Eighteen years ago, composer Jason Robert Brown brought together two of musical theater’s rising stars — Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott — for an uncommonly intimate off-Broadway show called The Last Five Years, which told the story (in reverse chronological order) of the relationship between writer Jamie (Butz) and actress Cathy (Scott).
Since then, a lot has changed: The Last Five Years became one of modern musical theater’s cult favorite shows; Brown one of the great contemporary composers; and Butz and Scott two of Broadway’s most versatile and beloved players (and creative collaborators). The two co-starred in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 2005, and their next big project together is about to open at the storied New York cabaret venue 54Below: Twohander, a show of story and song Butz and Scott co-conceived and Scott wrote (running July 9-28).
On the eve of its opening, the two friends stopped by the Billboard on Broadway podcast to discuss the show that brought them together and their friendship and creative partnership since. In their freewheeling (and very funny) chat with host Rebecca Milzoff, Butz and Scott recall when they first met and bonded as principal cast replacements on the original production of Rent; their unique and often challenging relationship to The Last Five Years and its music; their onstage chemistry; and how they’ve grown to complement each other over the years.
Listen below.
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