Notes From New York is to stage two additional performances of its gala production of Jason Robert Brown’s musical The Last Five Years at the Haymarket in October. Originally intended as a one-off performance on Sunday 12 October, extra dates have now been scheduled for 19 and 26 October “due to phenomenal public demand”.
Since its creation in 2003, Notes From New York has regularly staged one-off performances in the West End to showcase new musical theatre talent from the US and the UK, including its popular festive editions entitled Christmas In New York and this year’s female-focused Notes In Heels. The Last Five Years is Notes From New York’s fifth anniversary production and features the series’ Associate Artists Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer.
Brown’s The Last Five Years premiered on Broadway in 2001 and had its UK premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2006. An emotional and moving two-hander with a unique structure, the musical tells the story of the raw and impassioned relationship between novelist Jamie (Spicer) and actress Cathy (Atherton), in their own words.
Brown’s other works include Parade, which had its UK premiere at the Donmar Warehouse last year, and 13, a new musical now playing on Broadway.
Atherton, best known for her roles in Avenue Q, and Spicer, whose credits include Taboo and The Witches Of Eastwick, are directed by Fiona Laird (They’re Playing Our Song at the Menier) and Amelia Sears.
CB