Nightingale Arts Collective in their third production has attempted something incredibly challenging: a show that is both a foreshadowing of things to come and a retrospective, both at the same time.

In The Last Five Years, a musical written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, the collective pulled out all of the stops to gather a superstar cast and crew to produce a show that audiences would appreciate.

So much so that audience members forget to clap between numbers, something that Nightingale Arts Collective co-founder Melissa Wang Jackson said was due to them being mesmerized by the performances of co-leads Adam Fisher and Lauren Woods.

“It really starts and pulls you in right away with from the first note. The feedback that I’ve had from audience members is that it’s completely immersive, to the point where they get so involved in the story after songs, they’re hesitant to clap because it takes them out of the moment, and it interrupts the story,” she said.

The Last Five Years tells the story of aspiring writer Jamie Wellerstein, played by Fisher in chronological order, and struggling actress Cathy Hiatt, played by Woods in reverse-chronological order and their relationship, marriage, and divorce over a half-decade.

Since the show premiered in 2001 off-Broadway, it has been a popular musical to stage by companies across North America and was turned into a 2014 film starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.

Wang Jackson said that the Nightingale production of the musical was a beautiful take that really leaned into the skills of the Calgary Opera McPhee Artist Program alumni in both Fisher and Woods.

“They’re brilliant,” she said.

Doubly so given that during the entire length of the show, the two only perform one duet together, otherwise both singing against each other, but also because of the way that the story works, never locking eyes despite telling the same story.

Megan Schultz, co-founder of Nightingale Arts Collective, said that Ian Robertson has provided both exceptional music direction for the production, but also has him on a Steinway Grand Piano playing throughout—something provided locally by Steinway Piano Gallery.

The Last Five Years was directed by Adam Isbell, who Schultz said the collective brought from Texas to direct after having success staging productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Sweeney Todd, and Carrie: The Musical.

“It was his job to make sure that all of that was portrayed correctly,” said Schultz.

The pair of founders also praised their stage manager, Nicole Dickinson, who helped turn a set piece designed to transform between a bed, a park bench, and even a pier into something magical for the audience.

“She is absolutely amazing, and we are singing her praises right now,” said Schultz.

The Last Five Years first for collective where co-founders aren’t performing

Wang Jackson said that this was the first time that both she and Schultz had not been performers in the production, reflecting an evolution of the company as it has grown within Calgary over the past several years.

That audiences have been receptive to the work that the collective has been creating has been immensely gratifying as well, she said.

“We do this because we love the work and we want to bring it to people of Calgary. It’s very humbling when people have the same reaction as us. Megan and I sat through all the rehearsals and just listened, and I just couldn’t believe that it was coming off the page the way it was. Every note was just beautiful, and I’m so happy to share it with everybody,” said Wang Jackson.

The funding for The Last Five Years has also been a grassroots effort, she said.

Jamie Fortin, a friend of the Nightingale co-founders, sponsored the latest season in memory of her late husband, Jeffrey Armand Fortin, who served on the board of Calgary Opera, the board for Vertigo Theatre, and the board for Alberta Ballet.

Calgary arts champion and singer Barbara Thorson also provided funding for The Last Five Years to bring Fisher to Calgary from Vancouver to perform.

Carolyn Dahl Rees, who is both a singer and a former member of the Calgary Opera chorus and chair of the Alberta Utilities Commission, also provided support for The Last Five Years.

Schultz said that Scorpio Theatre’s Stuart Bentley also provided set pieces for The Last Five Years, after they recently worked together on a show for that company.

“It’s just so amazing how people get so excited. Once we get it off the ground and show them our idea, or tell them what show we’re doing and who’s starring in it, there’s so many people who come out and just want to help,” said Wang Jackson.

Audiences got final chance to see The Last Five Years on Sunday, Nov. 9 at cSpace Marda Loop.