Category: Uncategorized

Tick, Tick… Boom! Jonathan Larson’s Legacy

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , Leave a comment

“The sound you are hearing is not a technical problem. It is not a musical cue. It is not a joke. It is the sound of one man’s mounting anxiety. I… am that man.” Jon’s introduction in the musical Tick Tick Boom is certainly one that plays over and over in my head, as the clock never stops ticking away the older I get. That anxiety about time slipping away and the fear that we will be old and gray before we’ve accomplished anything great is all too common, and Jonathan Larson captures it so perfectly with such raw emotions in his show.

When I first heard the news that Larson’s musical was going to be adapted into a film for Netflix, my heart skipped a beat and my love for Tick Tick Boom resurfaced in an overwhelming way. His other and much more popular musical Rent has been a long time favorite of mine, but there’s something about the intimacy and relatability of his first show. Written as a semi-autobiographical musical and even using his own name for the main character, the show is really Larson’s personal story about living as a starving artist in New York City. His anxieties about turning 30, and still having gained little to no recognition for his music, are at the forefront of every song and interaction. As Jon decides to stick it out and continue his music career, he gives up important things along the way such as marriage and having a family with his girlfriend, and living a life of luxury and riches like his best friend.

The fact that so many are unfamiliar with Larson’s story is disappointing, as I find him to be one of the most inspirational people to ever have been born. His work reflected important issues of the time such as Aids, LGBTQ+ representation, addiction and more. He lived his life with a fierce love that showed so much in his music and shows, and will forever be carried through generations. He refused to give up on his dreams, even though the ticking sound was so prominent in the back of his mind, only getting louder and louder with age. On the morning of January 25th 1996, Jonathan Larson passed away unexpectedly before the very first preview of Rent. While extremely tragic, he still was able to accomplish his lifelong dream of writing the next great American musical, as well as gaining wide recognition for his music. The incredible amount of love and the feeling of never being alone translate from his shows to their audience with ease, in a way no other composer has done before.

In today’s day and age, especially with a pandemic that only seemed to accelerate time, this impending doom of getting older is so real. When listening to Larson’s music, it is clear he felt the same way living throughout the rise of the AIDs pandemic. His messages of “no day but today” and living life to the fullest extent because you never know what’s coming, carry over today in a world that’s totally unsure of what’s coming next. Jon kept pushing through no matter how loud or prominent the ticking sound became, and took proper care of himself through therapy and surrounding himself with love. He never let anything hold him back, as he sings in the show: “Cages or wings, which do you prefer? Ask the birds”.

Newly Announced Dear Evan Hansen Film

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , 2 Comments

“Lift your head and look around, you will be found.” Another exciting thing to be found, in the world of both theatre and movies, is the newly announced Dear Evan Hansen film adaptation! The film will be based upon the hit Broadway musical of the same title, and is being produced by Marc Platt and Adam Siegal for Universal Pictures. 

The musical centers around a teenage boy named Evan Hansen, who struggles with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. When a classmate of his takes his own life and Evan is wrongly suspected of being his friend, he goes along with the story to gain a sense of being seen by others that he hadn’t felt before. This show has gone on to win six Tony awards, including best leading actor in a musical and best original musical, and has stolen the hearts of many theatre lovers and fans. 

Almost every lead character has been casted and announced, and it looks to be filled to the brim with familiar faces. Oscar award winner Julianne Moore will be playing the part of Evan’s mother Heidi, which will be her first time ever appearing in a singing role. Amy Adams has been announced to play Cynthia Murphy, mother of Connor and Zoe. Adams has had experience in a musical environment, as she had singing roles in both Enchanted (2007) and The Muppets (2011). As for the younger roles in the movie, Kaitlyn Dever is heavily rumored to be playing Evan’s love interest Zoe Murphy. She recently starred in the movie Booksmart (2019), and has previously written and performed songs before. The Hate U Give’s Amandla Stenberg is going to be playing optimistic and outgoing Alana, and Atypical’s Nik Dodani will play Evan’s family friend Jared. Lastly, Colton Ryan, who understudied the roles of Evan, Connor and Jared in the Broadway show, will be playing Connor; the struggling student who takes his life. 

