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Home , Darlinghurst Theatre, Elise McCann, Hayes Theatre, Jason Robert Brown

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29 MAR – 27 APR 2019 WELCOME A year or so ago on one of our many opening nights Elise McCann came bounding over to ask a question, "have we ever thought of doing the wonderful musical ?" As I had just seen her be utterly brilliant as Miss Honey in , I was a little star struck and stammered something like, "yes it has been on our list for a while now"... which of course prompted me to reread and figure out when and at what time we could make it work. With a promise of including Elise if we go forward, we set about making it work. Jason Robert Brown’s extraordinary lyrics need extraordinary talent and the team we have assembled are just that: Elise McCann and Christian Charisiou as the couple who tell their stories from opposite ends of the tale, director Elsie Edgerton-Till, musical director Daryl Wallis and the top creatives working today, means we have the best of the best for this poignant and life affirming musical.

Mark Kilmurry Artistic Director

SYNOPSIS

New York. Cathy is an actor. Jamie is a writer. They fall in love and dive head first into a relationship. As Jamie’s career takes off and Cathy’s falters, the young couple struggles to balance their personal ambitions with their marriage. Set over the five year duration of their relationship, the story is told in two contrasting perspectives. Jamie starts from the beginning, moving chronologically forward to their marriage’s ultimate demise. Cathy starts at the end and moves backwards in time, finishing at their first date. Somewhere in between their story overlaps.

RUNNING TIME APPROX 90MIN NO INTERVAL

SPECIAL THANKS TO TOMASCITA EDGERTON, LAUREN KHEIR, SOFIAN PERREAU, RICHARD TILL, JPJ AUDIO & OVERS PIANOS. DIRECTOR’S MUSICAL NOTE DIRECTOR’S NOTE Jason Robert Brown’s masterful and well The musicals of Jason Robert Brown are loved work chapters the relationship of performed infrequently in Australia, but as a Cathy and Jamie over five years. However, musical director I would often come across events do not unfold in a linear progression individual songs in cabarets and auditions, of time: Jamie’s story is told from first kiss and beyond the unique fusion of pop, gospel to last goodbye, while Cathy’s journey starts and idioms, one common with the breakup and ends with that first kiss. feature was often a fiendishly difficult piano accompaniment. In crafting the narrative in this way, Jason Robert Brown illuminates the many missed Robert Brown writes – “I’m not trying to be moments of connection that change this coy, I know it drives the best pianists in the sweeping love story to one of disconnection, world insane, but I guess part of the story is heartbreak and loss. that I’m such a weird and idiosyncratic player that what I write feels very natural to me and Under the watchful eye of time, these two feels completely bizarre to other pianists.” characters sail past each other, like ships in the night. In THE LAST FIVE YEARS he brings these idiosyncrasies to bear on a range on This production would be nothing without influences. “Joni Mitchell (particularly ‘Hejira’ the leadership of our musical director, Daryl and ‘Hissing of Summer Lawns’), , Wallis. His expert ear and eye have been Sondheim, Paul Simon, Shawn Colvin, lots of integral to our work. traditional Irish and Jewish music, a million I would like to thank my sublime cast, capital other things.” But once the notes are in the creative and production teams for bringing fingers, the virtuosic singing parts nailed, and the world and music of the THE LAST FIVE the groove locks into place...there’s no better YEARS to life. feeling in the world.

Elsie Edgerton-Till Daryl Wallis

CAST CREATIVES

CHRISTIAN CHARISIOU DIRECTOR ELSIE EDGERTON-TILL JAMIE WELLERSTEIN MUSICAL DIRECTOR DARYL WALLIS ELISE MCCANN SET DESIGNER MICHAEL SCOTT-MITCHELL CATHERINE HIATT COSTUME DESIGNER GENEVIEVE GRAHAM LIGHTING DESIGNER KAREN NORRIS CHOREOGRAPHER DANIELLA LACOB COSTUME SUPERVISOR HANNAH LOBELSON STAGE MANAGER LAUREN TULLOH ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER ALIRA MCKENZIE-WILLIAMS SOUND OPERATOR JESSICA LEGG

PROGRAMS: $2 which helps enormously with the cost of printing. acknowledges the Cammeraigal people of the Eora nation as customary owners of the land on which we work and share our stories. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

