The Last Five Years starring Nasia Thomas ( Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Nicholas Edwards (Frozen, Berkshire Theatre Group’s Godspell) will begin streaming in March and the ticket prices range from $23-$49. The top tier ticket includes an On-Demand ticket, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and 48-hour access with unlimited views.

 

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An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years, The Last Five Years’ unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

Costume Designer is Siene Zoë Allen (What the Constitution Means to Me). Production Designer is Adam Honoré (Ain’t No Mo’). Make-Up Advisor is Tina Scariano. Associate Director is Christina Franklin (For Colored Girls…). Associate Music Director is Cynthia Meng (Company, Hadestown). Stage Manager is Egypt Dixon. Assistant Stage Manager is Joshua Christensen.

Co-producer & Film Advisor is Joanna White-Oldham. Director of Photography and Videographer is Brian Bon. Assistant Cameraperson is Milton Guanga. Sound Operator is Nicole Maupin. Sound Editor is Carin M. Ford. Video Editor is Dimly Wit Productions.

The orchestra features Cynthia Meng (Keyboard), Sterling Elliott (Cello 1 & 2), Orlando Wells (Violin), Jonathan Linden (Guitar), Chelton Grey (Bass) and Brandon Brooks (Drums).

If you would like to purchase tickets and learn more about the production, you may view the website.

The post Jason Michael Webb Set To Direct <em>The Last Five Years</em> appeared first on Broadway Black.

Blair Russell (IBDB)

Update: As of February 9th, Out of The Box Theatrics’ website states the production of The Last Five Years is set to release March 2021. Previously is was scheduled for February 2021.

If you’re looking for theatre to watch next week, The Last Five Years starring Nasia Thomas ( Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Nicholas Edwards (Frozen, Berkshire Theatre Group’s Godspell) will begin streaming on  Thursday, February 11.

The Last 5 Years is described as a musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The story consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backward while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

Out of the Box Theatrics and Holmdel Theatre Company will co-produce the production. It will also be rehearsed and filmed at Holmdel Theatre Company with Blair Russell (Slave Play) as the Producing Consultant.

The production will stream for 16 performances running from February 11–25, 2021. Ticket information, director, and additional creative team to be announced.

The post Nasia Thomas and Nicholas Edwards Star In The Last Five Years appeared first on Broadway Black.

For some, it was the 90’s cult classic Songs For A New World, a series of songs connected by the theme: “making a decision.” More specifically, Tony Award winner Billy Porter‘s character in the production gave hope to many Black men, instilling confidence that a voice like theirs can be heard on Broadway. He is the reason some fell in love with this art. Before he was Lola in Kinky Boots, Billy Porter was Man 1. And now, 20 years later, his voice can be heard on the original demo for the opening number.

Porter, known for skillfully marrying the likes of soul and belt, was part of this special project from the beginning. Porter was unable to record the Songs for a New World cast album because of contractual obligations and was replaced by Ty Taylor. For the first time, Brown has released the original demo for the opening number from the show that features Billy Porter along with Andrea Burns and Brian d’Arcy James.

Deservedly so, Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist, Jason Robert Brown (The Bridges of Madison County) is celebrating 20 years of transforming many into lovers of this beautiful art we call musical theatre. 20 years ago, Songs for A New World opened off-Broadway. Brown released a note on his blog talking about Songs for a New World, the relationships he made from the show and how they’ve transformed over the 20 years.

Twenty years is a long time, and it feels like it, actually. I saw Andréa, Brooks, Billy and Jessica just four days ago at a reading of Prince of Broadway and we are all profoundly different than we were back then, and yet we are still connected, bound by this marvelous mad adventure we had. Songs for a New World was my first professional show. And it was glorious.

“I’ve posted (for the first time) the original demo recording of the opening sequence of the show – all twelve minutes of it! – featuring four amazing singers who did so much to shape the sound of the show. Andréa Burns and I had known each other since summer camp in the 80s, and Billy Porter sang during my shifts in the piano bar at Don’t Tell Mama when he would finish his performances in Miss Saigon” – Jason Robert Brown

Here’s a bonus recording. 3 years ago Jason Robert Brown released a demo of Billy Porter Singing “The Steam Train”

“Billy is one of the greatest singers in the world; I say that with no hyperbole intended. From the first time I heard him (when he came into Don’t Tell Mama’s on a night I was working the piano bar), I knew that he was a rare and magnificent creature, a phenomenal musical imagination couple with an extraordinary instrument. And he is a formidable actor as well, intensely emotional and committed and funny and just generally wonderful. What’s he is not, however, is a basketball player from the projects. The staging originally included some rudimentary dribbling and shooting – that was cut very quickly. When we handed Billy the basketball in rehearsal, he held it like it was a wet schnauzer.

But, for all of its ludicrousness, I can’t help loving it. Here’s my fake “street” song about a sport I never watch sung by someone who looked as much like Michael Jordan as I look like Chris Hemsworth. And all of that notwithstanding, I still think it’s awesome.”

Listen to The Steam Train below. Read the entire backstory here 

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