Where does the end begin? The answer isn't so simple in The Last Five Years, which finally arrives on Broadway led by Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren. The beloved Jason Robert Brown musical has enjoyed many productions all over the world, but not until now has it landed on Broadway, directed by Tony nominee Whitney White.
What's it all about? The Last Five Years tells the story of a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. The show is known for its unique storytelling structure, as it presents the couple's relationship from two opposing perspectives.
Cathy tells the story in reverse chronological order, starting from the breakup and moving backward to the beginning of the relationship. Jamie tells the story in chronological order, starting from the beginning of the relationship and moving forward to the breakup. The two characters only interact directly in the middle of the show when their timelines overlap at their wedding.
The score features songs like: "Still Hurting," "Moving Too Fast," "A Summer in Ohio," "If I Didn't Believe in You," "I Can Do Better Than That," and "Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You."
The original production premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off-Broadway in March 2002. It starred Sherie Renee Scott and Norbert Leo Butz, who also lent their voices to the iconic cast recording.
The show was revived off broadway in 2013 starring Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor and was made into a film by Richard LaGravenese in 2014 starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. A 2016 off-West End production starred Jonathan Bailey and Samantha Barks.
Get ready to fall in (and out) of love with The Last Five Years.
There's no question that both of these stars know how to command a stage. Jonas' pop star status means he is no stranger to winning over a crowd, while Warren is a proven success with a Tony already under her belt. But the emotional disconnect is impossible to overcome in a show that's almost entirely sentimental ballads.
Audiences always deserve clarity, but “The Last Five Years” must be especially well-defined in its staging and performances, since the weird structure is jarring to the uninitiated. You see, Jamie tells the couple’s tale in sequential order, from meeting gentile Cathy, his “Shiksa Goddess” who’s a struggling actress, to their breakup. Cathy’s songs, meanwhile, occur in reverse. She begins “hurting” from the split and ventures backwards to the elation of their first date — a la “Merrily We Roll Along.” Well, best of luck figuring any of that out. The first Broadway bow of Brown’s semi-autobiographical musical is almost impossible to follow, and the viewer gives up on it quickly.
| 2002 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
| 2006 | London Fringe |
London Revival London Fringe |
| 2013 | Off-Broadway |
Second Stage Theatre Production Off-Broadway |
| 2016 | West End |
West End Production West End |
| 2021 | West End |
Vaudeville Theatre Transfer West End |
| 2025 | Broadway |
Broadway Premiere Production Broadway |
| 2026 | West End |
West End |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Nick Jonas |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Adrienne Warren |
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