I was 22 years old when I saw the first National Touring Company of Rent play the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. It was the March of 1998, and I was so excited to see it. I went with three of my older sisters (all of whom share a love for live theatre), and we sat in the balcony. As the house lights came up at intermission, a couple to the left of my family looked at each, and one of them said, “Well…it sure isn’t My Fair Lady.” No. No, it wasn't. It was something completely it's own. It was big. It was bold. It was inspiring. It honestly opened a door for me as to what musical theatre could be. It was Jonathan Larson.
Most anyone who knows the story of Rent knows that Jonathan Larson was taken from us way too soon. tick, tick...BOOM! is his pre-Rent story, adapted from his one-man show that he used to perform before Rent ever played the New York Theatre Workshop. I am so proud and, even if it sounds cheesy or cliché, honored to share his story.
While I didn't know him personally, every aspect of this production of tick, tick...BOOM! is inspired by the Jonathan Larson that I feel like I got to know through Rent. After seeing the first National Tour with my sisters, I went back that same week, by myself, and sat in the second row. It was, at the time, the most money I had ever spent on a ticket to a live performance. But I felt I just had to see it again. That production made a lasting impression on me, and 25 years later, you'll see it in our show. In the set design, when you see a table that is electric blue, you might remember (if you’re of a certain age) that it’s the same color as Mimi's leggings in "Out Tonight;" or you might notice a crate that is a bright green color that mirrors the color of Angel's top during "La Vie Boheme," or a video cassette holder in fuchsia, the same color of Pam's bikini top. You'll see it in the industrial feel of the set, created here out of milk crates; and in the lighting design, which helps to capture not only the period of 1989/1990, the time tick, tick BOOM! is set, but also to capture the rock star elements of the music that Jonathan Larson wrote, just like they did in Rent.
Jonathan Larson gave 110% to his work, and we’ve done our best to honor him by doing the same. I hope you enjoy every minute of tick, tick…BOOM!
Save the Date Alert