'Last Five Years'
“The Last Five Years” is in the works at Musical Theatre Guild's William A. Lehnerd Production Center. The show will open March 31.
“Godspell” was originally slated for the boards but was replaced with a smaller cast sized show.
The music and lyrics for “The Last Five Years” are by Jason Robert Brown. The musical details the rise and fall of a five year relationship loosely based on the author's marriage.
The chronological style of storytelling makes the production unique and moving.
Tackling the role of Jamie Wellerstein will be Matt Leslie of Butler. “He is a fun-loving Jewish author in his early-mid 20s trying to find his place in the world and experiencing love along the way,” Leslie said.
Leslie, who works at Rachel's Roadhouse, said he believes he is similar to his character because they are both fun people.
“He and I have that in common, and it helps me get into his head because he tries to see the humor and the good in every situation,” said Leslie, 26.
He said he has loved this show for a long time because of the music, so he jumped at the chance to be a part of the production.
“It is some of the most honest and accurate material in musical theater giving a real life depiction of what a relationship is like,” Leslie said.
“Now that I finally have the opportunity to work on it, I've learned how truly messy both of these characters are and neither is right or wrong, but rather we can all identify with many of the things both of them say and do,” he added.
Whitney Angeloni Ruediger of Butler will portray the other half of the couple, Catherine Hiatt, Wellerstein's wife.
“I bring the strength of being real and genuine in my performance to the character of Cathy,” said the 26-year-old who also works at Rachel's Roadhouse. “She is a struggling actress trying to make it to the big time which is strangely relevant to my life. There is such a genuine realness to Cathy; you can tell what she is feeling just by simply looking at her,” she said.
The way the show is written calls for the actors to be on stage and in scenes mostly by themselves.
“I have learned that working alone on stage is harder than it sounds. Matt and I are on stage together maybe three times in the whole show and in only one of those scenes we are playing off of each other. You have to do a lot of imagining. It's fun and challenging at the same time,” she said.
Jessica Sanzotti is serving as musical director for this show.
“One of my favorite things is to work beyond the notes of music and 'The Last Five Years' allows me that opportunity,” Sanzotti said. “The written notes are just a road map. We have to take the notes and make music.”
No stranger to the theater, Sanzotti comes to this role with a vision.
“I have been listening to 'The Last Five Years' music for the past 10 years, but I have never seen a live production. In 2014, a movie was released and helped to make the show a little more mainstream,” she said.
“Jason Robert Brown's lyrics are witty and clever and his music is jazz-pop-rock inspired,” she said.
“Butler audiences should come see this show because it is absolutely beautiful. We all want to see something we can relate to in one way or another, and this show will hit every single person seeing it,” said Ruediger.
WHO: Musical Theatre GuildWHAT: “The Last Five Years”WHEN: 7:30 p.m. March 31 and April 1, 7 and 8; and 3 p.m. April 9WHERE: William A. Lehnerd Production Center, Memorial ParkTICKETS: $17, call 724-287-8243 or visit www.mtgbutler.org.
