#jason robert brown

[katebeckets]

GET TO KNOW ME  ✰ [2/10] Musicals ⤷ The Last 5 Years (2001)

"Maybe your heart's completely swayed but your head can't follow through."

#tl5y #musicaltheatreedit #broadwaydaily #musicaledit #theatreedit #broadwayedit #the last five years #jason robert brown #anna kendrick #jeremy jordan #filmtvcentral #cinematv #userpenny #usercossette #gtkm #my gifs #my edit #musical theatre #em.musicals #i used the movie because it's just easier to gif but there are soooo many amazing versions out there #i really need a properly recorded krc album 😭 #also once i used this musical as an example of how not to argue with a partner for one of my classes lmfao

[mattivoda]

This post isn’t targeted towards this person in particular but I see this same sort of tiktok come up on my timeline every couple of months and it feels me with a very specific RAGE because of how wrong it is about the core message of this show.

For those who don’t know, the music from the TikTok comes from the musical The Last Five Years, made by Jason Robert Brown. It originally opened in Chicago in 2001, then making its way to Broadway in 2002 after great reviews from critics and audiences.

the elevator pitch of the show is simple; a writer exploding with success (Jamie) and a struggling actress (Kathy) and the rise and fall of their marriage.

Normally this would be a pretty basic musical, right? However the true genius comes from one key part of its storytelling: the order at which the story is shown to you.

Jamie performs his side of the story in chronological order, from the start of the relationship ending with their divorce. Kathy, however, tells her story flipped; starting with their divorce and ending when Kathy first meets Jamie.

The two actors almost never interact on-stage, singing solo songs for every single song except for the act one ending song The Next Ten Minutes, where Jamie proposes and the two marry.

Now you might be asking: why is this important to the story? and which character was supposed to be the “bad guy” in the marriage?

If you delve into the story and look at the way the story depicts both characters’ perspectives on what happened then an obvious fact becomes clear:

Jamie is an asshole and was the main problem in the marriage. You aren’t, and never were supposed to side with him.

Throughout the show, Jamie is shown to be obsessed with his own fame, gloating about how he seems to only be able to exponentially succeed in his writing. His obsession makes him blind to the struggles of his wife, even going as far as deluding himself into thinking his wife’s struggles is simply her being jealous of his success. By the end of the show, Jamie cheats on Kathy and proceeds to blame her for not allowing him privacy.

THAT’S why the storytelling of The Last Five Years is so compelling. By only showing these characters seperate from each other, it forces us to become familiar with Jamie and Kathy as individuals rather than a couple. It allows us to see Jamie’s douchebaggery up-close and personal, with the entire first act highlighting this glaring detail and allowing us to see the consequences of this as his marriage devolve in the second act. Just the simple fact that Jamie’s story is chronological creates a beautiful dichotomy between Kathy’s frustrations, sadness and abandonment and Jamie’s cocky, happy-go-lucky success story.

Before I finish writing this and go to bed, i’d like to say I don’t blame those who hold this view for thinking this about The Last Five Years for one reason only; the only way they got to see it was the movie version.

the film adaption of The Last Five Years (2014) decided that the reason the musical worked was because “interesting timeline go brrr” and decided to keep the original timeline, but instead had both characters constantly interacting.

Instead of having this abstract deconstruction of these two characters, with both Kathy and Jamie monologuing their personal thoughts and emotions separately, they mash together and create this weird, realistic depiction of a breakup. The performances from Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan were amazing, don’t get me wrong, but these choices in the adaption rip the emotion and soul out of its inspiration and sell the corpse for $20 a viewing.

