Tick, tick... BOOM! (theatre)

• Main
• YMMV
• Wikipedia
• All Subpages
• Create New

Fear or love, baby, don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words —"Louder Than Words"

tick, tick... BOOM! is a musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. The work was partly autobiographical, although it was not produced until after Larson's death in 1996. The show is also partily a tribute to Larson's idol, Stephen Sondheim, with its plot driven similarly to Company. One song, "Sunday", is an update of a song of the same name from Sunday in The Park With George.

The show's main character is Jon, a struggling composer about to celebrate his 30th birthday. His best friend Michael, a successful businessman, encourages Jon to pursue a more stable, better-paying career. Jon's girlfriend Susan, a dancer working as a ballet instructor, is ready to settle down and start a family. In the middle of trying to get his own musical produced, Jon has to decide what he really wants to do with his life.

Not to be confused with the 2007 song of the same name by The Hives.

---

Tropes used in Tick, tick... BOOM! (theatre) include:

• Cut Song: "Boho Days"
• Homage: The show is a giant one to Stephen Sondheim.
• "I Am" Song / "I Want" Song: "Why", which comes very late in the story.
• "I Want" Song: "Johnny Can't Decide"
• Reclusive Artist: Jon
• Shout-Out: to West Side Story and Mary Poppins in "Why"
• Show Within a Show: Jon's musical, SUPERBIA
• Tear Jerker: "Why". If you aren't crying from the beginning, when Jonathan finds out Michael has AIDS, you'll be crying by the end of the song.
  • Jonathan finally playing "Happy Birthday" at the end.