JASON ROBERT BROWN ELSIE EDGERTON-TILL PLAYWRIGHT DIRECTOR JASON ROBERT BROWN THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Book, Music and Lyrics) is marks Elsie Edgerton-Till's the Tony Award-winning return to Ensemble Theatre composer and lyricist after directing the premiere of SONGS FOR A NEW production of Kit WORLD, , THE LAST FIVE YEARS, 13, Brookman’s THE PLANT in 2017. Elsie's extensive THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and theatre experience includes directing . As a singer-songwriter, engagements for Conservatorium of his albums include WEARING SOMEONE ELSE’S Music, Sydney Theatre , New Zealand CLOTHES, JASON ROBERT BROWN LIVE IN Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre, The King’s CONCERT and last year’s HOW WE REACT AND Collective, The National Institute of Dramatic Arts, HOW WE RECOVER. Jason has earned acclaim The Court Theatre, World Busker’s Festival, The as a director, arranger, pianist, conductor and Forge and NORPA. Recent credits include the educator. Future projects include a musical of Australian premiere of Kate Tempest's WASTED FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE and a new show (The King's Collective), the premiere production with Billy Crystal and Amanda Green. of WONDERBABE for NORPA and The Byron Bay Writers Festival, LA CALISTO and THE FAIRY QUEEN (Sydney Conservatorium of Music). As assistant director she has worked for Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company, , Auckland Theatre Company and Sydney Chamber Opera. She was a 2018 Rehearsal Images Prudence Upton recipient of the Glorias Fellowship. DARYL WALLIS ELISE MCCANN MUSICAL DIRECTOR CATHERINE HIATT Daryl is a composer, keyboard Theatre: MISS HONEY, musician, vocal coach and musical director. He has (Royal Shakespeare Co) 2016 composed music for Belvoir, Helpmann Award Winner, Ensemble Theatre, Griffin, 2015 Sydney Theatre Award Merrigong, Studio, ATYP, Monkey Baa, CDP, Winner, 2016 Green Room Award Nomination; Milkcrate, Karnak and Siren Theatre Companies. Lucille Ball, EVERYBODY LOVES LUCY (Luckiest He won the 2012 Federation Bells Composing Productions) 2015 Sydney Theatre Award Competition, the 2013 Sydney Theatre Award for Nomination; Ado , OKLAHOMA and Meg best Score & Sound Design with Elana Kats- Brockie, BRIGADOON (); Chernin for the Ensemble Theatre production of Ali, MAMMA MIA! (Littlestar); Florinda, INTO THE FRANKENSTEIN and a Green Room award as WOODS (Victorian Opera); musical director for the STRANGE BEDFELLOWS. (Opera Australia/GFO); (GFO); He worked with C!RCA on LANDSCAPE WITH Fruma Sarah, (TML MONSTERS, ONE BEAUTIFUL THING, AURA and Enterprises); (Opera Australia); RECLAIMED PIANOS. He composed and performs Cordelia, ( the immersive spiritual THE Company); LITTLE WOMEN (Kookaburra); SIDE AUROBINDO PROJECT and performs with jazz/ BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM ( Presents). soul singer Ali Hughes as ALI & THE THIEVES Television: Lynne Woolnough, : currently touring their LEONARD COHEN KOANS NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR (Shine/Network 7). show to USA/Canada. Other Works: DAHLESQUE Album (ABC Music & Universal Music); DAHLESQUE in Concert CHRISTIAN CHARISIOU (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra 2018 & 2017 JAMIE WELLERSTEIN Adelaide Festival); IN CONVERSATION Christian is a 2013 NIDA WITH STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Enda Markey acting graduate. Since Presents); BEYOND THE BARRICADE Australian completing his studies, Tour (Lunchbox Theatrical). Christian has sustained an impressive diverse presence in MICHAEL SCOTT-MITCHELL the Australian theatre scene appearing in Griffin SET DESIGNER Theatre Company’s one-man tour of THE Michael Scott-Mitchell is one WITCHES, the title character in the of the most outstanding and LPD’s acclaimed production CRY-BABY, designers in Australia. Theatrongroup’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA Recognising his contribution to WOOLF, Mop Head Productions THE HOUSE OF design he was recently RAMON IGLESIA and most recently in Good appointed the first Professor of Practice, Art and Grandon Productions two-hander GRUESOME Design UNSW. His extensive credits in opera, PLAYGROUND INJURIES. His screen credits theatre and special