BWW Reviews: Nothing Less Than Timeless: THE LAST FIVE YEARS Comes to Santa Barbara

It seems that this contemporary Jason Robert Brown musical has reached something of a fever pitch in recent weeks. Between its revival opening Off-Broadway with Second Stage less than two weeks ago (Directed by MR. Brown himself and already smashing box office records), and talks of a filmed version featuring Anna Kendrick and Broadway's own Jeremy Jordan, The Last Five Years has become the must-see/hear experience of the year.

Well thank goodness it's already found its way to Santa Barbara.

The Elements Theatre Collective, under the artistic direction of Sara Rademacher, strives in all endeavors to "provide free, accessible and professional quality theatre to under-served communities [and] to incite the cultural growth of our community by crafting poignant theatrical works that spark discussion and cultivate human connection," and maintain one of the top positions on my list of favorite companies in the Santa Barbara Area. The work that erupts from the hearts of these driven young professionals continues to be nothing short of inspiring, and the nobility of their work should serve as a model, business or otherwise, for those that truly believe that art can change lives.

Featuring Emily Jewell (a local favorite) as the aspiring actress Cathy Hiatt, and Elisha Schaefer as the vibrant and eccentric novelist Jamie Wellerstein, this production is sure to deliver both tears of joy and strife, as the story explores the discovery and complications of "true" love through the lens of the inevitable.

All performances are free to the public, though donations are graciously accepted. Ticket reservations can be made on their website at www.elementstheatrecollective.com with a list of dates, times, and locations. The show runs through April 28^th.

At the wee age of ten years old, L5Y has opened more than five hundred regional theatre productions with over three thousand performances worldwide since its original conception in 2002.