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OCT opens 'The Last Five Years' Oregon Cabaret Theatre will kick off its 2003 season with the west coast premiere of a new musical, "The Last 5 Years," by Jason Robert Brown. "The Last 5 Years" will open on February 7, with two low-priced previews on February 5 and 6. The show will run through March 10 with performances Thursday through Monday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday brunch matinees at 1 p.m. This is not your usual romantic musical with a wedding at the end and no one talking about what happens afterward. In "The Last 5 Years" the man, young novelist Jamie Wellerstein, begins telling his story at the dawn of the relationship - the couple's first heady date with the chemistry going off like skyrockets. The woman, an aspiring actress Cathy Hiatt, begins her story at the end, five years later: in spite of the love and passion, something went wrong and the relationship is over. The wedding is the place where the two stories overlap and it occurs in the middle. It's honest story-telling with depth, humor and truth - at times uplifting, at times heartbreaking. There is a great deal of verve, intelligence and skill in its telling due to the extraordinary music and lyrics of Jason Robert Brown, one of the bright new lights of musical theatre, and a Tony winner for his work on the Broadway musical "Parade". This is a musical of our time, reflecting the increased difficulty for young people seeking to maintain an intimate relationship in a complex, disruptive world. "The Last 5 Years" premiered at Chicago's Northlight Theatre and was produced off-Broadway in New York City just last March. The Oregon Cabaret Theatre production is the west coast premiere and first production since New York City. The off-Broadway production was nominated for seven Drama Desk awards and won two of them - Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics. It was also nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and won the 2002 Kleban Award for Outstanding Lyrics. The show has resonated with young musical theatre fans, who have developed a cult following including websites and internet fan groups. The Oregon Cabaret Theatre production is being directed by Mark Mezadourian Hughes and stars two popular OCT performers, Melinda Parrett and Wade Mc Collum, also seen in last season's "The All Night Strut." McCollum recently brought down the house as "Evilena" in "Snow White and Several Dweebs" and has also been seen in "Ali Baba", "The Shakespeare Revue", and "Nunsense Jamboree". Set and lighting design are by Craig Hudson, costume design by Kerri Lea Robbins and sound design by Frank Sullivan. Musical director and pianist, Darcy Danielson is joined by Lisa Truelove on cello and Bruce McKern on string bass. Performances are Thursday through Mondays at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 1 p.m. through March 10. Tickets are $15 for the previews and range from $18 to 24 for regular shows and can be purchased at OCT box office at 1st Street and Hargadine or by calling 488-2902. Season subscriptions are also available. LINKS: REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. DAILY TIDINGS: Main | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -