The musical tick, tick...BOOM! by
Jonathan Larson is lauded as an autobiographical musical that was written prior
to the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning musical hit Rent. After Jonathan
Larson’s passing in 1996 (before the opening
of Rent), his producer and friend Victoria Leacock asked David Auburn, Pulitzer
Prize-winning playwright of Proof, to revamp the “rock monologue” that was tick, tick… BOOM! who reconfigured the musical to a
three-actor piece and was first staged in 2001.
tick, tick… BOOM! is the story of Jon, a struggling
musical composer. Jon is turning 30 and has yet to make his mark. He questions
whether he should continue his chosen career in the performing arts, one that
has yet to reach a peak or breakthrough. His girlfriend, Susan, is a dancer,
who teaches ballet to “wealthy and
untalented children.” She, too, feels the pressure and
longs to move out of New York to find a more stable and secure future. Then
there is Michael, Jon’s best friend
who was once an aspiring actor but gave it up to work as a marketing research
executive.
Taking on the
lead role of Jon is Gawad Buhay Best Actor (2015 for This Is Our Youth) Jef
Flores. Jef’s debut in musical theater started in
Repertory Philippine’s Camp Rock followed by Cinderella
(Resorts World Manila), Pinocchio (Repertory Philippines), Priscilla
Queen of the Desert (Resorts World Manila). In 2015, he took the lead
role in his first straight play, 4,000 Miles (Repertory Philippines),
where he garnered his first Gawad Buhay nomination for Best Actor. His other
credits on stage include Snow White (Prince, Repertory Philippines), Paano
Ako Naging Leading Lady (Bazooka Man, Dalanghita Productions), This Is
Our Youth (Dennis, Red Turnip Theater), 3 Stars and a Sun (Winston,
PETA), and Godspell (Jesus, MusicArtes). Outside of theater, Jef also
starred in the television show The Boston: Kitchen Musical and Single/Single.
Making her 9
Works Theatrical debut as Susan, Tanya Manalang is fresh from her
two-year journey in London as Kim in Cameron Mackintosh’s critically acclaimed West End
production of Miss Saigon. Thrilled to be back home and performing in
Philippine theater, she just recently finished playing Aileen in PETA’s fifth season of Rak of Aegis.
Her other theater credits include performances in Resorts World Manila’s productions of The King and I (Tuptin),
The Sound of Music (Liesl von Trapp) and Kaos. She played Carla in
the Atlantis production of In the Heights. For Trumpets, Tanya was the
original Lucy Pevensie in the first 1997 run of The Lion, The Witch and The
Wardrobe, and later returned to play Susan.
Rounding up the
cast and playing Michael is theater veteran Ariel Reonal, who just
finished a 2-year run on the West End revival of Miss Saigon as the
Assistant Commissar. He’s no stranger
to Miss Saigon as he was part of the UK touring production in 2004. He
played Quasimodo at The Golden Mickeys at Hong Kong Disneyland. His Philippine
theater credits include 9 Works Theatrical’s American Idiot as
Joshua/Favorite Son, Disney’s Aladdin (Jafar, Repertory Philippines), Fame
The Musical (Nick Piazza, Repertory Philippines), Himala (Pilo,
Tanghalang Pilipino), Dreamgirls (Marty, Atlantis), Jesus Christ
Superstar (Simon Zealotes/cover for Jesus, Atlantis), Blood Brothers
(Sammy Johnstone, Repertory Philippines), among many others.
tick,
tick…BOOM! is directed by Robbie
Guevara,
Daniel Bartolome as musical director, Elisanta
Cortez as vocal supervisor, Arnold
Trinidad as choreographer, Mio
Infante
as scenographer, Mickey Hirai as costume designer and stylist, Martin
Esteva
as lighting designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup
designer, Philleep Masaquel as Technical Director, JC
Inocian
as photographer, and Maine Manalansan as graphic creative
manager.
Heading
the production team is executive producer Santi
Santamaria,
with Anna
Santamaria
as company manager, Sunshine Domine as production manager, Toff
de Venecia
as PR
director,
Jonjon
Martin
and Issa
Tuason
as PR managers, GM Hernandez as marketing manager, and Arma Bonilla as stage manager.
tick,
tick…BOOM! will have a limited run
on October 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23, 2016 at 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturday, and 3:30pm on
Sundays.
For
further inquiries, contact 586.7105, 0917.554.5560, Ticketworld at 891.9999, or
email info@9workstheatrical.com. Facebook:
9WorksTheatrical. Twitter & Instagram: @9WTonline. Hashtag: #9WTticktickboom
