Tick, Tick ... Boom!
Closed 1h 30m
Tick, Tick ... Boom!
85

Tick, Tick ... Boom! NYC Reviews and Tickets

85%
(262 Ratings)
Positive
95%
Mixed
5%
Negative
0%
Members say
Great singing, Entertaining, Great acting, Resonant, Absorbing

About the Show

Keen Company revives this autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creator of 'Rent.'

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Show-Score Member Reviews (262)

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116 Reviews | 53 Followers
100
Entertaining, Great writing, Riveting, Great singing, A tribute!

See it if Like modern musical plays with contemporary lyrics and high energy song &dance. Appreciate creative process & search for recognition.

Don't see it if You don't understand Show business or sympathize artist anxiety. Not for those who want fluffy themes, impressive costumes & splashy sets. Read more

121 Reviews | 23 Followers
100
Entertaining, Great acting, Great singing, Funny, Delightful

See it if LIKE GREAT MUSICALS IT REMINDS US OF THE MUSICAL RENT EXCELENT MUSIC AND THE CAST ARE GREAT

Don't see it if YOU DONT LIKE MUSICALS

72 Reviews | 11 Followers
100
Great acting, Great singing, Entertaining, Must see

See it if You are a fan of Rent and Jonathan Larson

Don't see it if You can't make it in time for the limited run

70 Reviews | 27 Followers
97
Absorbing, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Profound, Quirky

See it if You've ever felt like you weren't on the right path. You're approaching 30 or have turned 30. You loved RENT. You enjoy a small cast.

Don't see it if Want an extravagant show with big numbers. Want a show with a big cast. Trigger warning: HIV

104 Reviews | 32 Followers
96
Entertaining, Great singing, Great acting, Intelligent, Intense

See it if you love original works with strong scores performed to perfection

Don't see it if you expect big production numbers and fancy sets

318 Reviews | 61 Followers
96
Absorbing, Delightful, Great singing, Great acting, Great writing

See it if You love Jonathan Larson or LIVE for "Rent"; the music is in the same vain. 3 actors play multiple characters- great transitions. Band ✔️+

Don't see it if You hate musicals. Cuss words. Homosexuals. "Rent". Smaller staging. Band on stage. I was only disappointed that "Rent" wasn't alluded to.

57 Reviews | 7 Followers
95
Clever, Delightful, Great acting, Great singing, Funny

See it if you love Rent, and Jonathan Larson's personal story. Amazing performances and music. A big Broadway experience in an intimate theater.

Don't see it if you hate pioneering, cutting-edge musicals that tell the story of an artist and his genius.

197 Reviews | 73 Followers
95
Delightful, Great singing, Epic, Intelligent

See it if you are a Larson fan. It's enchanting and meaningful and was especially fun to see right after I saw Sunday in the Park with George.

Don't see it if you are looking for big production numbers. But actually you should still see it, it's great.

Critic Reviews (29)

The New York Times
October 20th, 2016

"An affectionate, emotionally slight production...If Blaemire lacks the preternatural charm Esparza lent the role, he brings comic ease and ready sympathy...Salazar and Renée seem less suited to their roles...You can sense the director Jonathan Silverstein’s enthusiasm for the material in the bright pacing, the sprightly use of the onstage band, the generosity toward the performers. But surely the show would resonate more richly if he had helped them realize the relationships more fully."
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Time Out New York
October 20th, 2016

"Capably revived by Keen Company’s Jonathan Silverstein, the musical offers an entertaining if uneven look at artistic anxiety...The stakes seem somewhat low in this version; although Blaemire is likable as always, one misses the intensity that Raúl Esparza and Lin-Manuel Miranda brought to the role. Still, Larson’s untimely death shadows the musical with poignancy. Jonathan is even righter than he fears: You never know when life is going to lower the boom."
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The Hollywood Reporter
October 20th, 2016

"Its rough edges have been lovingly kept intact...While Auburn's cobbled-together book is little more than serviceable, Larson's pop-rock score is quite a bit more...The songs are consistently tuneful and peppy, enlivened by witty lyrics often reminiscent of Jonathan's idol, Stephen Sondheim...This version of the show lacks the impact of the original production or the 2014 City Center Encores! rendition...but it works quite well on its own terms."
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Theatermania
October 20th, 2016

"This mounting not only presents a little-known masterwork in all its glory, but also leaves us heartbroken at the prospect of what could have been had Larson's life not ended in 1996...Blaemire, a writer and performer who's seen his share of theatrical heartbreak, brings to the table an intrinsic understanding of the highs and lows of show business, one that grounds his Jonathan in reality...Unfortunately, the three gifted stars are done a major disservice by Evans' muddled sound design."
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BroadwayWorld
October 24th, 2016

"A superb Off-Broadway revival...The score has a solid hard rock foundation flooded with smart and emotionally thick lyrics...Nick Blaemire bears a substantial resemblance to Larson...In what is perhaps the quietest and most introspective 11 o'clock number in musical theatre, he lovingly expresses Jonathan's need to always be creating...'Tick, Tick...Boom!' is an incisive self-portrait and perhaps the most underappreciated musical that has played on or Off-Broadway this century."
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Lighting & Sound America
October 28th, 2016

"Jonathan Silverstein's production is alert to the material's constantly shifting moods, by turns sassy, satirical, and heartbreaking...'Tick, Tick...Boom!' is a chamber piece but it packs an emotional punch that many bigger musicals might envy. This is especially so in the two climactic numbers...'Tick, Tick...Boom!' is that rarest of things, a musical with a soul, our awareness of Larson's real-life fate only deepening its message of carpe diem."
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Talkin' Broadway
October 20th, 2016

"No production I've seen since the original has done more than this one to highlight the urgency beneath the uncertainty for everyone, not just Jonathan...At its best, the show is emotionally overwhelming, with Silverstein ensuring maximum impact through his crisp, focused staging and smart application of Jennifer Paar's costumes and Josh Bradford's lights...It's as good as you could hope for, and a stirring reminder of the boundless opportunities that still exist within life and theatre alike."
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TheaterScene.net
October 27th, 2016

"Passionate at its core but sluggish in plotting...This narrative framework showcases Larson’s catchy rock/pop score that is well-crafted but without any real standout songs...Mr. Blaemire makes up for a lack of innate charisma with his exceptional acting and singing talents. Ciara Renée as Susan and George Salazar as Michael are very appealing...Drags at times despite the best efforts of everyone involved but ultimately it is a spirited rendition of Jonathan Larson’s vision.
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