Culture Cabinet

The opening night of Theatre Raleigh’s Tick, Tick…Boom! felt like one of those special theater performances that you’ll think of for the rest of your life. Not only was it the first evening of Theatre Raleigh’s 2024 season, but Jonathan Larson’s friend Victoria Leacock was there to lend her blessing to the production. Leacock was his college girlfriend, long-time friend, and the producer of the early versions of the show, like 30/90 and Boho Days. She also produced the first off-Broadway production of Tick, Tick…Boom! in 2001, with Amy Spanger in the role of Susan.

Spanger returns to the material to direct the show, with Ian Fairlee as Jon, Ellie Barone as Susan, and Lawrence Dandridge as Michael. The production is a great use of Theatre Raleigh’s space, from the adaptable two-story set with a movable staircase to the way it allows Jon to speak directly to the audience. It captures the intimacy that people speak about in the show’s early days, when Larson himself was performing it.

Tick, Tick…Boom! is Larson’s autobiographical musical, penned before his big hit, RENT. It captures the struggles of an artist on the eve of turning 30 years old, living in New York City, and wondering when is the proper time to give up his dream of being a musical theater composer. The character of Jon is contrasted with his girlfriend Susan, a dancer who’s ready to settle down in New England, and his best friend Michael, who has sacrificed his acting career for a more profitable job in marketing but is dealing with his own problems.

It’s a brilliantly honest show, that is as poignant now as it was in the 1990s when it was first performed. Many creative people can relate to questioning whether it’s better to continue with your artistic dreams or choose a more practical, comfortable path. What’s refreshing is the way that it honors both paths, even while recognizing that Jon was destined for greatness.

The production, with its small cast, is very energetic, capturing the almost manic energy of Larson’s writing. Dandridge is particularly great at teasing out all of the humor, especially when portraying additional characters other than Michael. His chemistry with Fairlee brings poignancy to the scenes centered around Jon and Michael’s friendship.

All three actors have strong voices, but Barone really gets a chance to shine in songs like “Come to Your Senses” and “Therapy.” Fairlee’s greatest asset is his great rapport with the audience, as he takes on the momentous task of portraying a fictionalized version of Larson himself. He has a natural earnestness that makes it easy to believe in Larson’s journey.

In her opening speech, Leacock noted, “Jonathan’s in the house tonight.” And there were moments in which it felt to me he really was. While RENT might be considered his masterpiece, it’s in Tick, Tick…Boom! that his spirit lives on, forever preserved in song and verse.

As a massive fan of Lin Manuel Miranda’s 2021 film adaptation of Tick, Tick…Boom!, starring Andrew Garfield, it was wonderful to get to see the production in its more stripped-down form onstage. I wasn’t ready for how differently the show would affect me, as I near my own thirtieth birthday in September. I may not have Larson’s genius, but I do also hear the ticking of the clock and wonder, “Cages or wings, which do you prefer?”

Tick, Tick…Boom! is being performed at Theatre Raleigh through April 21. You can find tickets and more information on their website.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Roberson Photography