Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren are gearing up for lead roles in the upcoming Broadway production of “The Last Five Years” scheduled for next spring.
Jonas has a history in Broadway performances since his childhood, with standout appearances including his lead role in 2012’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and a more recent Broadway stint with the Jonas Brothers concert series last year.
Warren, a Tony Award winner renowned for her portrayal of the title character in “Tina,” has also showcased her talent in Broadway productions such as “Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed” and “Bring It On.”
“The Last Five Years,” written by Jason Robert Brown, delves into the dissolution of a marriage. While not universally appreciated by critics, the show boasts a substantial following and has been performed widely. Its Broadway absence is attributed to its intimate scale featuring just two characters in a single act. The unique narrative structure sees Jamie, a novelist, recount the story chronologically, while Cathy, an actress, narrates it in reverse chronological order.
Originally launched in Illinois at Northlight Theater in 2001 with Norbert Leo Butz and Lauren Kennedy, the production later had an Off-Broadway run at the Minetta Lane Theater in 2002 starring Butz and Sherie Rene Scott. Over the years, it has seen numerous national and international adaptations and productions.
The show was adapted into a film version in 2015 starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. More recently, Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Henry headlined a concert rendition in 2016. During the pandemic, an innovative streaming production filmed in an apartment featuring Nicholas Edwards and Nasia Thomas received acclaim, contributing to a surge in licensed productions due to its cast size and unique narrative structure conducive to social distancing.
The forthcoming Broadway rendition, helmed by director Whitney White (a Tony nominee for “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”), will be produced by Seaview, ATG Productions (an ATG Entertainment subsidiary), and the Season, the new production venture led by theater marketers Mike Karns and Steven Tartick.
