Opera House Prepares For a BOOM!

Christine Pfenninger as Susan
(LtoR)Jeff Cook as Michael and Rob Scharlow as Jon

(LtoR)Jeff Cook as Michael
Christine Pfenninger as Susan and Rob Scharlow as Jon

“Tick, Tick…BOOM! is a musical look at the courage it takes to follow your dreams. The show is Jonathan Larson's autobiographical tale of 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 (TICK,), his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue (TICK...), yet Jon is still waiting on tables and trying to write the great American musical (BOOM!). Containing fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors, and a band, Tick, Tick... BOOM! takes you on the playwright/composer's journey that led to the Broadway blockbuster, RENT. Set in 1990, this traditional book musical is filled with instantly appealing melodies, and a unique blend of pop and musical theatre styles. Everyone, regardless of age, will love this youthful, endearing, and thoughtful piece, and will surely embrace the universal ideal of holding onto your dreams through life's most difficult challenges.”

“Larson completed Tick, Tick…BOOM! in 1991, and at the time, the show was a ‘rock monologue’ entitled Boho Days, which was later expanded and renamed "30/90" and again to (as it is now known) Tick, Tick... BOOM!. This piece, written for only Larson with a piano and rock band, was intended to be a response to his feelings of rejection caused by the failure of his show Superbia. The show played off-Broadway at the Charles Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, as well as at the Village Gate in the Upper West Side.” After Larson’s unexpected death in January of 1996, the day of RENT’s, off-Broadway opening, friends and family redeveloped Tick, Tick…BOOM! over the years by creating the three character cast. From that point, the show became a hit and has toured across America and Europe for the past several years.

“Stunning! Deeply moving! A heartfelt celebration!” - Philip Brandes, Los Angeles Times
“This musical should be heard!” – Evan Henerson, LA Daily News
“All the right stuff!” - Julio Martinez, Variety
"... an enjoyable and heartfelt score... a VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE -- evidence of Larson's remarkable talent." -- Back Stage West

The show is directed by Mark Mahallak and Music Directed by Tom Steffens.
The cast includes
Rob Scharlow as Jon
Christine Pfenninger as Susan
Jeff Cook as Michael

Production Staff Includes:
Stage Manager: Trish Gonzales
Light Designer: Paul Bayer
Light Board Operator: Craig Kattner
Props: Karen Jorgensen
Set Designer(s): Mark Mahallak and Lou Czarny
Piano: Barb Klein

Learn more about Jonathan Larson and his works Here

Standing Front: Jeff Cook as Michael Top Platform: Rob Scharlow as Jon and Christine Pfenniger as Susan