Jamie and Kathy’s marriage is a cautionary tale about what happens when you don’t listen and understand your partner. It is not a desperate attempt of a composer to appear in the right about his marriage and it shouldn’t be a sloppy retelling of a failed marriage with a quirky form of storytelling. Please please PLEASE if you agree with this original TikTok’s message just know you are so UNBELIEVABLY wrong.

tldr; you are not supposed to side with Jamie!!!! he is in the wrong!!!! that’s the whole point of the musical!!!!! don’t watch the movie it sucks and is innacurate!!!!!!! RAHHHHHHHHHHHH

#musicals #broadway #the last five years #anna kendrick #jeremy jordan #jason robert brown #music #theatre #art #essay #relationships #marriage #divorcedlife

[evenlarksandkatydids]

#succession #kendall roy #rava roy #stewy hosseini #naomi pierce #kenrava #kenstewy #kendall x naomi #the last five years #web weaving #kendall x rava #kendall x stewy #jason robert brown

[thesongofpurplesummer]

What are some of your controversial opinions about The Tony Awards or Olivier Awards? (Shows/People that should have won)

#musicals #broadway #west end musicals #theatre kid #the tonys #tony awards #musical theatre #broadway musicals #deaf west spring awakening #falsettos #revival #musical review #west end theatre #theater #olivier awards #newsies #hamilton musical #sweeney todd broadway #chicago musical #wicked #six musical #moulin rouge #west side story musical #the phantom of the opera #sweeney todd revival #into the woods #parade musical #jason robert brown #sondheim #andrew lloyd webber

[oof-i-did-it-agaaiiin]

I love it when a musical composer knows how to fill me with Dread. Nothing sexier than a composer who can write Dread.

#specifically I’m thinking of: #joanna (judge turpin’s reprise) from #sweeney todd #monster from #octet #and blues: feel the rain fall from #parade #post i made #musicals #stephen sondheim #dave malloy #jason robert brown #sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street #octet musical #parade musical

[bpdjennamaroney]

Has anyone noticed how much JRB loves writing songs from the perspective of women ogling a genius at work…Can’t really judge him bc I kept trying to sneak peaks at him conducting…But someone with better taste in people should say something scathing

#jason robert brown

[doyouknowthismusical]

#musical theater #do you know this musical #poll #songs for a new world #jason robert brown #language: english

[bestmusicalworldcup]

#best snubbed musical world cup #best snubbed musical world cup qualifiers #best musical world cup #best musical #broadway #musical theater #musical theatre #musicals #theater #theatre #anastasia musical #anastasia #parade musical #dreamgirls #alice by heart #ahrens and flaherty #jason robert brown #polls

[fluxationsart]

“All the wasted time to never show I loved you so”

I forgot to post this here but HOORAY PARADE WON THE TONY FOR BEST REVIVAL!!!!! Absolutely deserved it’s a beautiful production of a beautiful show

#parade #parade musical #parade broadway #parade the musical #ben platt #micaela diamond #leo frank #lucille frank #caricature #broadway #broadway fanart #musicals #theatre #jason robert brown #michael arden #fluxations art #fanart

[solar-return]

Ppl keep telling me i should “write a musical” about my “life” . Yeah sure so i can Get a Lawsuit like jason robert brown did when he wrote “if you'll be mrs o’leary baby i will be your cow”. So I can have theatre kids say it was obvious i was in the wrong in my Own Breakup. So evil tenors will put my fucking real life quotes in their instagram bios I DONT THINK SO!!!

#broadway #the last five years #jason robert brown #musical theatre

[darkhighness]

The Last Five Years / Good Omens

I have had a cursed idea of looking at the ineffable divorce in the style of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years musical.

Just think: Aziraphale is Cathy who is pleading for Crowley (Jamie) to meet him where he is (being an angel) and everything falls apart when Crowley won't stop his life and 'backtrack' to meet Aziraphale.

Crowley falls apart when he can see a future that he is heading towards and he wants to be there with Aziraphale (Cathy) but he is blinded by his ambition, letting Aziraphale fall by the wayside some times.

Let's just break it down song by song.

(Not everything is in perfect order but this is just trying to find the examples in the show because communication isnt exactly a strong point)

Still Hurting - Aziraphale is trying to work out what went wrong and why Crowley didn't come with him. He is convinced Crowley is prospering without him and he is hurt irreparably after their separation (Metatron's Offer)

Shiksa Goddess - Crowley is so intoxicated by their relationship that he wants to spend time with Aziraphale regardless of what damage it does to his reputation (Meeting at Eden)

See I'm Smiling - Aziraphale is glad to finally be able to spend time with Crowley after decades apart but Crowley, at this point, is unable to commit to Aziraphale due to his own commitments/emotional insecurity (The Ball)

