For Jason Robert Brown, such a moment came when he was deep underground.

WSJ: Songwriter Jason Robert Brown revisits tough times

Jason Robert Brown, the Tony-nominated songwriter of shows such as "Parade" and "The Last Five Years, " says songwriters not familiar with ceding control over their work may find the theater confusing.

WSJ: Pop songwriters find excitement in stage musicals

That's the question composer Jason Robert Brown explores in "The Last Five Years, " which opened Tuesday in a poignant revival at the Second Stage Theatre, a decade after its first off-Broadway run.

WSJ: Review: 'Last Five Years' gets a poignant revival