Tick, Tick... Boom!

Tick, Tick... Boom!
Music	Jonathan Larson
Lyrics	Jonathan Larson
Book	Jonathan Larson
Basis	Autobiographical
Productions	2001 Off-Broadway 2005 London 2009 West End

Tick, Tick... Boom! (styled as tick, tick... BOOM!) is a musical written by American composer Jonathan Larson (who won a Pulitzer and a Tony for his musical Rent). Tick Tick Boom tells the story of an aspiring composer named Jon, who lives in New York City in 1990. Jon is worried he has made the wrong career choice to be part of the performing arts. The story is autobiographical, as stated by Larson's father in the liner notes of the cast recording – Larson had been trying to establish himself in theatre since the early 1980s.

The show bears some similarities to Company, written by Larson's idol Stephen Sondheim. For example, in Company, Robert 'celebrates' his 35th birthday much in the way Jon celebrates his 30th, with both shows ending with the blowing out of candles and the cast singing "Happy Birthday to You". Larson began to perform the piece as a solo work in 1990. After his death in 1996, it was produced as a three-actor piece off-Broadway in 2001 and was given a London production in 2005 and several other productions.

Contents 1 History 2 Productions 3 Synopsis 4 Musical numbers 4.1 Notes on the score 5 References 6 External links

History

Tick, Tick... Boom! was originally produced Off-Off-Broadway in September 1990 at the Second Stage Theatre and New York Theatre Workshop and The Village Gate (November 1991).^[1] Larson performed the show as a "rock monologue," a new form of theatre for the time. After Larson's death in 1996, producer Victoria Leacock asked David Auburn (author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof) to reconfigure the piece. He restructured the monologue into a three actor musical.^[2] One actor plays Jon throughout the show, but the actors playing Michael and Susan are responsible for all the other roles in the show. Also, the script and score were streamlined and edited.

A significant result of the original production, when Larson performed the show as a solo piece, was that it attracted the attention of a young producer named Jeffrey Seller, who became a fan of Larson's work. In 1995, he saw the NYTW production of Larson's musical Rent and convinced his fellow producers to bring it to Broadway.

Productions

2001 Off-Broadway production

The musical opened off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theater on May 23, 2001 and closed on January 6, 2002. Directed by Scott Schwartz, with choreography by Christopher Gatelli, the cast featured Raúl Esparza as Jon, Jerry Dixon as Michael, and Amy Spanger as Susan. Molly Ringwald and Natascia Diaz replaced Amy Spanger as Susan and Joey McIntyre replaced Raúl Esparza as Jon.

The production received seven Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Musical, ^[3] and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical; Esparza won an Obie Award for his performance.

The Original cast recording was released in 2001 by RCA Victor Broadway (ASIN: B00005NQK5).

2003-2004 Pécs, Hungary
The Hungarian production opened on 23 July, 2003 on the open-air stage of Pécs, Hungary. (There was also a public rehearsal one day earlier.)
Director: Tamás Balikó (the director of the National Thatre of Pécs) Musical director/band leader: Zoltán Bókai (who has been also the musical director/band leader of Godspell in 2005, also in Pécs)
The cast: Attila Németh (who played himself the starting credits of 'Why' since he is a musician) as Jon, Lilla Polyák as Susan and István Fillár/Tamás Gregorovics as Michael. This version has been played only few times on open-air.

Starting the season, the whole production moved to the National Theatre of Pécs, where it opened on 4 November, 2003 with new cast members: Bernadett Tunyogi who replaced Lilla Polyák as Susan, and Attila Csengeri as Jon (they played the role with Attila Németh in turn).
[With the appearance of Attila Csengeri, the director has deleted the piano playing of Jon from that scene.] The production closed on 26 February, 2004.

2005 London production

tick, tick... BOOM! opened in London at the Menier Chocolate Factory on May 31, 2005, running until August 28, 2005. Again directed by Scott Schwartz, the cast featured Neil Patrick Harris as Jon (later replaced by Christian Campbell), Tee Jaye as Michael, and Cassidy Janson as Susan. ^[4]

2005-06 California production

A California production opened at the Rubicon Theatre Company Ventura, California November 19, 2005 through December 18, 2005. Scott Schwartz directed, with a cast including Andrew Samonsky as Jon, Wilson Cruz as Michael and Natascia Diaz as Susan. The production moved to the Coronet Theater, West Hollywood, California, through July 16, 2006. ^[5]

2005 Canadian production

A Toronto production was mounted by Acting Up Stage Theatre Company at the Poor Alex Theatre in 2005. The director was Mario D'Alimonte, with a cast featuring Dean Armstrong as Jon, Michael Dufays as Michael and Daphne Moens as Susan.

