Tick, Tick... BOOM!
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Tick, Tick... BOOM! is a musical written by Jonathan Larson concerning a starving artist, Jon, in New York City, who is worried he has made the wrong career choice to be part of the performing arts. His friend Michael, who has abandoned his dreams of the theater, is now becoming a successful businessman, and his work is beginning to interfere with his relationship with his girlfriend, Susan. The story is considered to be autobiographical, as stated by Larson's father in the liner notes of the cast recording. It was originally produced Off-Off-Broadway as a rock monologue, a new form of theatre for the time. Larson's later work includes the musical Rent.
A significant result of the original run of the show, when Larson still performed the show himself, was that it attracted the attention of a young producer named Jeffrey Seller, who became a fan of Larson's work after seeing it and connecting with it personally. Although he never felt he could sell Tick, Tick...BOOM!, his interest in Larson would continue into 1995 when he saw the NYTW production of Rent and convinced his fellow producers to bring it to Broadway.
Original Off-Broadway Production
The musical was produced off-Broadway in 2001 with a number of changes. First, it was changed from a one-character play to a three-character play; the actor playing Jon plays that role 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. This production had a cast recording produced and is licensed for production by Music Theatre International.
The cast was as follows:
- Raúl Esparza as Jon (Original)
- Joey McIntyre as Jon in 2001 - 2002
- Jerry Dixon as Michael (Original)
- Amy Spanger as Susan (Original)
- Molly Ringwald as Susan in 2001
Directed by Scott Schwartz.
Original London Production
It was produced in London in June 2005 at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
The cast was as follows:
- Neil Patrick Harris as Jon (Christian Campbell from July)
- Tee Jaye as Michael
- Cassidy Janson as Susan
Directed by Scott Schwarz.
Musical numbers
- 30/90
- Green Green Dress
- Johnny Can't Decide
- Sunday
- No More
- Therapy
- Real Life
- Sugar
- See Her Smile
- Come to Your Senses
- Why
- Louder Than Words
- Boho Days
- 30/90 Playout
Songs include "30/90", the pop opening to the musical, "Green Green Dress", a rollicking piano boogie, and "Sunday", originally a Stephen Sondheim song with modified lyrics for the musical. On the cast recording, one of the few recordings of Larson's voice is found in "Boho Days", extracted from a demo tape recorded by Larson during the development of Tick, Tick... BOOM!