By Alana Ferrone
Staff Reporter
On Thursday, Oct. 27 the members of Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program will be staging their first production of “Tick, Tick… Boom!” at 8 p.m. in the Little Theater.
“Tick, Tick… BOOM!,” is the musical autobiography of Tony Award Winner Jonathan Larson, the creator of the well-known Broadway musical, “Rent.”
With an intimate cast of only three actors, the story follows the life of Larson played by Sacred Heart junior Zachary Lane, as he attempts to achieve his dreams of becoming a successful playwright in NYC.
The story exposes Larson’s relationships with his girlfriend, Susan, who is played by Julia Vezza, and Larson’s best friend, Michael, played by Henley Solomon.
“‘Tick, Tick… BOOM!’ is the most personal show I’ve ever been a part of in my whole life,” said Lane, “It is about what gives your life meaning and purpose.”
Lane has been involved in theatre since his freshman year at Ward Melville High School, in East Setauket, N.Y., and he has furthered his passion through various leading roles within Sacred Heart’s Theater Arts Program.
In addition to the three cast members, there are eight moving set pieces on stage at all times, one of which is a working keyboard allowing for some of the musical numbers to be played live by Larson’s character.
“’Tick, Tick… BOOM!’ is very similar to ‘Rent,’ both stylistically and in terms of character development,” said Lane.
While both the plots of “Rent” and “Tick, Tick… Boom!,” take place in the 1990’s and bring attention to the AIDs epidemic, the two productions are very different in terms of character development and story.
“I have always been a really big fan of ‘Rent’ and the way it addressed very real issues. I am curious to see how Larson puts his spin on anxiety in this production,’” said senior Andrew Lawlor.
Throughout the course of the show, the main character, Jon, expresses his discontent with his life thus far and contemplates his future, and yet still strives to achieve his goals.
At a closer look, “the play is not only about the life of a man who would go on to write one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time, but it also tells a story of self-discovery and hope.
“Having been such a fan of ‘Rent,’ I’m excited to see ‘Tick, Tick… BOOM!’ to compare the style from one of Larson’s productions to the next,” said sophomore Megan Keane.
“Tick, Tick… BOOM!” will run from Oct. 27-30 and the weekend of Nov 3-6. For more information on the show’s times and ticket prices, visit edgertoncenter.org
