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Special Episode: Real Life Married Couple on Performing ‘The Last Five Years’
00:26:00
On today’s episode, Matt Tamanini is in conversation with the two stars of the Center Stage Theatre production of “The Last Five Years,” which is playing in Shelton, Connecticut through Sunday, April 13. Alyx Levesque and Dale Melancon are playing Cath...
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- [00:00]
Dale Melanchol
Foreign.
- [00:08]
Matt Tammanini
And welcome to a special interview episode of Broadway Radio. My name is Matt Tammanini. On today's episode, I'm in conversation with the stars and director of a very interesting production of the last five years. No, not the one happening on Broadway at the Hudson Theater, but the one happening at Center Stage Shelton in Connecticut, just a couple hours from New York City. It is playing just through next week, April 13th. But what's so interesting about this production is the stars of the show, Dale Melanchol and Alex Levesque, are an actual real life married couple. And on top of that, the director, Liz Mueller officiated their wedding. So this is a bit of a meta production for all three of them. I will say that Dale and Alex are friends of mine and they are incredibly talented. But in this conversation we talk about the opportunity to do this show together, what they do as a couple to make sure that they do not end up like Jamie and Kathy. The way that Liz has integrated not only the real life photos and videos from their wedding and their life together, but how they've amplified the rest of the last five years story with additional footage and filming and images that really makes a fully immersive production of this show that really isn't possible even with a bunch of money to film all kinds of other assets to use during the show because of the authenticity of incorporating real life video and images. And the home that they share is, is really something special. So I will have information in the show notes on where you can purchase tickets to see the last five years at Center Stage Shelton. Center State Shelton is. Is traditionally a community theater in Connecticut, but this is their first ever professional production and they could not have done much better if they were looking for a married couple than Dale and Alex. So great conversation with these folks. They actually spoke to me on the set of the show so you'll hear them kind of referencing the big video screen that they have on stage at times. So I wish that I had time in my schedule to up to Connecticut while I was in town to see this. But if you are in or around Connecticut or if you're in New York City and love this show and want to make a little bit of a road trip to check out this really one of a kind production, I highly recommend it. So without further ado, here's my conversation with Dale, Alex and Liz. All right. After the first performance last night, Dale, Alex, relationship okay? Marriage still intact?
- [02:35]
Dale Melanchol
Great question.
- [02:36]
Alex Levesque
Yes, possibly. And I mean, our relationship is nothing like Kathy and Jamie's. But Dale put it so great during, like, our pre pro when he was like, we aren't Kathy and Jamie, but we could be. And I think that's what brings so many people into this story, is that even if they're not artists or if they're not writers, that there's something about Kathy and Jamie that they can relate to. But we're doing great after last night.
- [03:05]
Dale Melanchol
Yes. Still very much happily in love. Liz's vision was to very much tie the truth of our story into this production. And I think it's very successful in that. And you can speak more on that if you'd like.
- [03:17]
Liz Mueller
My favorite thing is whenever we finish something, they just look at each other and they go, it's only a play. It's only a play. It's only a play. It's the mantra of the show is it's only a play.
- [03:28]
Matt Tammanini
Well, Liz, I am interested because obviously this show is about a relationship that, depending on which timeline you're in, either starts really well or ends really well. When you were thinking about doing this show, what was the attraction, not only for this couple, but any couple to bring these characters to life on stage?
- [03:49]
Liz Mueller
Well, any couple. I would say that's the best question. Because if you put a real life, truly in love married couple under what are very stressful circumstances, I think people see themselves in each Jamie and Kathy at different points on the timeline. So I think it affects people on a deeper level because you think, oh, God, they're actors, but they are actually married. And as for choosing Dale and Alex, first of all, they're just a stunningly gorgeous, outrageously talented actor couple. I was at their wedding. I got to officiate their wedding. So there's like a lot of amazing. They were hands down my first choice. I told them that I think that they are absolutely perfect for the show in every way, shape and form. And just that they've allowed me not only to, like, use their real life experiences, but then also fabricate some real life experiences to support the music content. And the staging content of the show, I think is really effective because it really blurs the line between who they are, who Jamie and Kathy are. Is this just Dale and Cal? Dale and Cal. Dale and Alex telling Kathy and Jamie's story. Are they actually Kathy and Jamie in the story? It's this really great gray area that I think is pretty effective.
