Synergy Productions, Southwest Florida’s professional musical theater company, in association with the Theater Guild of Southwest Florida, presents the award-winning musical, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, written by Tony-Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown.
A fresh and contemporary musical, THE LAST FIVE YEARS chronicles a young couple’s romance in a new and exciting way: her story starts at the end of the relationship; his begins on the day they met. Funny and uplifting, the show captures some of the most heartbreaking and universally felt moments of modern romance. Critics have praised the music as creative and groundbreaking. The lyrics evoke Stephen Sondheim. The musical style draws from pop, jazz, folk, Rock and classical. The production opened in Chicago in 2001 and was followed by its New York City opening in 2002. It won the Drama Desk awards for outstanding music and lyrics. The New York Times hailed it as “trim & elegant” and Time Magazine named it one of the “Ten Best of 2001.”
The show features actors Robin Harris-Jones as Cathy and Stephen Lyons as Jamie. Harris-Jones recently had the pleasure of working with Bill C. Davis (Mass Appeal) and Brett Boles on the World Premiere of their musical Austin’s Bridge at the Firehouse Theatre Project, Richmond, VA. Also in Richmond, she worked for Theatre IV and Barksdale Theatre on a number of productions including Sing Down the Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales, James Joyce’s The Dead, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Seussical the Musical, Anything Goes, Bunnicula, and The Full Monty.
Lyons is a Philadelphia-based actor, singer and songwriter. His new album ‘Fall’ will be released in December, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Newett. Stephen has toured extensively as an actor appearing most recently as Judas Isacriot in Godspell directed by Broadway veteran Newt Gilchrist. Southwest Florida audiences may have seen him as Dromio of Syracuse, Comedy of Errors (Pirate Playhouse, Sanibel), Richard the Lionheart in Lion in Winter (Banyan Theatre, Sarasota), Captain Bluntschli in Arms and the Man (Actor’s Rep, Naples). Stephen has appeared with such theatre companies as The Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The Delaware Theatre Company, Banyan Theatre Company.
Opening night is December 19. Performances run through Sunday, January 27th at the intimate Foulds Theatre, located at the Lee County Alliance for the Arts (10091 McGregor Boulevard. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm; and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $30. For tickets call (239) 236-1645 or visit the Foulds Theater Box Office. www.synergyproductions.org
Special Nights to include: College Nights; a New Year's Toast; Christmas Week Wednesday-Friday 10% off. Business Person's Specials; Lee County Teacher's 10% Discount; Sr. Citizen Wednesday Matinee (For dates see website or call.) There is a $2 fee for online/hotline ticket purchase ((800) 595-4TIX (4849)); in person tickets will have a $2 box office fee added. Half-price Discounts for Children ages 13-18. Bring a ticket from another local Theater company in Lee County and receive a $5 discount. Gulf Coast Symphony Subscribers and ALLIANCE MEMBERS RECEIVE $5 discount on tickets. For further information regarding special discounts and production questions, contact the Theater Guild & Synergy Productions Office at (239) 236-1645.
Synergy Productions is run by longtime Lee County resident and Music Director of the Gulf Coast Symphony, Andrew Kurtz. Kurtz is also the General & Artistic Director of the Center City Opera Theater in Philadelphia. Kurtz's training and background covers a wide spectrum of music and theater with degrees from both the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Virginia.
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Event: THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Date: Performances: W ednesday-Sunday Dec 19-Jan 27.
Place: Foulds Theater, Alliance for the Arts
Tickets: $30
Tickets available online, by phone reservation, or at the box office one hour prior to the performance. For ticket reservations or information call (239) 236-1645 or (800) 595-4TIX (4849)