"A fresh and contemporary musical from Tony-Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years chronicles a young couple's romance in a new and exciting way: her story starts at the end of their relationship; his begins on the day they met. Funny and uplifting, the show captures some of the most heartbreaking and universally felt moments of modern romance."

Before coming to New York, this production ran into problems dealing with Brown's ex-wife, Theresa O'Neill, who threatened to sue Brown due to the plot of the musical paralleling their own troubled marriage. Lincoln Center Theatre originally was to produce the musical at it's Mitzi Newhouse Theatre, but later dropped it due to disagreements between the theatre and the artist. Marty Bell and Arielle Tepper picked it up only days later and with some small changes in the female character, minimal lyric changes, and a song dropped (only to be replaced by a new song), the show commenced performances in early February at the Minetta Lane Theatre. After a short preview period, the show opened to positive-to-mixed reviews. Here are some excerpts from leading New York critics:

"Pulses with dangerous, irresistible giddiness... Norbert Leo Butz is a fast-rising new star... Mr. Brown is a leading member of a new generation of composers who embody high hopes for the American musical... Messrs. Butz and Brown have captured the delicious energy of being young, gifted and meteoric in New York City... Beowolf Borrit's elegant setting... Mr. Brown confirms his sparkling facility as a composer, fluidly mixing diverse styles. They range from waltzes to rhythm and blues, from Sondheimesque urbanity to a clever 'Chorus Line'-like audition piece for Cathy... Ms. Scott brings humor and sincerity as well as a powerhouse voice to her interpretation... The production is truly blessed in Mr. Butz, with his gleaming vitality and multicolored voice."
-Ben Brantley, The New York Times

"Compulsively enjoyable... The two characters 'make beautiful music together'... The show moves smartly along on the specificity of truth... Unpredictably heartfelt insights, energized by a seductive, rhythmic drive... Expressive, low-rumbling strings of the six-piece orchestra... Poignant and ironic... Daisy Prince directs with a sure hand and thrill-seeking confidence of a sensibility soul mate... Beowolf Borrit's set is simple yet striking... New York sense of humor... Here is a real modern falling-in-and-out-of-love musical... Their last five years make us feel much better about the future of musical theater."
-Linda Winer, The New York Post

"A bracing musical theater piece... Brimming with persistent melodies, thoughtful lyrics and a heartfelt, compelling story... Articulated with surprising tenderness... Brown's fine score is diverse... Catchy tunes. There are several here that stick in the memory... Poignant... Intelligent lyrics... Blessed with two gifted performers... Scott reconfirms her status as a major musical-theater performer... Scott turns her into a funny, sexy and touching woman... Director Daisy Prince has done a good job keeping the time frames separate and the story clear... A potent reminder of what musicals can be like when they make up their minds to really sing."
-Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press

Norbert Leo Butz's recent credits include: Thou Shalt Not (Lincoln Center Theater), The Last Five Years (world premiere, Northlight Theatre, Chicago; dir. Daisy Prince). New York: Rent (dir. Michael Greif), Saved (TFNA, dir. Robert Woodruff), Juno and the Paycock (Roundabout, dir. John Crowley). National tour: original Emcee in Cabaret directed by Rob Marshall (Helen Hayes, Dora, Joseph Jefferson Awards, Ovation Award nomination). Regional: Four seasons with Alabama Shakespeare Festival, including Hamlet, Richard II, Henry IV, St. Joan, Dennis Covington's Lizard (world premiere); St. Louis Rep: Galileo, The Matchmaker. Film: Looking for an Echo, Went to Coney Island, Noon Blue Apples, the recently completed West of Here. TV: "Law & Order," "The Tonight Show." BFA: Webster University. MFA: Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Sherie Ren� Scott received a Drama League Award and was the recipient of the 2000 Clarence Derwent Award for most promising actress in NY theatre for her role as Amneris in Aida on Broadway. Other Broadway: leads in The Who's Tommy, Rent. Regional: leads in Elaborate Lives, Randy Newman's Faust and Kander and Ebb's Over and Over (Helen Hayes Award nom.). Television: "My Guys" (CBS), "The Almost Perfect Bank Robbery" (CBS). Sherie is a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse. She recently released her first solo CD for Sh-K-Boom Records, called Sherie René...Men I've Had, featuring songs by Elton John, Pete Townsend, Randy Newman and Jonathan Larson, as well as new songs by Kander & Ebb. This spring, Sherie will co-star in the feature film Marci X for Paramount Pictures. For more info about Sherie and her CD, go to www.sherierene.com.