- [05:01]
Dale Melanchol
Extremely effective, yeah.
- [05:03]
Matt Tammanini
And I've seen some of the shots from the show, like their real life wedding photos and video and stuff. How is that? What one? I'll ask Alex and Dale Here, what is that? To kind of like, you're telling this very emotional story, sometimes great emotions, sometimes difficult emotions, but you look over your shoulder and like, oh, wait, that's literally us getting married not that many years ago.
- [05:25]
Dale Melanchol
It was our first run through the other day. We hadn't seen the wedding footage behind us because, you know, we're doing actor things and being informative to audiences. But there is a moment where we can sort of peek and see the footage. And Alex and I both just immediately, like, tears came to our eyes because that's a moment that brings us so much joy. And it's such a joyful moment in the story as well. And so there is that blurring of, like, this isn't really acting like this is truthful. This is, like, our story. This is, like, imperative to our narrative. But I love what Liz said, that she has fabricated some not truthful moments to our story, to Dale and Alex's story that are truthful to Jamie and Kathy's. And so from an audience point of view, to see those fabricated moments right next to genuinely truthful moments, it's a really heady experience for the audience to be like, wait, what is real? Who are these people? It's very emotional for us to be a part of this. And it's a good reminder that, like, you know, for artists trying to pave their way in this world, in this field, in this industry, a lot of times it can be a challenge. But I'm very grateful to be doing it with Alex because she is truly my best friend. And these emotions on stage are. They're very real.
- [06:40]
Alex Levesque
Yeah, I agree with everything that Dale said, and it's a very. Just safe space, and it's really beautiful to look behind and see our real wedding footage. It already. I mean, the next 10 minutes is such a beautiful song. It's one of my favorites in the show. And it's the only time that Kathy and Jamie are really taking each other in and are in the same point of their timelines together. And I think just to peek and see little snippets of what is, without a doubt, the best day of my life is so incredibly special. And to bring those real, true, authentic feelings to that moment is really powerful. And I think that the audience feels that as well.
- [07:21]
Dale Melanchol
Absolutely.
- [07:22]
Matt Tammanini
Well, it's interesting because at the beginning, you said you're not Jamie and Kathy, but you could be. You are both. You know, obviously it goes across five years, but you're in the same age range as these characters. You're both artists. Obviously, you're both actors, singers, performers. But, Dale, I know you write as well as Jamie does, and you're an artist. So, like, as you look at their trajectory and you overlay that not only with, like, we were talking about the real life wedding photos and real life videos, what is it about these characters that you do feel that not only biographical connection to, but the emotional connection to that might not be exactly you, but kind of is you?
- [08:02]
Dale Melanchol
Well, I think we've talked a lot about this, I think just in terms of, like, our own, like, version of at home marriage counseling. Like, I think it's important to identify our differences from Jamie and Kathy as well as our similarities. And I think that a lot of our. A huge portion of our relationship is built on the foundation of communication and just figuring out where we are with each other. But it's totally believable to put ourselves in the situation of artists who are just so attached to their work and attached. In Jamie's case, he is just so motivated by his career. He is so career motivated. And Kathy, I think, is very love motivated and is very motivated by her relationship with Jamie. And they just never say that to each other. They never have those moments of like, hey, I just need you to meet me where I am today. And it's unfortunate, but it doesn't make it any less beautiful.
- [08:59]
Alex Levesque
You know, I think for me specifically with Kathy, I mean, her whole kind of professional arc in this show is that she really just, like, can't catch a break. You know, she's watching her partner be uber successful and become, like, I mean, a very celebrated author in the writing world while she is, like, in the audition grind and just, like, can't catch her break, which for where I'm at in my career, rings very true to me. Like, in the audition sequence, it's. That is real. Like, that was real 25 years ago. And that is still the real experience of a working actor, especially, or an auditioning actor, especially in New York. So I think that her struggle to kind of feel like she is, you know, has her feet on the ground and really is finding her place in the industry. I'm definitely relating to that a lot now. But the not really being able to celebrate your partner's success, even in the midst of maybe it not being so successful in your lane, is something that I personally cannot relate to. But those moments with Kathy are ones that bring me and her very close together where I'm like, girl, I feel this, like a summer in Ohio. We all have had our summer in. Put your summer stock Theater city here. Like, all of that is so relatable. And you still laugh. Like, I mean, it is. Those numbers are funny because they're relatable and they're real. And I love that they were written 25 years ago and we are still experiencing those same things today.
