By Shari Barrett
Every so often, I am fortunate to witness an actor paired with a part they seem born to play. Such is the case at Theatre Palisades for Destin Bass who totally commands the stage for 90 minutes as Jon in Jonathan Larson’s musical Tick, Tick… BOOM! From the moment he takes the stage, Destin brilliantly channels the spirit of the man who struggled to prove to himself, and the world, that he could bring rock and roll to the stage while also telling a story that would hopefully wake up a generation to the pain, the need, and the un-rest happening on the streets of New York City.
But before that musical known as Rent came into being, Jonathan Larson wrote his autobiographical play Tick, Tick… BOOM! about an aspiring composer worrying how time is passing him by while trying to write the great American musical. And although he never lived to see his struggle for recognition come to fruition, Larson posthumously received three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his revolutionary rock musical. And no doubt. Rent will continue to be produced around the world for years to come given its inclusive nature about life’s challenges.
Infused with elements from that popular musical, Tick, Tick… BOOM! explores the drive to follow your dreams despite the struggles you must go through to achieve them. Opening with the song “30/90” in which Jon describes how turning 30 in 1990 is making him question whether it’s better to keep pursuing a career as a composer or to settle down with his girlfriend Susan (Bimei Flores whose beautiful voice and stage presence I recently experienced when she portrayed Ti Moune in Once on this Island at Kentwood Players) who longs to move to New England. And poor Jon has enough decisions to make without this one, fully embodied during his song “Johnny Can’t Decide” performed with Susan and his best friend Michael (Anthony Galang) who desperately wants to draft Jon into his budding and financially rewarding career in advertising. And as the time to make a real decision approaches, Jon hears time passing (Tick, Tick… BOOM!) in his mind, perhaps foreshadowing his early death on the night before his masterful work Rent opened to great success.
Performed in 90 minutes without an intermission, Tick, Tick… BOOM! includes 13 songs about figuring out your life, each performed to perfection by the production’s fabulous ensemble, including lithe and limber dancer Charlotte Nevins as Karessa, featured in an attention-grabbing solo number “Come to Your Senses.” Katherine Rogers takes on many roles, most notably as the uptight advertising executive who is not impressed by Jon during his only meeting with her at Michael’s request, and Ian Riegler who portrays Jon’s supportive father and many other characters in the show, with a myriad of costumes designed by Lindsay Johnson and Destin Bass noting character, location and time changes.
Produced by Martha Hunter and Laura Goldstein, Tick, Tick… BOOM! is directed by Lindsay Johnson with clever choreography that adds much needed humor to serious scenes, with musical director Alexander Tovar highlighting the cast’s extraordinary harmonies so important to Larson’s musical, with a trio of musicians onstage (Robbie Simmons on keyboard, Xinqian Li on guitar, and Steph LeHane on drums). And thankfully the cast wore head mics to allow their voices to be heard above the rock score. The production takes place on a basic black box set designed by Sherman Wayne with cast members bringing in scenic pieces to suggest the many NYC locations in which the story takes place, with colorful lighting designed by Clayton Collins adding to the emotional impact of songs.
Performances continue through October 13 on Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at Theatre Palisades’ Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades 90272. General admission tickets are $27; students and seniors $25, available by calling the box office at (310) 454-1970 or online at https://theatrepalisades.org. Available tickets will be sold at the box office prior to all performances. Free onsite parking.
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is presenting 3 Faces of Steve: Sondheim in Concert, a song compilation that spans the breadth of Stephen Sondheim’s work, directed by soprano Angelina Réaux who personally knew and worked with the great composer. Three world class singers, including Réaux, baritone Michael Sokol and bari-tenor Bernardo Bermudez, sing solos, duets, and trios from 14 of Sondheim’s classic stage works like Follies, Company, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music and Merrily We Roll Along. Music director William Ah Sing accompanies the singers onstage and performs each song as if it originates in his soul while utilizing the vocal and stage skills of the three artists to perfection.
Along the way, Angelina’s personal and professional remembrances of the Sondheim are shared, as are personal memories of performing in Sondheim shows by Michael and Bernardo. Among the many outstanding numbers: all three performing “Together Wherever We Go” from Gypsy; Bernardo sharing how his father’s favorite musical is West Side Story and then singing “Something’s Coming,” a soul-searching “Being Alive” from Company which led into the trio performing an energetic “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” as their Act 1 finale.
Michael shared how the first show he did was Sweeney Todd, for which Angelina performed in the first national tour as The Beggar Woman. Songs from that musical included the two men singing “Pretty Women” and the comical “A Little Priest” about the famous contents of Mrs. Lovett’s pies, performed by Angelina and Michael.
Michael also performed two stand-out numbers with clever choreography: “Ah Paree!” from Follies in straw hat and cane, and as the nervous groom Jamie in “Not Getting Married” from Company, perhaps the most difficult Sondheim song to sing clearly, performed with Angelina and Bernardo.
Angelina’s striking soprano was highlighted during “In Buddy’s Eyes” and “I’m Still Here” from Follies, and “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music. I also really enjoyed her “Barcelona” duet with Bernardo from Company. In total, twenty-seven songs were presented, each one a tribute to the masterful composer and lyricist. The men wear tuxedos, and Angelina dons a smart tuxedo-like outfit in the first act, but an unflattering “tent” style ensemble for the second.
Performances continue Thursday/Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. through September 29 at the Odyssey Theatre,
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 90025. Enjoy complimentary wine and snacks after the show on the third Friday of every month. Tickets run $40 on Thursday/Fri,day $45 on Sat/Sun, available at OdysseyTheatre.com or by calling (310) 477-2055 ext. 2. Available seats will be sold at the box office prior to each performance. Free on-site parking.
Founded in 1985, the Latino Theater Company (LTC) is dedicated to “contributing new stories and novel methods of expression for the American theater repertoire and to increase artistic opportunities for underserved communities.” The LTC has operated the Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles since 2007 and is dedicated to highlighting the diversity of cultural experiences in LA.
Inspired by the classic film Sunset Boulevard, Latino Theater Company is reprising their ensemble-devised satire Whittier Boulevard, originally written, performed, and directed by core founding members of the LTC: Evelina Fernández, Sal Lopez, Geoffrey Rivas, Lucy Rodriguez, and José Luis Valenzuela. The play employs the company’s trademark blend of comedy, drama, music, dance, and theatrical magic to explore ageism in Los Angeles in 2042. Directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, Whittier Boulevard takes place after years of fires, torrential rain, anarchy, and bloodshed have led to a totalitarian city-state where the elderly disappear and their stories are forgotten. But when authorities make a surprise visit to the home of faded Chicana starlet Veronica Del Rio (Evelina Fernández) on the eve of her 75th birthday, she enlists the help of her loudmouth nurse, a kindhearted policeman-fan, and a down-on-his-luck poet to keep her alive until she finds true love, never to be forgotten.
The reprisal features Evelina Fernández, Zilah Mendoza, Geoffrey Rivas, and Eduardo Robledo, with performances on Thursday-Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. through October 20 (dark October 3-6) at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90013. All Thursday night tickets are $10, or $38 on Fri/Sat/Sun. Students, Seniors, Veterans and LAUSD teachers: $20 with valid ID, available at www.latinotheaterco.org, by calling (213) 489-0994, or at the box office prior to performances. With box office validation, parking is $8 per car at Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking structure, 545 S. Main St., Los Angeles 90013 (between 5th and 6th Streets, just behind the theater), with metered parking available on streets surrounding the theater. Or take the Metro to the Pershing Square stop, just two blocks west of The LATC.
