The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham is to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of American composer and playwright Jonathan Larson by producing both his published works.
Larson is hailed as one of the pioneers of the modern musical. The Old Joint Stock Theatre will stage tick, tick…BOOM! and Rent.
Larson’s autobiographical musical tick, tick...BOOM! is the story of a composer and the sacrifices he makes to achieve his big break in theatre. Set in 1990, this tale of personal discovery is presented as a rock musical with fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors and a four-piece “rock band”.
Originally from West Bromwich, Joshua Dowen plays Jon while Solihull-born Jessica Singer is Susan. Rhys Owen plays Michael.
The Old Joint Stock Musical Theatre Company will be revisiting Rent which it performed in 2013. It will be a concert performance and will be staged 20 years to the day after it opened Off-Broadway. A donation will be made to an AIDS charity in Larson’s memory.
tick, tick...BOOM! takes to the Old Joint Stock Theatre stage from Saturday 23 until Saturday 30 January. Rent will be performed on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 January.