- [10:46]
Matt Tammanini
I will say, as an Ohio native, you could do a lot worse than Summer in Ohio. Okay, so let's just make that clear here. But, Liz, as the director, how do you make sure that they are walking that line of being true to the characters with not going too far in incorporating those real life? Because obviously you want to tap into the real life emotions and the real life experiences, but you don't want it to become a Dale and Alex show and forget. Jamie and Kathy are completely different characters and human beings in their own right.
- [11:21]
Liz Mueller
So I think as a trio, we've done a really good job of this together. Like, when I think about this whole project, it's definitely our show. And when we first. It was first on the table, we first started talking about it and who these people are. One of the things I told them that was really important to me was I think people go into the show, especially if they know it or even when they leave after knowing it, they are typically Team Jamie or Team Kathy. Like, people side. And it was really, come on, is.
- [11:50]
Matt Tammanini
There anybody who's actually Team Jamie? Are we really doing.
- [11:53]
Liz Mueller
I think that people are one team or the other. And it was really important to me to blur that line so much that you could see how these paths just dissolved instead of it being like a hard stop. Their life together was so beautiful at one moment in time. And just these microchoices, these micro things in life just made it dissolve. And by the time you realize it's dissolved, it's too late. And then bigger choices happen and more mistakes happen. And that is where Dale is so right. That could be any of us. So when we talk about a lot of that, and honestly, these two are champs because we'll be in the middle of something and Alex will be like, I don't like this, and I need to talk about this right now.
- [12:39]
Matt Tammanini
I believe that. I believe that.
- [12:41]
Liz Mueller
And then we talk about it. And then everybody moved on. And I was like, I don't like this. I was like, we need to talk about this right now. And I wish I was paraphrasing, but that was like an actual real life 15 minutes, one day where we thought we just kept moving away from it. And then I was like, nope, we're back. We have to talk about this again. And I think because we were from the like, literally they knew each other like 12 hours before I met them. It's really crazy.
- [13:02]
Alex Levesque
Yes. Like, at the beginning of Dale actual real life relationship, literally within 24 hours of us meeting, we then met Liz.
- [13:10]
Liz Mueller
So we're all. The last five years, really.
- [13:13]
Matt Tammanini
And it's been about five. I mean, it's been about five years. Right.
- [13:17]
Alex Levesque
We're so happy that we're six years. So we're like. We feel safe. We're safe from the last five years. We've made it six. But yeah, we are like this. The timeline that we personally are doing the show is, like, kind of crazy, and it is kismet. I really feel like it's amazing that we're all doing it together.
- [13:36]
Dale Melanchol
But to echo on your previous question too, I think what helps in that is that the three of us actually do have such a very close, like, friendship relationship that we're able to really trust each other in this process and understand when, you know, we're just trying to tell a story versus it being something real and truthful. And it transcends that. Like, oh, I'm an actor, I'm unsafe. Like, I don't really know these people. We have such a deep, deeply profound relationship, the three of us, that it's able for us to. It allows us to bring stuff out.
- [14:07]
Liz Mueller
Well, and things that may seem trivial. Like, we see intimacy scenes all the time on television, on stage, whatever. And we know they're actors and we love these scenes and they make us feel something. But when these two, like, touch each other or kiss each other, it feels different. And there's no other way to get around that. Like, it just does, you know? And I think everybody feels that in the room. So those moments are just as important as the stressful moments or the sad moments or these moments where you're like, oh, my God, they really do love each other.
- [14:38]
Matt Tammanini
From a technical standpoint. Liz, how, as a director, do you keep the timelines and where the scenes are in each other's timelines coherent? Because having recently seen an unnamed production of the last five years in the last 24 hours, sometimes that is not especially clear and not exactly coherent and lacks internal logic.
