<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left"><b>THE LAST FIVE YEARS </b>Written by Jason
Robert Brown </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left">Directed by Michael Dempsey</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left">Musical Direction by Alex Marr</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br>SHOW DATES: September 14-16 and 21-23</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><br>IMPORTANT NOTE: While performances will occur in Salem, Ohio,
actors from areas such as Cleveland, Akron and Canton, are encouraged to
audition, as a portion of rehearsals can be arranged to occur in your area to
minimize the commute.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><br></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>PERFORMANCES at Salem Community Theatre, </i><i>Salem, OH</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br>THE SHOW</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Last Five Years </i>(“L5Y”)
is a touching two-person show that follows a man and a woman through the arc of
their failed five year relationship. The show uses a form of storytelling in
which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show
at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order
(starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly
interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect.<br>
<br>
Jamie, the man and a writer, moves forward in time from initial infatuation
through love, supporting Cathy’s nascent career, their marriage, his personal
career success, temptation, infidelity, then his ending the relationship.
Cathy, the woman and an actress, moves backwards in time through pain,
suspicion and jealousy, feelings of inadequacy due to her failure to realize
her career, happiness in a new-found marriage, desire to be her own person, and
a very promising beginning of a relationship. Their time-lines only overlap
(and immediately diverge) at the “I do” of their marriage. The musical is in a pop/Broadway style with classic
influences, with a gorgeous orchestration featuring piano, cello and
violin. <br>
<br>
Almost the entire show is sung, and every song is a solo except for a single
duet. It is a showcase piece for both
the man and woman, demanding strong
acting and powerful vocals. This show is well-loved in musical theatre because
the songs are memorable, powerful, engaging, challenging and fun for the
audience and the cast. The theme is universal and the scenes are dramatic
without being overwrought. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">L5Y runs about 90 minutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>CASTING</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Jamie:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Male, mid twenties to early thirties. Must play a range of ages over 5 years: from
the first promising date to dazzling
career and relationship success into someone who is blinded by their own success
and ego. He suffers from a lack of
understanding of what he needs in a relationship, leading to infidelity and
(un?)intentionally sabotaging the marriage. But the portrayal must be human and
lovable - Jamie is making mistakes and often fails to understand himself and
the consequences of his choices, and is not being an intentionally bad person.
The audience must disapprove of his actions, yet still love the flawed human
character.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Vocal Range: strong tenor, A2 (a bit more than one octave
below middle C) to Bb4 (above middle C).</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cathy:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Female, mid twenties to early thirties. Must play a range of
ages over 5 years, from an ambitious, fresh-faced girl in a new relationship,
to a woman stunned by a betrayal and a divorce that she is only beginning to
understand. She acts like she is sure of what she wants, but she often
second-guesses herself, and nothing makes her less happy than her own lack of
confidence. Cathy is a difficult acting ole,
with a character arc going backwards and one of the most heart wrenching and
exposed opening numbers in musical
theatre. The actor must understand Cathy’s role in her failed relationship as
well as the naiveté of her love, and portray this without the character herself
realizing this.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Vocal Range: mezzo/belter, F3 (below middle C) to D#5 (a bit
more than one octave above middle C.)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>AUDITIONS</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sunday, June 17 & Monday, June 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM<br>
Salem Community Theatre<br>
490 E. State Street, Salem OH 44460<br>
<br>
Please bring a prepared song in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rehearsals will be flexible:
due to the Director's schedule, they may occur August 1-11, have a
one-week hiatus (August 12-18), and then return August 19-September 13, but due
to the two-person, solo number nature of the show, it is possible that accommodations
may be made for conflicts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">For more information, please email Director Michael
Dempsey: <a href="mailto:demzer@gmail.com">demzer@gmail.com</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">
Michael Dempsey has written, acted and directed in theater,
television and film in New York, Los Angeles, Louisville, Cleveland and other
venues across the country. As a writer, Michael
wrote for network television in the 90s, most notably CBS’s <i>Cybill</i> starring Cybill Shepherd. His plays have been produced in New York, Los
Angeles, Washington and regionally in theaters such as Actors Theatre of
Louisville. Recent local directing
efforts include <i>Into The Woods</i> at Salem
Community Theatre, <i>Curtains</i> and <i>Macbeth</i> at the Youngstown Playhouse, <i>I Am My Own Wife </i>at Oakland Center for
the Arts, and <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> at
the Players Guild of Canton and also at Salem Community Theatre. Dempsey and these last two shows made #1 on
the local top-ten lists for the 2011-2012 season. As an actor, Ohio appearances
include <i>The Seagull, 1776, </i>and <i>Fiddler On The Roof </i> at the Beck Center for the Arts, <i>Fiddler </i>at Cain Park, <i>Baby </i>at True North Cultural Arts Center
(for which he received a Times Newspaper Theatre Tribute 2010 Outstanding
Performance Award) , and <i>Macbeth</i> at
The Youngstown Playhouse. Michael studied
at Ohio State University, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Cornell University. A member of the Writer’s Guild of America and
the Dramatist's Guild, Michael’s a past recipient of an Ohio Arts Council
Fellowship for playwriting. Michael's
first novel, <i>Necropolis</i>, was released
nationally in October by Night Shade Books.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">FB Event: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/235402653226459/">http://www.facebook.com/events/235402653226459/</a></p>
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