ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) of Connecticut is thrilled to reopen this fall with The Last Five Years, a spellbinding, emotionally powerful and intimate musical. After being granted special permission to livestream this production, ACT patrons will have the option to either attend this production in-person or from the comfort of their own home.
Like most other not-for-profit regional theatres, ACT closed its doors in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ACT’s leadership has worked closely and tirelessly with all agencies responsible for reopening in order to implement a comprehensive safety, health and return plan. We can’t wait to invite our patrons safely back to ACT after seven months of an
“extended intermission”!
The Last Five Years is a modern 90-minute musical that has enraptured audiences around
the world with its spellbinding and emotional score. This musical ingeniously chronicles the
five-year relationship between two New Yorkers: Cathy, a struggling actress, played by Katie
Diamond (Jersey Boys, The Pirate Queen), and Jamie, a budding novelist, played by Daniel
C. Levine (Les Miz, The Rocky Horror Show, Jesus Christ Superstar). The Last Five Years is
told through an unconventional structure in which Cathy tells her story in reverse-
chronological order (beginning the show at the end of their marriage), while Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple has met for the first time). With book, music
and lyrics by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (The Bridges of Madison County,
Honeymoon in Vegas, 13), the musical was adapted into a film in 2014, starring Anna
Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. The Last Five Years will be music directed and conducted by
ACT’s Resident Music Supervisor, Bryan Perri (Jagged Little Pill, Wicked and the upcoming
Almost Famous). TIME Magazine named The Last Five Years one of the ten best shows of
2001.
“We could not be more excited to reopen ACT with this gem of a musical”, says Artistic
Director, Daniel C. Levine. “The Last Five Years is a show that I have loved since it’s premier
Off-Broadway in the early 2000’s. This is the perfect two-character musical for us to produce
at this moment in time. The Last Five Years has one of the most poignant and exciting scores
written in this century, and I cannot wait to share this show with our audiences.”
Katie Diamond, Executive Director adds, “We are so excited to welcome our patrons back to
ACT this fall. We understand that some of our audience members may prefer to watch this production from their living room, and so we are thrilled to be able to offer this unique livestream opportunity. As we enter our 3 rd season, we are so grateful to all who have supported us and look forward to welcoming new audiences to Ridgefield.”
November 15th, with both limited in-person seating and livestream tickets available.
Performance dates and times: Wednesdays at 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 8pm,
Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. All ticketing for The Last Five
Years will be handled by the ACT box office. Please call or email the box office: 475-215-
5497 / boxoffice@actofct.org.
ACT’s comprehensive re-opening protocols include (but are not limited to) daily sanitization
and cleaning of the building, virtual purchasing and e-ticketing procedures, limited seating
capacity in the theatre and e-commerce concession ordering with in-seat delivery. For the
safety of our guests, employees and community, ACT will provide hand sanitizer stations
throughout and require that face masks be worn by all staff and audience members. Please
visit our website for more information (actofct.org).
About ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) of Connecticut
ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) of Connecticut is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional theatre
located in Ridgefield, CT. Founded in 2018, and led by Katie Diamond, Daniel C. Levine, and
Bryan Perri, ACT of CT presents limited engagement runs of well-known musicals, as well as
world-premiere productions by the next generation of writers and composers in the newly
renovated Diamond Properties Performing Arts Center and Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen
Auditorium. In addition to fully produced mainstage productions, ACT of CT hosts an annual
new works series, a “Broadway Unplugged” series, and an extensive education program
including individual training, masterclasses, summer camp, professional workshops, and a
year round conservatory program for high school students. ACT of Connecticut is dedicated
to inspiring, creating and nurturing a diverse and equitable environment for its staff, creative
teams, cast, musicians, crew members and audiences. For more information about ACT of
CT to purchase tickets and to learn more about ACT’s programs, please visit actofct.org.