- [15:03]
Liz Mueller
So I love technology, and I love to kind of like throw a million ideas at the wall and see what sort of brilliant Jackson Pollock pops up from ideas. And recently at the theater Center Stage, within the last year, we have added a projector to our space. And so, and this is actually day 14 right now that we've Been on this. So we've opened and this is only day 14 of our whole process. So we spent two, like almost 12 hour days shooting footage of these two folks, like in the city, in their apartment, just creating these very, like, beautiful real life scenes in Central park, in, you know, a bar, eating hamburgers, buying flowers, like just anything you would do in New York City in your own normal life, day to day. We filmed them arguing, we filmed them laughing in bed. We filmed the other woman. Like, we filmed a lot of these things that in these moments where, you know, maybe Jamie is going through something wonderful, you could see on the timeline something tragic happening to Kathy, or vice versa, so that, you know, they're not in the same space at the same time. And then when they are in 10 minutes, when they do finally meet up on the timeline, it's very obvious because they are together for the entire thing. It all feels very cohesive and linear. And then once they cross over that timeline for a brief moment, it sounds a little artsy, but it's brilliant. For a brief moment, everything goes backwards in the video. So it's like they're rewinding out of that present moment and then they keep going on their timeline. So this really beautiful cinematic content that is supporting everything that's happening on stage. Because the idea of the stage version for me wasn't necessarily these literal scenes happening. They're very like representative ideas in what I'm doing as a concert setting in sort of an ethereal apartment idea supported by this cinematic content behind them. So I think that really does help people know where we are. In addition to we're doing this other really beautiful thing where these two lines exist at different points in the show. Kathy's line is always traveling backwards, Jamie's line is always traveling forward. And anytime we see any of this line artwork, it's always in the direction of the character's trajectory. So I don't know whether or not people pick that up. I think subconsciously they do, because as Western nations, we think left to right going forward. So I think that's helpful. But it is. It's pretty stunning to see. And like you said, their wedding footage behind them is a moment that grounds us in reality that's kind of psychotic. Like, when it happens, you're just like, wait a minute. Yeah, this is. This is them.
- [17:44]
Dale Melanchol
And last night, some patrons were like, did y'all like, stage a wedding? Like, what is going on?
- [17:50]
Liz Mueller
We blew the entire budget on an entire wedding.
- [17:54]
Matt Tammanini
Yeah, I love that. Well, I'll wrap up. I'm Gonna ask all three of you a different version of this question. And I'll go. Since we were talking about moving from one direction to the other, I'll start with Dale going left to right here. Dale, as you are either on stage or backstage or whatever's happening during the show, what's the moment that Alex is performing that you're like, oh, this is it. This is what I'm here to see and what you hope the audience really focuses in on and pays attention to?
- [18:25]
Dale Melanchol
Oh, my God, that's such a great question. I feel like there's so many moments this show. We've talked so much about Alex's dream of playing Kathy for so long, and I think the entire show has so much significance to her. But there's something about summer in Ohio that is so, like, performative in a way. And I think Alex is such a powerhouse performer, and I think that is really the moment. It's early enough in the show too, where, like, the audience really isn't sure if they are on a side yet. And I think, like, that she just absolutely brings the house down. And like everyone, you know, because her story is going in reverse. And so there's moments of like, true sadness and true emotion, which Alex is a brilliant actress. And I think to start in those emotions can be a bit heavy. And so when she has the opportunity to show that next side of her, that other side of her, that's, I think when everyone wakes up and sees her and I mean, we've. Liz has her standing on a piano and fucking singing.
- [19:34]
Liz Mueller
Oh, excuse me, singing the fine singing.
- [19:39]
Dale Melanchol
The end of it. And it's just everyone is. You can feel it in the theater that every pair of eyes in the building is on her. And that just brings me, like, so much joy. It's so wonderful in that moment.
- [19:54]
Matt Tammanini
All right, Alex, same question, but about Dale.