Moving Too Fast - Crowley feels himself being swept away in his relationship with Aziraphale and he doesn't want to stop it, especially since he is still being praised by his superiors based on the lies he tells them. (Flashback sequences leading up to 1967)

A Part of That - Aziraphale will always support Crowley in what he wants and wants to be a good friend but he can't help but feel like he is being left behind as Crowley forges his own path, ignorant of head office. (S2 where Crowley is fine being 'their own side')

Schmuel Song - Crowley is constantly hyping up Aziraphale and trying to give him the confidence to break away from Heaven. He hands Aziraphale the chance to escape on a silver platter. (Swapping bodies)

A Summer in Ohio - Aziraphale is suffering in his work, feeling stuck and bound by circumstances out of his control. He reaches out to Crowley to vent and find peace. Aziraphale knows he needs to do this work for Heaven but it's frustrating and doesn't align with his views (Gabriel finding him, lie about Nina and Maggie's relationship)

The Next 10 Minutes - For a brief moment, Crowley and Aziraphale are at peace and want to spend the rest of their lives together, willing to sacrifice what it takes to be a couple (Armageddon't)

A Miracle Would Happen - Crowley, despite his love for Aziraphale doesn't want to be 'good' and doesn't want to be defined by the rules Aziraphale swears by. He loves Aziraphale and wants to make him happy but strays from the clear black-and-white view of the world. Aziraphale is still holding out hope that Crowley will he his point of view (Having to protect Jim)

Climbing Uphill - Aziraphale is doing his best to appear to be a perfect angel in the eyes of heaven but constantly feels criticised, largely due to his relationship with Crowley. Aziraphale decides that he is going to take charge of his future and save humanity (Deciphering Agnes' prophecies)

If I Didn't Believe in You - Crowley is sick of Aziraphale's attachment to Heaven to the point of it being a sticking point in their relationship. He is holding out hope Aziraphale will choose him and they can be happy (Beelzbriel Reveal)

I Can Do Better Than That - Aziraphale wants to be a good angel and do what Heaven tells him despite Crowley's protests. He is determined to find a way to keep his faith and still save humanity (Raising Warlock)

Nobody Needs to Know - Crowley is sick of trying to protect Aziraphale from Heaven and lays his feelings bare as a final attempt to convince Aziraphale, despite his own fears (Crowley's Confession)

Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You - Aziraphale is glad to have an arrangement with Crowley where he can still be the perfect angel and be friends with Crowley. It's the best of both worlds (Arrangement/Flashbacks)

Crowley realises his efforts have been hopeless and Aziraphale is too blinded by his loyalty to Heaven to properly hear what he's saying. The only way he knows how to love Aziraphale at this point is to let go (The Kiss)

I'm appealing to a tiny niche of people who love good omens and The Last 5 Years but hopefully there's someone who sees what I am.

I don't know, would anyone read something like this if I fleshed it out?

#good omens #anthony j crowley #crowley #aziracrow #aziraphale #good omens 2 #ineffable husbands #aziraphale x crowley #the last five years #jason robert brown #musicals #musical theatre #broadway #musical theater #theatre #west end #good omens season 2 #ineffable divorce #gomens

[thatnerdinthecorner]

Reason I HAte Jamie No. 46849

'If I hadn't believed in you I wouldn't have loved you at all' from If I Didn't Believe In You

so much of this show is Cathy thinking about her insecurities. Jamie is so successful and she isn't, and throughout the show we get her talent confused with her insecurity: in Climbing Uphill we see her unsuccessful audition and how terribly it goes, and we as an audience are supposed to think she's a bad actress/singer, but she spends the summer touring, and we know that this is something that she does regularly:

'Is it just that you're disappointed To be touring again for the summer?'

Touring isn't a bad job for an actor. It's not Broadway, it's not her dream, but it's a good job and it takes work and talent. Jason Robert Brown got sued by his ex, and consequently had to change parts of the show because it was too close to the reality of their marriage. In other words, the writer is Jamie, the entire show is told by Jamie, and even the songs from Cathy's perspective are written and told by Jamie. Given everything else in the show, I'm not particularly inclined to trust Jamie's account if he's the one telling us that she's bad at her job.

