Tag: Musical

Tick, Tick… Boom! Jonathan Larson’s Legacy

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“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

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“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! 

Hamilton: An American Musical in Detroit, Michigan

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Bryson Bruce and the company of “Hamilton: An American Musical” at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit (Joan Marcus, theoaklandpress.com)

I had extremely high expectations for the evening of March 30th; a date I had been looking forward to ever since I was fortunate enough to score tickets back in January. As a longtime lover of all things musical theatre and certified “theatre kid”, of course I was obsessed with Hamilton. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of musicals, I’d be shocked if you told me you had never heard of this show before or the infamous crazed ticket obtaining process that follows it.

After making its New York debut in 2015, Hamilton has completely changed the theatre game with its modern take on one of the most beloved stories of U.S. history, incredibly witty hip-hop score, and show-stopping choreography. Written by Broadway legend Lin Manuel-Miranda, it has entranced audiences across the country in Chicago, L.A., and now in my hometown of Detroit at the Fisher Theatre.

I can officially say that my high expectations for this performance were met; thanks to an amazing cast, beautiful set, and overall phenomenal production. Due to the fact that I had been listening to the original cast recording on repeat for the past three years, I was concerned that these actors would not compare to those who had come before them. Tony award winners such as Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, and Daveed Diggs as Lafayette/Jefferson were just a few of the original cast who truly did “amaze and astonish”. I was forced to put my comparisons on hold, as I knew nobody would truly live up to the original cast and I was in for a disappointment if I viewed this production in that way. I can safely say that everyone in the Detroit cast did a great job, but there were a few that went above and beyond my expectations, proving to be just as great as the original cast.

I would first and foremost like to give an incredible round of applause for the young man who played Hamilton; Edred Utomi. He brought something new and fresh to this character, and in no way attempted to copy Miranda’s portrayal. His acting was strong, especially in the song “Hurricane” where he truly convinced audiences of Hamilton’s confidence in his ability to “write himself” out of any situation. Another standout was Charnette Batey in the role of Angelica Schuyler. Batey gave a powerhouse performance, absolutely bringing the roof down with the rather difficult to perform song “Satisfied”. My heart broke for her character, as she displayed a wide range of emotions perfectly from love for Hamilton, to love for her sister, to heartbreak, and finally to accepting the fact that she will never find satisfaction in her life. The final actor in this performance who deserves recognition is definitely Bryson Bruce’s Lafayette/Jefferson. Playing two characters in the same show must be difficult enough; add the record breaking quick verses that he raps in “Guns and Ships”, and you’ve got a recipe for an incredibly hard role to perform. In my opinion, Bruce’s performance was on par with original cast member Daveed Diggs. Not only did he execute his verses flawlessly, but he brought so much fun and hilarity to the character of Thomas Jefferson that I found myself cracking a smile every time he entered the stage.

Hamilton is a musical theatre phenomenon that, much like Alexander himself, will go down in history. Never before has there been a show like this one, and with such rave reviews for the original production, it can be nerve-wracking for another venue and cast to try and re-create it. Fortunately, the cast of Hamilton in Detroit got it right and did the original show justice. They brought an original and modern take to this greatly beloved show that is not only incredibly successful, but an entertaining ride from start to finish. I am so thrilled that I was finally able to be in “The Room Where it Happens”.