TICK TICK BOOM! Opens In Manila 8/5

Blue Repertory, Ateneo de Manila’s campus-based musical theater organization, celebrates its 18^th anniversary with the staging of Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical work “tick…tick…BOOM!” running from August 5 to 15, 2009 at the Rizal Mini Theater. 

“tick…tick…BOOM!” tells Larson’s life story prior to his untimely death in 1996, and the unprecedented critical and box office success of his rock musical “Rent.” Larson, who had the legendary Stephen Sondheim as his mentor, chose to work as a waiter for about ten years at the Moondance diner during weekends while he kept himself busy composing and writing musicals during weekdays. 

“tick…tick…BOOM!’ was completed out of Larson’s frustration over his own work “Superbia.” Despite performances at Playwright Horizons, and a rock concert version produced by Larson’s close friend Victoria Leacock at the Village Gate on September 1989, Broadway producers did not gamble with it. 

Similar to Larson’s artistic struggles, “tick…tick…BOOM!" follows Jon, a young composer on the brink of turning 30, and falling into oblivion. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city, and his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue. Yet, Jon is waiting on tables, and trying to write the next great American musical.

Featuring 14 songs, 10 characters, three actors, and a band, “tick...tick... BOOM!” takes you on Larson’s journey that led to one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals “Rent.” Set in 1990, the musical is filled with appealing melodies, and a unique blend of pop and musical theater.  

The show also has apparent musical homage to Sondheim’s award-winning musicals “Company” and “Sunday in the Park with George.”  Larson even wrote a number entitled “Sunday,” a similar title to “Sunday in the Park with George’s” Act One finale.  This time around, his main character Jon the waiter sings about, belittles, and arranges diner patrons in an artistic rendering that parodies the staging in the Sondheim classic. 

“tick…tick…BOOM!” opened on Off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theater on May 23, 2001 under the direction of Scott Schwartz.  Cast included Raul Esparza as Jon, Jerry Dixon as Michael, and Amy Spanger as Susan.  The production received seven Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Musical, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway musical.  Esparza won an Obie Award for his performance.

The musical has since been performed in London, California, Toronto, and in Manila (Atlantis Productions), among others.  

Onboard Blue Repertory’s production of “tick…tick…BOOM!” are Bea Garcia as director ("Bare," "Hairspray," "Mulan"), Pauline Gaerlan as musical director ("All Shook Up," "Bare," "Summer of '42"), and Jio Javier as assistant director/choreographer ("Stages of Love," "High School Musical On Stage") with set design by Martin Malabanan, and light design is by Miyo Sta. Maria.

For tickets, call Meryll Aquino at 639062872094.

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