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One-act musical explores relationships ***photo online?***
A man and a women rehash 'The Last Five Years'

A contemporary musical that ingeniously chronicles the five-year life of a marriage from meeting to break-up -- or from break-up to meeting, depending on how you look at it -- is opening Sept. 16, presented by Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre.

"The Last Five Years," a one-act musical written by Jason Robert Brown, is an intensely personal look at the relationship between a writer and an actress told from both points of view. Popular songs from the show are "Parade" and "Songs For A New World."

It premiered in Chicago in 2001 and was produced off-Broadway in March 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally.

The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hyatt, a struggling actress. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple first met).

The two characters, played by Katherine Cooper and Greg Zema, tell their sides of the story from opposite chronological ends, only meeting in the middle when they get married. The show contains adult language and situations. Direction and musical direction are by Min Kahng.

The show runs through Oct. 9 with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, at the TVRT Studio Theatre, 1048 Serpentine Lane, Suite 309, in Pleasanton. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $20 for students, and a substantial discount for groups purchasing 20 or more tickets. Tickets may be purchased online at www.trivalleyrep.org or by phone at 462-2121.