Notes From New York Hits The West End

Jason Robert Brown's The Last 5 Years and Jonathan Larson's tick... tick... BOOM! will be fully staged side by side in Notes from New York at the Duchess Theatre, a unique season of groundbreaking contemporary musical theatre for a strictly limited engagement this May. As an initiative to make musical theatre more accessible, tickets are priced from £10 - £30 and a season ticket for both productions is available at £50.

The Notes from New York production of Jason Robert Brown's The Last 5 Years is reconceived for the Duchess following its acclaimed gala staging at the Theatre Royal Haymarket last year. West End stars Julie Atherton (Avenue Q, Mamma Mia!) and Paul Spicer (Taboo, The Witches of Eastwick) reprise their performances as Cathy and Jamie in this celebrated two-hander from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 May.

Jonathan Larson's tick... tick... BOOM! receives its long overdue West End première at the Duchess, running from Wednesday 13 to Sunday 17 May, also starring Julie Atherton, who is joined by Olivier Award winner Paul Keating (Tommy, Closer to Heaven, The Full Monty and Little Shop of Horrors) and TV actor Leon Lopez (RENT, Brookside, Hollyoaks).

Both productions are presented in the West End by Jamie Hendry Productions and Neil Eckersley &
Paul Spicer for Speckulation Entertainment, with design by Morgan Large, lighting by David Howe
and sound by Gareth Owen & Ed Borgnis. The Last 5 Years is directed by Amelia Sears and
Hannah Chissick directs tick, tick... BOOM!

The Last 5 Years is an emotionally wrought and moving song cycle, in which creative tensions combine with complexities of the heart. Newly published novelist Jamie and aspiring actress Cathy
tell the tale of their raw and impassioned relationship in opposite directions and from differing
standpoints. Unique in structure yet familiar in its universally resounding themes, this celebrated
two-hander reminds us it's possible to feel claustrophobically close to and yet worlds apart from the oNe You hold closest to your heart.

tick, tick...BOOM! is an autobiographical look into Jonathan Larson's struggle to be heard and
accepted as the musical voice of a new generation. Following his tragically short life, Larson earned
four posthumous Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for RENT, which changed the face
of contemporary musical theatre. A rarely produced piece of life-changing theatre, which will strike a chord with anyone who yearns to achieve a dream, regardless of their restrictions.

Julie Atherton's credits include originating the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in the West
End transfer of Broadway hit Avenue Q; Sophie in Mamma Mia!; Serena in Fame and Just So at the
Chichester Festival Theatre. She performs in both The Last 5 Years and tick, tick... BOOM! ahead
of returning to Avenue Q when it transfers to the Gielgud.

Paul Spicer's credits include the lead roles of Billy in Taboo; Michael in The Witches of Eastwick;
and Nick in Fame. Other recent credits include Tobias in Sweeney Todd.

Paul Keating's credits include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors; the title role in Tommy; Don
Carlos; A Little Night Music; Closer to Heaven; and Buttons in Cinderella at the Old Vic.

Leon Lopez is one of the most unique and diverse talents of today. His TV credits include:
Hollyoaks in the City; Brookside; Mersey Beat and Holby City. His recent theatre credits include
Collins in RENT Re-mixed and the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

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