An Intimate Evening of Story and Song with Jason Robert Brown

On February 19th, Peak Performances produced An Evening with Jason Robert Brown: Featuring Ashley Perez Flanagan and Nasia Thomas, a compelling and deeply personal concert. True to Peak Performances’ mission to develop, produce, and present world-class, accessible, and engaging live performances, the evening offered more than a concert. It created space for connection, reflection, and shared experience through music.

The center of the night was Jason Robert Brown, one of today’s most celebrated musical theater artists. An ultimate multi-hyphenate – composer, lyricist, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, director and performer – Brown is best known for his dazzling and emotionally resonant scores for some of the most renowned musicals of our time, including The Last Five Years, Songs for a New World, and Parade.

Performing as a solist and alongside his band: Hidayat Honari (guitar), Sam Minaie (bass), Jamie Eblan (drums), and Alison Shearer (woodwinds), Brown guided the audience through an intimate musical journey. Between songs, he shared candid insights into his creative process, the stories behind the music, and moments from his career, creating a conversational atmosphere that made the evening feel personal and inviting.

Selections from The Last Five Years, including “Shiksa Goddess” and “I Can Do Better Than That,” were met with enthusiastic applause, while “Mary Mallon,” a haunting, self-proclaimed murder ballad written during isolation in Brown’s New York City apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic, offered a stark and reflective contrast. The program also included “Shed Shack” from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, songs from The Connector and Parade, and original works, showcasing the breadth and evolution of his artistry.

The evening featured powerful performances by vocalists Ashley Perez Flanagan and Nasia Thomas, both Broadway performers whose voices brought depth, nuance, and clarity to Brown’s songs. Brown’s warmth, quick wit, and natural rapport with the audience were evident throughout the night. At moments, the crowd clapped and sang along; at others there was a shared stillness.

Brown had a solo debut at Carnegie Hall in 2024 and a sold-out appearance at the London Palladium with Cynthia Erivo, and brought the same caliber of artistry to this intimate setting. At the end, it was clear that this was a shared experience that reminded the audience why live music, storytelling, and human connection matter now more than ever.

Story by Web and Digital Media Manager Alexandra Thelin Blackowski