The Last "17" Years HICKORY - The Last Five Years is a musical written by Jason Robert Brown. The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hyatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect. The Last Five Years was inspired by Brown's failed marriage to Theresa O'Neill. "It's the very intimate retelling of a story we see in pop culture magazines all the time—two artists, one more successful than the other, neither can handle it. The relationship deteriorates. Because of the unique way it's presented, we get a "behind the scenes" look into their faults and the way they approach their relationship. It's a great show for any married couple groups to see and later discuss. There is a lot to be learned from dissecting these two characters—what they think of each other and how they interact with one another." Actors Jeff and Carol Anne Hartman married on the Charles E. Jeffers mainstage at Hickory Community Theatre nearly 13 years ago. It was a Medieval-themed wedding on the outdoors set of Camping with Henry and Tom—complete with a running creek. The reception was held downstairs in The Fireman's Kitchen. Jeff and Carol Anne's first dance as husband and wife was in the same spot their characters share theirs every performance. "It's really a surreal feeling," Carol Anne continues. "When you're acting, you stir up emotions that you have experienced in order to really be in that moment and portray that for those watching. As you can imagine, this is an emotional show and very draining on us as we access sometimes painful memories to bring that to the surface. The wedding and first dance is a beautiful release for us, though—a wonderful moment that is not really acting at all." Neither has performed in a musical together for 17 years. That was The Fantasticks in 1996, in which the couple shared their very first dance together. "Our real-life marriage has its ups and downs just like everyone else's, but we try very hard to put each other and the kids above everything else. We don't want to fall into the trap that our characters fall into. Success in our art should never come before success in our marriage and family." Hickory Arts & Hickory Community Theatre have partnered to bring Jason Robert Brown's "The Last Five Years" to The Firemen's Kitchen as part of their Working Artist Series from July 12-28. The musical is directed by Jeff Hartman, featuring Carol Anne and Jeff Hartman and musicians David Smith, Diana Stone, Thomas Evans, Alex Johnston, and Charlton Seaver. Tickets are available by calling 828-327-3855 or by visiting hickorytheater.org and hickoryarts.com. *Rated R for Adult Language. The Photo, from Left to Right, Jeff and Carol Anne Hartman in The Last Five Years, their wedding, and The Fantasticks. The Last Five Years Written and Composed by Jason Robert Brown Originally Produced for the New York stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre, Chicago, IL The Last Five Years is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019, 212-541-4684, MTIShows.com more