Some more news regarding the film is the rumors that Ben Platt, who originated the role of Evan Hansen on Broadway, will return to play him in the movie. This has not yet been confirmed, but Platt himself has discussed his eagerness to place himself, yet again, in Evan’s shoes. Another exciting bit of information is that a collaboration will be made with the musicals composers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, to create a brand new song for the movie. It will be sung by the character Alana (Amandla Stenberg). 

As far as the public’s reactions to the announcements regarding the film, there have been a few worries. The most common being skepticism about Ben Platt’s ability to pull off playing a young teenager, as he himself looks much older, and the lack of Broadway performers in the cast. In my own opinion; I am just absolutely thrilled that they’ve decided to bring this show to the big screen. Platt has pulled off playing a teenager before, both on stage and in his tv show The Politician, so if he is for sure cast I think the directors will find a way to make it work. As for the lack of original Broadway cast members, this has always been something that troubles me with movie musicals. The original production of Dear Evan Hansen is filled with such talented actors and musicians, but I understand the need for big named actors/actresses. Especially in a musical film that not many people outside of theatre enthusiasts might be interested in seeing. All we can hope for is that popular actresses, such as Amy Adams and Julianne Moore, will draw more crowds for the film and that many people will go see it. The themes present in the musical of overcoming mental illness and opening up/talking about your feelings with other people in your life are so important. 

Anytime a movie interpretation of a musical is announced, there is cause for excitement! I am all for musicals getting more mainstream attention, and people who wouldn’t normally go see a live show getting exposure to it from the movie. Dear Evan Hansen the movie might not be getting a theatrical release for another year or two, but I couldn’t be more thrilled! 

Men who inspired Netflix show “Narcos” talk Pablo Escobar and other DEA duties

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

“If you let fear control your life, then you cannot think straight”, said former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Steve Murphy. This is something that he and his partner Javier Pena had to keep in mind constantly while on the job. 

On Oct. 17 2017 in Plachta Auditorium, Murphy and Pena, the DEA agents portrayed on the Netflix series “Narcos,” discussed what it was like tracking down and killing narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar. During their lecture, they showed never before seen photographs from the site where Escobar was shot, and other graphic pictures of some of the men that he tortured and killed. The event was presented by Central Michigan University’s Program Board. 

In an interview with Central Michigan Life, Murphy and Pena talked about what it’s like having a television series based on their lives and how excited they are about the Netflix show.

“When you see them on TV, it’s not like watching yourself at all,” Murphy said about actors Pedro Pascal and Boyd Holbrook who portray him and Pena on “Narcos.” Although many of the events that take place on the show involving their characters did not actually happen, Murphy proclaimed that much of the story is fairly accurate. 

Murphy said they spent lots of time getting to know the actors and have become good friends with them. Attending the season two premiere in Hollywood made them feel important with all the limos and celebrities, he said. He also said the actors had to go through extensive training for this series. They went through multiple DEA training courses and even learned how to work undercover.

Murphy and Pena also discussed what it was like being DEA agents. 

“It’s not as glamorous as everyone thinks. However, once you finish the investigation and put the cuffs on the bad guy, that’s the reward,” Pena said. 

He also said on Narcos and on TV in general, the life of a DEA agent seems idealized with all the fancy cars, women and money. In real life, there is lots of paperwork, surveillance, and is extremely life consuming as they must work weekends and holidays. Murphy said it is more of a lifestyle than a job, but to him, it is the best job in the world. 

The two DEA agents have had many close brushes with death. Pena said he had a gun held to his head and wished the entire time that he could yell, “time out, I’m an actor!” and walk off like they were just actors on a movie set. 

Murphy watched his partner get shot and killed right in front of him during a shootout in Miami, which he said was his scariest experience on the job. Murphy also said many assume their most frightening experience was in Colombia and taking down Escobar, but it was really more exciting for them. 

Pena and Murphy started out doing lectures just for police groups, but soon after the popularity of “Narcos,” they began receiving many requests to come speak at colleges. Pena said that the main thing they want to tell students is the truth, because there are so many lies about Pablo Escobar and they want to make clear that he was an evil man and a terrorist who killed thousands of innocent people. 

“We want students to know that this really happened,” Murphy said. “Escobar was the first narco-terrorist and the world’s most wanted criminal.”. 

Many look at Escobar and think his lifestyle is cool, he said, but it’s not. He had over $30 billion  and was one of the richest men on the planet. “In the end, it all meant nothing and his only legacy should be that he was a criminal and a murderer”, Murphy said.