What the Critics are Saying about The Last Five Years

“In an ideal universe, Tracy Lynn Olivera would be the toast of Broadway and Jane Pesci-Townsend would be Manhattan’s reigning cabaret queen…The Big Apple’s loss is Washington’s gain, as the talented women have teamed up for the intimate, affecting musical…(Jason Robert Brown) combines bracing emotional honesty, humor and poetry in his theatrical works”

Blanchard, Washington Times

“witty and dynamic score…leading a superb quintet of piano and strings…Breitbart does the almost impossible. He makes performing Brown’s famously difficult score look easy, which is truly a musical treat.”

Folliard, Washington Blade

Olivera is “superb…her magnificent voice soaring…a tour de force performance”

Bush’s Jamie is “full of optimism and energy”

Toscano, Washington Post

“definitely a charmer” R. See, curtainup.com

“Olivera and Bush provide fabulous vocal performances…Olivera belts with exciting energy and Bush delivers patter with panache…Each fills the evening with musical thrills in front of the on-stage orchestra of piano, violin, cello, bass and guitar…highly detailed orchestrations (give) the entire piece a richness that fills MetroStage’s intimate space.” A Potomac Stages Pick

Hathaway, potomacstages.com

“Olivera’s lovely vibrato-etched voice soars…The backbone of the production…is a team of terrific musicians…these instrumentalists have a beautifully pure and expressive sound…euphoric piano-dominated strains…and the wistful melody of the strings”

Wren, Washington Post

“diva-licious” Munch, MetroWeekly

Composer Jason Robert “Brown has strong powers of observation, a great eye for revealing detail, a felicity for unpredictable rhymes and quite a sense of humor. His music is as fresh as his lyrics, with strong melodies and intriguing rhythms.”

Hathaway, Gazette Packet

“soaring, rapturous…the performances are terrific and the evening engaging”

Mondello, Washington City Paper

“a wonderfully complex emotional piece…Olivera’s voice is divine…many aspects of this production are far superior to the original New York mounting…directed with unflinching honesty by Jane Pesci-Townsend”

Zublin, Washington Theater Review

“fresh and unique…Pesci-Townsend, Bush and Olivera do a great show justice, and then some”

Theilman, Washington Theater Review

“the music is gloriously touching” B. Anthony, Review4U