Ah, the excitement of live theatre when rehearsals begin on an anticipated project.
Luke Marty, director of the upcoming The Last Five Years, produced by Toronto Stage Company, begins rehearsals on January 6, with performances scheduled in the Terminal Theatre (formerly the Fleck Theatre) at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. He is beyond excited to get into the rehearsal room.
His theatre background includes performances in many plays and musicals during his school years. He credits his parents, who regularly helped mount the musicals at the high school where they taught. Luke says he gained a first-hand look at the efforts to mount the show at his parents’ high school.
While earning a Physiology degree at London, Ontario’s Western University (go, Stangs), Luke had the great fortune to learn from some truly gifted artists (professors and students alike) who encouraged him to follow his calling to the theatre. Upon graduation, Luke auditioned for and was accepted into Toronto’s George Brown Theatre School, which he calls “a robust toolset with which to start his career.” That toolset inspires him to “honour the legacy of the army of people from whom he has had the privilege of learning and working alongside over the years.”
Billed as a musical masterpiece, The Last Five Years explores a five-year relationship between Jamie, a rising novelist, and Cathy, a struggling actress. The show uniquely tells the story from opposing perspectives and timelines. Jamie’s story is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple first meet), while Cathy’s story is told in reverse (beginning with the show at the end of the marriage).
The process of casting the show and assembling the creative team for the upcoming production has already been amazing for Marty. He adds:
“The calibre of talent that came out to audition was so inspiring. I can’t thank everyone who auditioned enough; [some very difficult decisions were made.] I’m beyond excited to get in the room with the extraordinary performers we chose.”
2026 marks the show’s 25th anniversary, and there appears to be renewed interest. It will run in August 2026 at Gananoque’s Thousand Islands Playhouse. Marty says he’s not surprised by the renewed interest and is looking forward to travelling east to see what director Brett Christopher envisions for the production:
“It’s a show that audiences love, and it’s told with such an interesting take on the rise and fall of a couple…The opposing chronologies of the story highlight the individual challenges these characters face, and reveal the reasons they fell both in and out of love in a fascinating manner.”
Luke finds the show just as relevant in 2026, if not more so. In today’s fast-paced, digitally infused world, the social pressures and difficulty finding genuine connection that Jamie and Cathy face are, in his opinion, exponentially heightened
“Jason Robert Brown’s beautifully tragic tale holds up a cultural mirror that reflects love and loss, ambition and insecurity, jealousy and betrayal. By augmenting these universal struggles with a splash of modernization, I believe we will resonate particularly well with today’s audiences, and hope that they will be moved to closely examine their own relationships – both with the people and the screens that fill their lives.”
Steffi Didomenicantonio (Steffi D to many), a Dora-nominated actress Toronto audiences will remember from Come From Away and Rock of Ages, will play Cathy. Steffi was a finalist on season four of CTV’s Canadian Idol. Marty and Steffi met many years ago in theatre school, and he calls this opportunity to work and reconnect with her a real gift for a role she is going to knock out of the park.
As Jamie, Nicolas Palazzolo has been working internationally for the last few years, but he’s Canadian-raised and trained. Marty is thrilled to introduce him to Toronto audiences and is confident they will love him just as much as he blew the audition team away.
Rounding out the cast are standbys April Rebecca and Fynn Cuthbert.
On the creative team, Robertx Wilkinson is Musical Director who came highly recommended and brings a level of expertise to the room that is irreplaceable. Ryan Davy will be the Lighting Designer, Nola Chaters will be the Costume Designer, with Stage Manager Katie Fitz-Gerald and Assistant Stage Manager Joanne Rumstein-Ellis.
Marty is also quick to point out the selfless work of producer, Jon Chaters:
“Thanks to him, a beautiful theatre has been saved (formerly the Fleck, now the Terminal Theatre), and I am grateful to him both for that, and for giving me a chance to helm Toronto Stage’s first home stage production.”
Another source of anticipatory excitement for Marty is staging the production in the newly named Terminal Theatre. With steeply raked seating, every audience member will be treated to a clear, unobstructed, up-close and intimate view of the stage, where they can connect with the performers and have a magical experience at each performance.
Once The Last Five Years concludes its run, what’s next for Luke:
“Although I am not at liberty to reveal many details, audiences will see me on television screens in late January, on a Toronto Fringe Festival stage this summer, and my voice will be appearing in a major video game in the near future…In the meantime, I will be continuing my work as a literary editor and consultant with yourbetareader.com.”
THE LAST FIVE YEARS with Steffi D and Nicolas Palazzolo is produced by Jon Chaters, Luke Marty & Amy Slattery for The Toronto Stage Company. Written and Composed by Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Luke Marty with Music Direction by Robertx Wilkinson. Costumes by Nola Chaters. Lighting Design by Ryan Davey. Stage Management by Katie Fitz-Gerald. THE LAST FIVE YEARS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
THE LAST FIVE YEARS begins performances at the Terminal Theatre on January 20th, 2026. Tickets are available from $65.00 and can be purchased at https://terminaltheatre.ca/. Use code “OURTHEATREVOICE” to save 25% on select ticket options.
All performances to be held at 207 Queens Quay West, Third Floor, Toronto.
