Events | 'The Last Five Years' the musical ready to hit the stage

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Andrea Allumay and Michael Lee Porter take to the stage for 'The First Five Years'. Image: Front Row Foto.

If you’re looking for something to do next weekend, why not head down to the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns and catch the musical ‘The Last Five Years’.

Much loved and highly regarded local professional performers Andrea Allumay and Michael Lee Porter will star in the modern musical, which runs from 15 to 24 January.

The pair have collaborated on numerous projects previously including Wicked, the first major production at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre. This, however, will be the first time they have appeared on stage together.

With a shared love for the production, Andrea and Michael star as Cathy and Jamie in this American musical written by Jason Robert Brown.

“It is an emotionally powerful and intimate show about two New Yorkers who fall in and out of love over the course of five years,” said performer and producer, Andrea Allumay.

“Whilst Covid-19 has impacted my profession hugely this year, I was determined to use the unexpected down time to look into shows I love and see if there was an opportunity to bring any of them to a stage in Cairns, once it was considered safe to do so.

“I strongly believe that the performing arts plays a huge part in lifting our spirits. To enjoy some escapism for 90 minutes and be emersed in a wonderful tale, is going to bring a much-needed theatrical fix to so many, regardless of whether they are regular theatregoers or have never been before and are just after something different.

“The more I thought about it, the more I realised that The Last Five Years was completely achievable so I set about researching what I needed to do to make it happen.” Ms Allumay said.

This modern production’s unconventional structure unfolds as Cathy (an actress) tells her story in reverse, from the end of their turbulent relationship, whilst Jamie (a novelist) tells his story chronologically from the spark of their initial meeting. The two characters meet only once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.

"I am incredibly excited to be producing and performing in this wonderful modern musical, and to be a part of the revival of live theatre in our community” she added.

Teaming up with Director and performer Michael Lee Porter was a natural first port of call for Ms Allumay with the pair working together on the independent production.

“I've been wanting to play the role of Jamie since the cast recording first came out in 2002. I had the recording on repeat for a long time” said Michael Lee Porter.

“Jason Robert Brown is one of my favourite contemporary Musical Theatre composers. His fiendishly difficult music is a challenge and a delight to sing. I am really excited to bring a Jason Robert Brown Musical to the Far North. It certainly wouldn’t have been achievable had it not be for grants from Arts Queensland and Cairns Regional Council, which we are extremely grateful for,” he said.



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