- [19:57]
Alex Levesque
It's funny because Jamie gets to start off so likable. I mean, his first few songs are. Are. They're upbeat. Liz has Dale, like, dancing around, like, very kind of like song and dance, man. He's bringing the audience in. So he is just constantly moving, really, like. And storytelling, obviously he's a writer, like. But my. The moment for me is actually at the end and it's. Nobody needs to know. And Dale just. It's very simple. It's like the first time in the show that Jamie is just still. And that is one. It's also one of my favorite songs in the show. Just musically, I think it's so heart wrenching and so beautiful because he really goes into the demise of the relationship in that song. You really understand kind of where it went wrong and in his story. And that moment for me, just. Just Dale simply existing and singing to me is one that I really enjoy. There's actually. I'm off stage and there's this little hole in the curtain off. And I watch him through the pinpoint. It's actually like the perfect height for me too. I was like, did someone create this hole so that I can look? I'm peeking through the hole in the curtain and just watching Dale, and it's just so beautiful. And I. I mean, his voice is incredible. And it's just. That is the moment for me each night so far that we've run, that I am. I'm just so grateful that I get to do this with him. And that's. That's, for me, one of his shining moments in the show and one that really has impacted me deeply.
- [21:38]
Matt Tammanini
Well, Liz, I'll ask a little bit of a different. In a different way, because you're not married to either of these people, either on stage or off, but when you watch them either individually or together, what's the moment when you're like, that's what I was hoping to get out of not only doing any production of the last five years, but doing the last five years with Dale and Alex.
- [22:02]
Liz Mueller
In the show. For me, they are both incredible. And these upbeat, wonderful movement, song and dance, blow the house out of the water type of numbers set up. What I like about theater, which is ripping people's hearts out and just stomping them all over the floor. So when we get to Goodbye, which in some ways is my favorite song because it's such a bop, this is another point. It's kind of the only other point where they're both existing together, but not in the same timeline. So Dale is in this at the end and Jamie is at his wit's end and leaving and literally out of her life. And she is just taking that first step into his. And with the two of them on stage, he is devastated, and she is looking at him like it is a beautiful Sunday morning through sunshine. And I find it to be one of the saddest moments in the show because she is so excited and he just walks away from her. And I think if he didn't look at her with this desperation and loss and this real life attachment, her absolutely glowing about him wouldn't even matter. And the two of them play this so effectively that I just can't. I mean, obviously actors are brilliant And I love you all actors. You're amazing. But a real life couple just has a different color attached to them and theirs is really bright.
- [23:26]
Dale Melanchol
Thank you, Liz.
- [23:27]
Matt Tammanini
I love that. Well, you guys are playing through the 13th, correct, so we will of course have information on where people can get tickets. Anything else? Alex, you got something else?
- [23:38]
Alex Levesque
I would love to add one more thing because I really want to plug this theater and actually talk about the power of community theater for a second because this is something that over the last six months of my life has really made an impact on me, not only as a performer, but as a person. We are doing the show at Center Stage Shelton, which is a community theater. This is the first ever professional production this theater has ever done. I feel so lucky to be a part of it because community theater is really the powerhouse of theatrical magic across this country, for sure. I know that community theater exists in its own way around the world, but I really want to highlight and ask anyone that might be listening to this to go and support your local theater. There is true and utter magic happening at these theaters. And community theater is the reason that I'm standing here today because I grew up in my own community theater and I really just wanted to really plug and empower anyone that's living in a community to go find your local theater, go and buy tickets, go and support your local art. Because, yes, Broadway is amazing. Yes, we are so lucky to live in New York at this, like, epicenter of theater and of entertainment. But the experience that we are having here in Shelton, Connecticut cannot be repeated or cannot be rivaled. I mean, rival. This has been really, really special. And I. And I just really wanted to say that and just plug, plug community theater and this theater in particular. I'm so grateful that we're here and just urge people to continue to support their local theaters.
- [25:31]
Matt Tammanini
Well, I adore you both. And Liz, I'm wonderful to meet you. If you officiated their wedding, you must be as equally wonderful. So have a wonderful run and I hope everyone makes it out to Shelton to see the show.
- [25:44]
Alex Levesque
Thanks, Matt.
- [25:45]
Dale Melanchol
Thank you, Matt.