2007 Danish production

A Danish production played in 2007, starring Mads Æbeløe Nielsen as Jon, Thomas Bay Pedersen as Michael and Christina Elisabeth Mørkøre as Susan, and directed by Jens Frausing. A recording of the Danish production was released in 2007.

2008 Mexican production

Starring Natalia Sosa as Susan, Marco Anthonio as Jon and Beto Torres as Michael. This production opened at Teatro Rafael Solana, February 20, 2008.

2009 London production

tick, tick... BOOM! had its West End première in a limited engagement at the Duchess Theatre from 13 - 17 May, forming part of the 2009 Notes From New York season. Directed by Hannah Chissick, the cast comprised Paul Keating as Jon, Julie Atherton as Susan and Leon Lopez as Michael. ^[6]

2009 Westport, CT production

Starring Colin Hanlon as Jon, Wilson Cruz as Michael, and Pearl Sun as Susan. The Production is held at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut, which ran from June 23 through July 18. The director is Scott Schwartz, who helmed the original off-Broadway production of tick, tick... BOOM!

2009 Indianapolis, IN production

Starring Dane Rogers as Jon, Michael Davis as Michael, and Niki Hurrle-Warner, a founding member of Indyprov, as Susan. The production has been held at the Ben Davis Performing Arts Center and the Indiana Historical Society. The director and producer is Don Drennen.^[7][8]

2010 San Antonio, TX production

"tick, tick...BOOM!" is currently playing at the Woodlawn Theatre in San Antonio, TX. This production opens January 8, 2010.

Synopsis

Over a persistent ticking sound, Jon introduces himself: “The sound you are hearing is not a technical problem. It is not a musical cue. It is not a joke. It is the sound of one man's mounting anxiety. I... am that man.” Jon is an aspiring composer for musical theatre, who lives in SoHo, New York. He is nearing his thirtieth birthday and worries about his aging and lack of achievement (“30/90”). Michael, a friend of Jon’s since childhood, gave up acting to pursue a more lucrative career as a research executive. Susan, Jon's girlfriend, is a dancer who teaches ballet to “wealthy and untalented children.”

Susan and Jon discuss the upcoming 30th birthday party that she is throwing for him. She pressures him to play “Happy Birthday to You” to himself on the piano at the party, but he is hesitant because it reminds him of the aging aspect of birthdays. Michael wants to schedule a job interview for Jon with Michael’s firm. Again, Jon is hesitant, but agrees to think it over. Later, on the roof of his apartment building, Jon reveals that he is also nervous about an upcoming workshop of his newest musical, SUPERBIA. Susan comes to join him; he comments on her dress and how beautiful it makes her look (“Green Green Dress”).

The next morning, Jon is awake early. Susan asks him about the possibility of leaving New York. Susan wants to raise a family and doesn’t view that as compatible with Jon’s “starving artist” lifestyle. Jon is torn between following his dream of composing and opting for security and family in a different career. Meanwhile, the other two main characters recap their views on what Jon should do (“Johnny Can’t Decide”). Jon’s reverie, however, is cut short; he needs to report to his day job as a waiter in a SoHo diner (“Sunday”).

After work, Michael picks Jon up in his brand new BMW to show Jon his new apartment. Michael exults at the thought of a life of luxury (“No More”), and pressures Jon further to consider changing his career path. Frustrated, Jon finally agrees to accompany Michael to work the next day and visit a brainstorming session at his firm. Back at home, Jon phones his parents and then his agent. He plans to spend the remainder of the evening composing, but he is interrupted by a call from Susan, who wants to see him. They argue, albeit in a passive and psychological manner that scarcely seems like an argument at all (“Therapy”).

On Monday morning, Jon walks to Michael’s office for his brainstorming session. On the way, Jon thinks back to a workshop in which his work was reviewed by a composer “so legendary his name may not be uttered aloud…” (“St----- S-------”). He also worries about his musical style and its place on Broadway, but has little time to develop this train of thought before he arrives at Michael’s firm. The brainstorming session involves naming a cooking fat substitute through a convoluted “idea-generating” process. Jon sees the futility of the process, and his unwillingness to cooperate gets him removed from the meeting. Later, as Jon drives Michael to the airport for a business trip, they argue about the meeting. Michael tells Jon that the life Susan wants doesn’t sound bad, and that he wishes his job could give him the chance to settle down (“Real Life”).

