Musical Theatre Guild of Butler offers a mixtape of anxiety and ambition in ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’
Before Jonathon Larson’s “Rent” became a cultural touchstone, he wrestled with the same questions of success, authenticity and the cost of artistic ambition in his first musical, “Tick, Tick … Boom!”
Musical Theatre Guild of Butler’s new production of “Tick, Tick … Boom!” embodies that bittersweet poignancy with charm, intensity and self-aware humor.
Set in January 1990 in New York City’s SoHo district, the show follows an aspiring composer, Jon, as he confronts his impending 30th birthday and his fear that time is running out for his artistic career. The show’s live, rock-infused score, smoothly helmed by music director Jessica Sanzotti, is part musical diary and part therapy session as it channels the voice of a generation raised on mixtapes and irony.
Director Matt Mlynarski keeps the pace tight, allowing Larson’s cyclical narrative to pulse like the ticking clock that both the audience and Jon keep hearing.
Staged with the audience on three sides, this production’s simple scenic design of chain-link fences, trestle tables, desks, couches and street signs evokes both the grit of lower Manhattan and the chaos of a creative mind at work.
The lighting, by Glen Bittner, is understated, but effective, using subtle shifts to differentiate Jon’s inner thoughts from the outer world. Choreography by Nicole Uram is simple but energetic, using the entire stage to mirror Jon’s racing thoughts.
Jeremy Poynton anchors the show as Jon, delivering a performance as fragile as it is expressive. His delicate singing and speaking voice perfectly captures the character’s neurotic energy and creative desperation.
The script’s confessional structure lets Jon narrate directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall as other characters freeze mid-scene. Poynton uses these breaks skillfully, keeping the action intimate and immediate as if the audience is inside his head.
As Susan, Anna Gergerich brings warmth and strength to the role of Jon’s girlfriend, particularly in the sultry “Green, Green Dress” and the melancholy ballad “Come to Your Senses,” where her clear tone fills the space beautifully.
Jack Cipriani rounds out the trio with a confident stage presence and crisp enunciation honed from his experience performing at large venues like Cedar Point. His rendition of “Real Life” carries a poignant, reflective tone that complements Jon’s anxiety.
The trio’s interplay feels effortless, with Gergerich and Cipriani slipping in and out of secondary characters seamlessly. While doubling roles in a three-person show can blur character lines, this cast manages the transitions with clarity and humor.
Company songs like “Sunday,” a playful ode to brunch servers set to an overblown Sondheim-style score, and duets like “Therapy,” a satirical country-tinged duet that spirals into chaos, showcase the cast’s witty performances. “Why,” Jon’s climactic solo, provides an emotional release that anchors the entire evening.
The guild’s “Tick, Tick … Boom!” feels like looking at an old photograph of yourself. You wince a little at your past intensity but also ache for the passion you once had. This production captures that delicate balance between embarrassment and yearning, between youth’s urgency and adulthood’s resignation. If “Rent” was an anthem, “Tick, Tick … Boom!” is a confession, and, in the hands of MTG’s capable cast and creative team, it’s one worth listening to.
Musical Theatre Guild of Butler’s production of “Tick, Tick … Boom!” completes its run Friday through Sunday, Oct. 17 to 19, at the William A. Lehnerd Performance Hall in Butler’s Memorial Park. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at mtgbutler.org. The show runs 90 minutes without intermission and contains adult language.