In If I Didn't Believe In You Cathy doesn't want to go to one of Jamie's work parties. She's feeling frustrated about her own career and doesn't feel like spending the evening faking it to appease Jamie's colleagues. So Jamie digs into that. The entire song is very manipulative, but with these lines it fits into a continued theme throughout the show of saying that because Cathy hasn't managed to reach the pinnacle of an incredibly competitive field that she is automatically bad at her job and completely unskilled. Which we know isn't true, because otherwise she wouldn't be touring.

When Jamie says:

'If I hadn't believed in you I wouldn't have loved you at all'

what he's really saying is if I didn't think you would be successful, I wouldn't love you. But because her success is constantly conflated with her talent, when Jamie is talking about her success, he's also talking about her talent, so he's also saying that his love for her is dependent on her being talented, which he is measuring by her success.

Also, for the rest of the song Jamie says 'If I didn't believe in you' not 'hadn't'. I'm probably simplifying this a lot, but in this context, 'Didn't' works in the past and the conditional present tense. 'Hadn't' works in the past and conditional past tense. When Jamie switches to 'hadn't' at the end, he's saying that his belief in her is in the past tense. When Jamie says 'I wouldn't have loved you' that's in past tense too. His belief in her, and his love for her, which are intrinsically tied, are both in the past tense, because she has failed, because she is untalented. The song ends with him confirming all of her worst insecurities and saying he no longer loves her, and the next and final line is:

'Now why don't you put on your dress and we'll go, okay? Cathy? Can we do that, please? Please?'

In other words, the last few lines of this song is Jamie saying telling his wife yes, you're right, you don't have a good job, and you'll never get a better one, you'll never be successful, because you're not talented, and I don't love you anymore, because I only loved you because I thought that you could be successful one day, so why don't you just shut up, stop whining and do as I say, and come to my party to celebrate me and my work and my success.

I hate this man more that I can say.

#do i mean Jason Robert Brown or Jamie Wellerstein? you'll never know #the last five years #the last 5 years #jason robert brown #jamie wellerstein #cathy hiatt #anna kendrick #jeremy jordan #if i didn't believe in you

[your-daily-dose-of-quotes]

No one can give you courage. No one can thicken your skin. I will not fail so you can be comfortable, Cathy. I will not lose because you can't win.

- Jamie Wellerstein, The Last Five Years

#daily-dose-of-quotes #musical quotes #musical theater #musicals #the last five years #jason robert brown #jamie wellerstein #jeremy jordan #cathy hiatt #norbert leo butz

[fluctuating-fixations]

Ohhh Parade I feel so normal about the Parade Musical.

#parade #parade musical #parade the musical #jason robert brown #hal prince #brent carver #carolee carmello #musicals #theatre #broadway

[cashthecomposer]

I need musical theatre blogs to follow. Like or reblog this post if you ever post any theatre stuff, ever. Do y’all have any recommendations? These are my favorite shows:

The drowsy chaperone, Sunday in the park with George, a little night music, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, fuck it just put me down for 'anything Sondheim or Sondheim adjacent', phantom and love never dies (plot and characters suck for the sequel but the MUSIC), Beetlejuice, tick tick boom, Hamilton, Matilda, Jesus Christ superstar, les miserables, avenue Q, wicked, rocky horror, anything goes, fun house, just to name a few...

#musical theatre #phantom of the opera #theater #rodgers and hammerstein #broadway musicals #musical #musical theater #musicals #sondheim #stephen sondheim #the drowsy chaperone #jason robert brown #stephen schwartz #idk what to tag here

[bpdjennamaroney]

no one is talking about how in 2007, there were two competing off-broadway adaptations of goncharov. no one is talking about how adam guettel teamed up with craig lucas while jason robert brown worked with john weidman. no one is talking about how one cast included raul esparza, kelli o’hara and norbert leo butz while the other starred brian d’arcy james, donna murphy, and michael cerveris. and how brian stokes mitchell was attached to both versions. or how sondheim admitted he walked out at intermission of one of them but wouldn’t say which one. or how three ensemble members died on the boat scene of the guettel one.

#goncharov #martin scorsese #jason robert brown #adam guettel #musicals #unreality