The Last Five Years, Brown's semi-autobiographical, two-person musical that documents a five-year relationship of a couple falling in and out of love, will be adapted and directed by Richard LaGravenese ("P.S. I Love You").
Kendrick is slated to star as Cathy, a struggling actress who falls in love with rising Jewish novelist Jamie Wellerstein, played by Jordan. The musical explores their relationship from both points of view through a series of solo songs — Cathy telling the story in reverse chronological order, and Jamie starting from the beginning (the pair only comes together at their wedding, the turning point of the show).
The Last Five Years premiered in Chicago in 2001 and opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre in March 2002. The Off-Broadway production, which starred Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz, won 2002 Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics and was nominated for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Actress, Outstanding Orchestration and Outstanding Set Design. A revival of The Last Five Years is planned for spring 2013 at Second Stage Theatre.
Kendrick was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in High Society. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in "Up in the Air" and has been seen in the films "Camp," "Pitch Perfect," "50/50," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" and the "Twilight" series, among others.
Jordan, who was seen on the second season of "Smash," was Tony-nominated for his turn as rebellious paper boy Jack Kelly in the Disney musical Newsies. He has also been seen on Broadway in Bonnie & Clyde, Rock of Ages and West Side Story as well as on screen in "Joyful Noise."
