It has been a long and challenging year. Balancing the desire to be back out in public for some form of entertainment with the concerns about both the pandemic and recent civil unrest is difficult for individuals as well as businesses. Carmel Community Players (CCP) is offering a night at the theater with social distance and CDC protocols in place to keep you safely entertained.
CCP is staging “The Last Five Years” from July 17 through Aug. 2 at the Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. This 90-minute musical is the story of a relationship told both forward and backward at the same time.
Photo provided by Carmel Community Players
According to Director Bradley Allan Lowe, “It is a story about a relationship that can be set in any time and still be relevant and relatable. When I cast the musical, I wanted to ensure that I had actors that wanted to collaborate to help the audience get lost in the story of Cathy and Jamie, and the very unique storytelling format.”
Cathy tells her story from end of relationship to the beginning and Jamie tells his from beginning of the relationship to the end.
“Nina Stilabower and Daniel Draves are our cast,” Lowe told The Reporter. “It is challenging because Jason Robert Brown, who wrote the musical to be autobiographical of his relationship, writes very hard music. It was hard to find singers who would not only be able to embody these characters over five years, but who would also be able to sing almost 90 minutes straight. We had some great people show up, but Nina and Daniel were perfect for the roles and they are doing a fantastic job.”
The show has an orchestra that will perform, unseen by the audience, in an adjoining room to the stage with the sound brought to the audience through the sound system.
Lowe told The Reporter he is very excited about the quality of the set in this production.
“We have a really awesome sculpture that was custom-made for the show,” Lowe said. “It is a paper sculpture that looks like the novel pages and vocal score pages of their relationship. It engulfs half of the stage. I couldn’t be more excited about it. It will look like a set that you wouldn’t expect at CCP. It is very unique.”
The as yet uncompleted set for “The Last Five Years” at CCP features this unique paper sculpture, symbolic of the novel and musical score. (Photo provided by Carmel Community Players)
The challenges in preparing this production run far deeper than casting and set design.
Convincing an audience to come to a live show in the middle of a pandemic scare is no mean feat. That is why CCP has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of patrons, cast and crew.
CCP Board Vice President Rich Phipps told The Reporter, “The goal is to continue to provide our patrons with exciting and excellent productions, while keeping the environment safe and comfortable for everyone.”
Toward that end, the following safety precautions will be observed:
- Seating will be capped at 50 percent capacity (no more than 60 seats sold per show).
- Ushers will be directing patrons to seats distanced from others.
- Face masks for patrons are required.
CCP and The Cat will be providing the following:
- Touchless thermometer scanner using the CDC stated guideline that any temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will not be allowed in the theatre. This restriction applies not only to patrons, but also to actors, orchestra and staff.
- Hand sanitizer stations will be available.
- Snack bar staff will wear masks and gloves, and a plexiglass partition will be placed between the patrons and the workers.
- Front doors will be opened ONE HOUR before curtain time and patrons will be seated immediately to avoid a crowded time in the lobby, and patrons will be directed to spend their waiting time outdoors.
This show is included in CCP’s 2019-2020 Season Ticket package, but season ticket holders not feeling comfortable coming to the show will get credit toward a show next season or for their next show, the comedy “Shipwrecked: And Adventure!”
“The Last Five Years” will stage for three weekends beginning Friday, July 17. Tickets are $20 for adults 18 and older, $18 for seniors 62 and older and for students with ID. Go to CarmelPlayers.org or call (317) 815-9387 for tickets.