Tick, Tick... Boom! - What We Know So Far
2021 seems to have become the year for Broadway. After the famous theater district of New York City announced it will reopen its doors in September, people are literally singing their excitement. Among the most enthused is "Hamilton" creator Lin Manuel Miranda, who sang a musical parody of his hit show tune "You'll Be Back" on "The Tonight Show." The song was part of an opening sketch, where Miranda performed alongside Jimmy Fallon and several guest stars to pay homage to some of Broadway's biggest hits. Of course, Miranda was also there to promote the theatrical debut of "In the Heights," which hit theaters and HBO Max on June 10.
"In the Heights" was adapted from the 2007 stage musical with songs written by Miranda. The actor and songwriter plays a supporting role in the film, but stepped aside to allow Jon M. Chu to direct. However, fans may be happy to learn that Miranda will be making his directorial debut in the upcoming film, "Tick, Tick... Boom!", a Netflix feature film based on the autobiographical show by Jonathan Larson. Larson is best known for writing the 1996 Broadway hit, "Rent," which received a film adaptation in 2005 and was directed by Chris Columbus.
For musical fans who are psyched to see this lesser-known Larson work, here is everything we know so far about "Tick, Tick... Boom!"
When is the release date for Tick, Tick... Boom!?
Fans were only able to get a brief glimpse at "Tick, Tick... Boom!" back in January, when Netflix posted a sneak peek for their 2021 film lineup. At about 35 seconds into the video, Lin Manuel Miranda voices his excitement over directing his first movie, repeating the exact words uttered only seconds before by actor Halle Berry. A playful game of "jinx" ensues in a side-by-side shot of the two performers, with Miranda following up with, "Oh my god, Halle Berry owes me a Coke!"
On Thursday, June 10, Netflix finally released a full trailer for the musical drama. It begins with a narrator speaking over an incessant ticking noise, as the ticking gets faster and the tension builds. There are clips featuring scenic views of New York City, and a young man working diligently as music notes fly across a page. The trailer does a great job of piquing viewers' curiosity — and the familiar big names that flash across the screen don't hurt, either. One of the final shots of the trailer announces a release date for the fall of 2021, although an exact date is currently unknown.
Who is in the cast of Tick, Tick... Boom!?
Jonathan Larson originally intended for "Tick, Tick, Boom!" to be a one-man show, but that changed when the songwriter unexpectedly died in 1996. The show was revised by playwright David Auburn, who turned the show into a three-act production and added more members to the cast. The idea of making a single character musical into a movie is a bit of an odd notion, so it's probably best that Auburn made some changes.
Andrew Garfield stars in the film as Jon, the hero of the piece, whom writer Larson also based on himself. The "Amazing Spider-Man" actor will be singing for the first time on screen, and viewers can get a hint of Garfield's vocal talent in the opening of the Netflix trailer. The role of Karessa, a friend of Jon's, is played by "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens, and Alexandra Shipp plays Susan, Jon's girlfriend. The film also features actors Robin de Jesus as Michael, Judith Light as Rosa Stevens, and Bradley Whitford as legendary Broadway songwriter, Stephen Sondheim.
What is Tick, Tick... Boom! about?
As previously stated, "Tick, Tick... Boom!" is a semi-autobiographical musical based on the life of Jonathan Larson. The main character, Jon, is an aspiring composer trying to break into the musical theater scene while living hand-to-mouth in 1990s New York City. Jon's most recent project is a stage production titled "Superbia," and all of his hopes are riding on the show's success. He plans to workshop the piece in an upcoming event in front of friends, family, and potential producers.
The looming arrival of Jon's 30th birthday adds to his anxiety, as does the persistent pressures from his girlfriend, Susan, and his friend, Michael. Michael wants Jon to come and work with him at his marketing firm, using his own wealth and success to try and entice Jon away from his bohemian lifestyle. Meanwhile, Susan wants Jon to put aside his dreams of theater and settle down and start a family with her. Torn between following his dream and living a life that has more certainty, Jon feels as though his life is a ticking time bomb and the seconds are ominously counting down.
While "Tick, Tick... Boom!" is technically considered a work of fiction, it gives audiences a look into composer Jonathan Larson's own life. Larson died at the age of 35 from an aortic dissection, shortly before his hit musical, "Rent," was to debut on stage. He would go on to win posthumous Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for "Rent." With musical connoisseur Lin Manuel Miranda as the film's director, fans can expect that the upcoming adaptation will be a love letter to the celebrated composer.