events, include the set design include, RAKE (ABC), READY FOR THIS (ABC), of State Opera of South Australia’s production of NEIGHBOURS (Ten) as well as an extensive list of Wagner’s RING CYCLE and the Cauldron & award winning independent short and feature Ceremonial Stage for the Sydney 2000 Olympic films. Christian is also an established voice artist Games. Recent designs include DR ZHIVAGO on and the artistic director & founder of Good Broadway for which he won the 2015 APDG Award, Grandson Productions. STILL POINT TURNING for Sydney Theatre Company; THE MERRY WIDOW, TOSCA and CARMEN for Opera Australia; and FREEZE FRAME for Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles and Washington DC. At NIDA, he was Deputy Timecode The Royal Ballet, WAITING FOR THE Director/CEO and Head of Design. MOON The Tindersticks Royal Court - Glastonbury; THE DREAMING and SKIN GENEVIEVE GRAHAM Bangarra, JAZZ EXCHANGE SHERON WRAY, Liz COSTUME DESIGNER Lea Dance - Irvin Lewis Company. Recent Genevieve graduated from designs: LOVE ME TENDER, BARBARA AND THE NIDA in 2016 with a Bachelor CAMP DOGS Belvoir Street, TERRAIN - LORE of Fine Arts (Design for I.B.I.S and SHEOAK Bangarra , ON VIEW Sue Performance), and went on to Healey, SONGS NOT TO DANCE TO and complete her Masters of Fine CHAMPIONS Martin Del Armo Sydney Festival Arts (Design for Performance) degree in 2017. In 2017, CELLA Narelle Benjamin Colours Dance 2016, she undertook a placement on the set of Festival Stuttgart Germany - Sydney Festival ALIEN: COVENANT by renowned director Ridley 2018 Dance Massive 2019, KOTAHI Atamira NZ, Scott, assisting in both the art and wardrobe Broken Glass Sydney Festival 2018, The Weekend department, and that same year was awarded Sydney Festival 2019 Moogahlin and THE the William Fletcher Foundation Grant for the APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE Ensemble development and advancement of talented Theatre. BLAK BOX Urban Theatre Barangaroo young Australian artists. In 2017 Genevieve was and Blacktown Sydney Festival 2019. costume designer on The Australian Brandenburg Nominations for lighting design: SKIN Bangarra Orchestra’s BITTERSWEET OBSESSIONS, a new Dance Theatre 2001 , LORE Opera combining the works of Monteverdi and Bangarra Dance Theatre 2016 The Green Bach. That year Genevieve was also the Room Award. production designer for two new Australian works: DANIELLA LACOB EURYDIKE and ORPHEUS, directed by Priscilla CHOREOGRAPHER Jackman, and FRATERNAL directed by Benjamin Sheen. In 2017, and went on to win the APDG South African born, Daniella award for ‘Best Emerging Designer’ for EURYDIKE has worked extensively as and ORPHEUS. In 2018, Genevieve was the an actor, dancer, costume designer for The Ensemble Theatre’s movement- director, and DIPLOMACY directed by and starring John Bell, choreographer for Sydney before working as the costume designer on series Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company, 2 of channel seven’s television program DROP Spiegelworld Absinthe, The Forgotten Angle DEAD WEIRD. Genevieve was the costume Theatre Collaborative, and Showtime designer on The Theatre of Image’s Sydney Management. Daniella graduated from NIDA in Festival show BRETT AND WENDY written and 2008 specialising as a Movement Director. directed by Kim Carpenter. Most recently Recent credits include: VOICES UNHEARD Genevieve was the costume designer for (Darlinghurst Theatre Co/2017), THE FATHER Ensemble Theatre’s THE APPLETON LADIES (STC/2017), DINNER (STC/2017), A FLEA IN HER POTATO RACE directed by Priscilla Jackman. EAR (STC/2016), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (STC/2016), and THE FAIRY QUEEN OPERA (The KAREN NORRIS Sydney Conservatorium of Music/2016). As LIGHTING DESIGNER winner of The Amanda Holmes Award and Karen has extensive Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Award, she is experience as a lighting devoted to her craft of cultivating an interest in designer for theatre, dance how the actor becomes a primary vehicle for and music throughout physically presenting and representing human Australia and Europe. Karen experience. Daniella was Head of Movement for was based in London and Nice from 1998 to Sydney Theatre School from 2013-2017 and is 2008. Credits: THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS - currently the National Programs Manager for NIDA Open. HANNAH LOBELSON Hayes Theatre Co, THE PLANT at Ensemble COSTUME SUPERVISOR Theatre, CALAMITY JANE at Hayes Theatre Co, LIGHTEN UP at Griffin Theatre, BETRAYAL at Hannah gained her wealth Ensemble Theatre, of knowledge and at Chapel Off Chapel, SPRING AWAKENING at experience through a 20 ATYP, VIOLET at Chapel Off Chapel, THE year international career FANTASTICKS at Hayes Theatre Co, VIOLET at that has spanned over a Hayes Theatre Co, CHARLIE AND LOLA’S hundred productions. In the UK, Hannah was EXTREMELY NEW PLAY at , Head of Wardrobe at Shakespeare’s Globe for 8 THE GRUFFALO and THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD years. In addition to this Hannah worked as for CDP Theatre Producers, which toured assistant costume supervisor for The Royal Australia and New Zealand extensively, THE Ballet, The Royal Opera, the National Theatre GRUFFALO: SONGS FROM THE SHOW for Tall and designed costumes for LA BOHEME in Stories UK which toured to Singapore. Palestine. She worked as costume supervisor with the Royal Shakespeare Company and on ALIRA MCKENZIE- several opera productions at the Sydney WILLIAMS ASSISTANT Conservatorium of Music. Hannah has worked STAGE MANAGER with City of Sydney as costume supervisor for the SYDNEY LUNAR FESTIVAL, with Sydney Alira Mckenzie-Williams was Theatre Company and has held the role of the Production Trainee for Head of Costume for several years with Bell The Company Shakespeare. Hannah was recently costume of South Australia from designer for Pop Up Globe’s HAMLET in New January 2016-July 2018 while studying at Zealand and costume supervisor for Ensemble Adelaide College of the Arts. Alira Mckenzie- Theatre’s world premiere, THE APPLETON Williams has worked in a range of disciplines for LADIES’ POTATO RACE. the State Theatre Company of South Australia as an Assistant Stage Manager for the LAUREN TULLOH productions of THAT EYE, THE SKY, BROTHERS STAGE MANAGER WRECK, SISTAGIRL, TARTUFFE, THE 39 STEPS; Assistant Directed AFTER DINNER, Australian Lauren’s is to create Symphony Orchestra co-production ROMEO the magic of theatre for the AND JULIET; Directorial Secondment VALE and audience; as a young girl Chaperone credits Co-production Sydney she was enthralled by many theatre company & Adelaide Festival THE theatrical and musical SECRET RIVER. Her additional theatre credits at productions. However, it wasn’t until her final other theatre company’s include Assistant Stage year in high school that she discovered her local Manager THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO musical societies. This led to three years of skills RACE (Ensemble Theatre), Stage Manager development in Stage Management before LINES (TheatreRepublic), Stage-management attending NIDA, completing a Bachelor of Secondments LETHAL INDIFFERENCE (Sydney Dramatic Art (Production) in 2009. Most recently Theatre Company), MEMORIAL (Brink Lauren has Stage Managed: CALAMITY JANE at Productions). And various productions at The Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. Other productions Adelaide College of the Arts. include: MARJORIE PRIME at Ensemble Theatre and a tour to the Noosa alive! Festival, CALAMITY JANE which toured to , Canberra Civic Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, IPAC Wollongong, Orange Civic Centre and Parramatta Riverside Theatre, HIGH FIDELITY at Hayes Theatre Co, ASSASSINS at JESSICA LEGG SOUND OPERATOR Jess has been working in Theatre for the last 7 years, after graduating from The JMC Academy in 2012. She has quickly become an accomplished Audio Engineer within Australia, going on to mix SAINT JOAN and THE HARP IN THE SOUTH with the Sydney Theatre Company. In 2016 she toured as the FOH Engineer for The Illusionists 1903 during the Australian leg of the tour. She is also a respected Microphone Technician, working on PRISCILLA! QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Michael Cassel), MAMMA MIA! (Michael Coppel, Louise Withers and Linda Bewick), THE WIZARD OF OZ (GFO), MY FAIR LADY (GFO), THE BODYGUARD (GFO), and GHOST THE MUSICAL (Michael Coppel, Louise Withers and Dave Stewart) OUR SUPPORTERS Thank you for your generous support and ensuring our future is bright

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