My journey with The Last Five Years began around 2002, on a drive to Tampa for that year’s FPTA auditions. I remember hearing the cast recording for the first time that morning and being instantly hooked. Like any actor, I immediately started casting myself in the show (actors, you know exactly what I mean), and from that moment on, I knew that one day I wanted to be part of bringing this story to life.
Fast forward to this time last year, when the show was presented as a possibility for the season. I took the opportunity and the leap to make it my mainstage directing debut here at HLT.
What drew me in from the very beginning was Jason Robert Brown’s beautiful score and the deeply personal story it tells. The structure alone is captivating: two characters experiencing the same relationship in opposite directions; Cathy moving backward through time, while Jamie moves forward. It’s a concept that pulls you in and refuses to let go. My challenge as a director was to honor that storytelling with the care it deserves, while creating an experience that is not only beautiful but also invites you fully into the emotional journey these two characters take over the course of their relationship.
Theater is never a solo endeavor, and this production is no exception. It exists because of an incredible team of artists and supporters who gave their time, talent, and heart to bring it to the HLT stage. Katie, Jen, Tom, Tracy, Rachel, Gary, Rhonda, Sully, Danielle, Jackie, Mike, Hadley, Roxie, Lucia, Calla, Sam, Timothy, Kristy, Allison, Kathryn, and so many others, thank you. Your work does not go unnoticed, and I am deeply grateful for each of you.
Of course, no production succeeds without the right cast. I am truly fortunate to have found our Cathy and Jamie in Izzy and Andrew. They bring honesty, vulnerability, and depth to these roles in a way that allows us to love them, question them, laugh with them, and hurt along with them. I am endlessly appreciative of their trust, their dedication, and their willingness to take this journey with me.
And finally, thank you for being here, for supporting live theater, and for supporting HLT. This space exists because of audiences like you.
So for now… take a breath, take a step, take a chance, and take your time on this journey through The Last Five Years.
— Marcus Conerly
Director
