Town Hall Theater’s ‘Last Five Years’ heads to Burlington

BURLINGTON — She’s at the end of the relationship, devastated by the break-up of her marriage. He appears five years earlier, at the start of the relationship, certain that he’s finally found the woman of his dreams. In the hit musical, “The Last Five Years,” her songs travel back through time to that first meeting, while he travels forward in time to the bitter break-up — a brilliant structure that lays bare the joys and frustrations of a modern relationship.
After a hit run in Middlebury last April, the Town Hall Theater production transfers to the FlynnSpace for one performance on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.
THT executive director Douglas Anderson directs the two-person tour de force. “It’s been hailed as one of the finest musicals of the last 20 years. I sometimes think it’s the best musical that many people have never seen,” he says.
Starring in the show is Middlebury College grad Mike McCann, who is no stranger to Town Hall Theater. During his four years at the college he spent every January at Town Hall Theater, performing in the Winter Term musical productions. Audiences will remember him as a very funny Prince in “Into the Woods,” the malicious Javert in “Les Misérables,” and most recently the Father in “Ragtime.”
“Mike is one of those rare talents that comes along only so often,” says Anderson. “His range is astonishing, floating seamlessly from baritone to high tenor, and he commands the stage.”
Opposite McCann is another THT star, Kim Anderson, who starred in “Funny Girl” several years ago and has played many major roles with Burlington’s Lyric Theatre and the Stowe Theatre Guild. “When Mike came to me with the idea to do this show, I said I’d only direct it if the person playing opposite him is as extravagantly talented as he is,” says Anderson. “These are very demanding roles, requiring great pipes, great musicality, and the ability to be on stage the entire performance and make everything fresh and funny. That’s a perfect description of Kim Anderson.” 
The score, by Jason Robert Brown, is composed of 14 songs that tell the entire story. Known for his brilliant lyrics and stunning musical voice, Brown’s recent work on Broadway includes “The Bridges of Madison County” and the current hit “Honeymoon in Vegas.”
“The Last Five Years” will be at FlynnSpace and is presented by Town Hall Theater. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at www.townhalltheater.org, 802 382-9222 or the THT Box Office (Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m.), or at the Flynn Center Box Office, www.flyntix.org or 802 86-FLYNN.

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