After dropping Michael off, Jon goes to a rehearsal for SUPERBIA, but not before stopping to get a snack of Twinkies (“Sugar”). At the market, he spies Karessa Johnson, one of his actors for SUPERBIA. She reveals a similar weakness for Twinkies, and this leads to a sudden friendship between the two. After the rehearsal, Susan sees Jon and Karessa walking together and becomes jealous. She informs Jon that she’s gotten a job in Northampton, Massachusetts which may be permanent. Jon and Susan argue about the state of their relationship; in a turnaround from the events leading up to “Therapy,” Jon begs Susan to stay and be with him. Despite this, she leaves for home, and Jon thinks about what may have happened to make her behave this way (“See Her Smile”).

The next morning, Jon arrives early at the theatre for the workshop of SUPERBIA. Although initially the theatre is empty, soon it is filled with very important people: Jon’s family and friends, as well as Broadway producers and artists, including Jon’s idol, St----- S-------. Karessa steals the show with her performance of “Come to Your Senses”. The workshop is a success, and Jon gets many congratulations; but there are no offers to produce SUPERBIA on or off Broadway. Jon is no closer to being a professional composer, and so, in his eyes, the workshop has been a failure.

After the workshop, Jon visits Michael and tells him that he is through with music. For the first time, though, Michael tries to persuade him to stick with it. Michael says that while he enjoys how he makes a lot more money now than he did as a starving artist, he finds the job itself to be emotionally banal and unrewarding. The two argue, and Jon yells at Michael for not understanding fear or insecurity. Michael responds by telling Jon that he is HIV-positive. Shocked at this news, Jon leaves quickly.

Distressed and alone, Jon wanders until he finds himself in the abandoned theater inside Belvedere Castle. He finds an old rehearsal piano, and begins to play it while collecting his thoughts. Jon ponders on whether the amount of sacrifice required for his career in music is worth it, and whether those telling him to “have it all, play the game” are right (“Why”). Ultimately, he realizes that he will only be happy as a professional composer, no matter what hardships that may bring.

The next morning is Jon’s thirtieth birthday party (“30/90 Reprise”). He sees Susan, who is getting ready to leave. She gives him his birthday gift: a thousand sheets of blank manuscript paper. They agree to write to each other, and she leaves. Michael gives him a birthday gift of belts (Michael thinks belts are a sign of luxury). The phone rings, and the caller is Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim leaves Jon his contact information so they can meet and discuss SUPERBIA. Jon realizes that he is surrounded by friends and that his talents are finally being recognized. He says, “the tick tick booms are softer now. I can barely hear them, and I think if I play loud enough I can drown them out completely.” Jon sits down at his piano to play “Happy Birthday to You.”^[9][10]

Musical numbers

• 30/90 — Company
• Green Green Dress — Jon, Susan
• Johnny Can't Decide — Company
• Sunday — Company
• No More — Michael, Jon
• Therapy —Jon, Susan
• Times Square —
• Real Life — Company
• Sugar — Company
• See Her Smile — Company
• Superbia Intro —
• Come to Your Senses — Karessa
• Why — Jon
• 30/90 Reprise —
• Louder Than Words — Company

Notes on the score

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008)

"Sunday", Jon's song at the diner, is based heavily on the Act I Finale from the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George; Larson conceived it as a humorous homage to Sondheim, one of his largest influences. ^[11]

Another reference to Sondheim is present in the score of the song, "Why". Not only mentioning West Side Story in the lyrics, the song utilizes the same tritone made famous in the West Side song "Maria". On the cast recording there is an additional song cut from the final version of the show, "Boho Days". This track is one of the few recordings of Larson's voice publicly available. It was extracted from a demo tape recorded by Larson during the development of tick, tick... BOOM!^[12]

This musical's score never won any awards, but it is described as a life-changing score.

References

External links

• Lortel off-Broadway listing
• plot synopsis and other information at MTI Shows
• Curtain Up review, 6/22/01
• Raul Esparza - Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org, April 2005
• West London Production Myspace Page
• Jamie Wainwright "Jon", West London Production
• Acting Up Stage Theatre Company Show Page

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