle?


"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

Stew123
#18Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:37pm

Let the casting begin!

First choice would be Jeremy Jordan and Ashley Spencer.

Second would be Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele.

somethingwicked Profile Photo
somethingwicked
#19Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:37pm

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.


Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 03:37 PM

AC126748 Profile Photo
AC126748
#20Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:40pm

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.


"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 03:40 PM

Stew123
#21Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:41pm

Ok fine, good point. Megan Hilty then.

random person 112
#22Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:42pm

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.

somethingwicked Profile Photo
somethingwicked
#23Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:49pm

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.


Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 5/30/12 at 03:49 PM

MotorTink Profile Photo
MotorTink
#24Jason Robert Brown to Direct THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage
Posted: 5/30/12 at 3:50pm

please keep Lea as far away from this as possible.

Laura B, however, is an interesting thought.



BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless

SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!