Hugh Sheridan is heading to Brisbane next month with ‘tick, tick… Boom!’

One of Australia’s favourite performers on stage and screen, Hugh Sheridan, will star as Jonathan Larson in the much-loved rock musical at QPAC from 1-5 March.

‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ is the autobiographical musical by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer of ‘Rent’, Jonathan Larson. After Brisbane, the show will continue its travels to the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

Just prior to the opening night of ‘Rent’, its creator and composer Jonathan Larson tragically passed away before the first public performance. But, before ‘Rent’, Larson had created another musical ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ and just like his Tony Award-winning smash hit, it was another piece of genius left behind.

The year is 1990 and a promising young composer is grappling with a career as an artist, whilst staring down turning 30 in New York City. Whilst being torn between fear and love, he faces one of life’s greatest questions –  What do we do with the time we have?

As well as Hugh Sheridan, ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’  will also feature Elenoa Rokobaro (‘Rent’ at the Sydney Opera House, ‘Anyone Can Whistle’, ‘Well Behaved Women’) as Susan, Finn Alexander (‘Urinetown’, ‘Assassins,’ ‘Aspects of Love’) as Michael plus Sheridan Adams (‘Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical’) and Hamish Johnston (‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, MTC’s ‘Vivid White’).

‘tick, tick…BOOM! ‘ was developed into a film in 2021 by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Andrew Garfield as Larson, alongside Robin de Jesús, Alexandra Shipp, Joshua Henry, Judith Light and Vanessa Hudgens.

It was named one of the best films of 2021 by the American Film Institute and was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, and Best Picture at the 27th Critics’ Choice Awards. For his performance, Garfield earned numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Jonathan Larson was a much-loved American composer, lyricist and playwright most famous for writing the musicals ‘Rent’ and ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’, which explored the social issues of multiculturalism, substance use disorder, and homophobia. After his unexpected passing at age 36, he received three posthumous Tony Awards and a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Drama for ‘Rent’.

‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ first premiered Off-Broadway in 2001 and has toured extensively since including a US national tour, West End production, an Off-Broadway revival and numerous international productions.

‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ is produced by Adrian Storey from StoreyBoard Entertainment (‘Chess the Musical’, ‘Barnum’, ‘Follies’, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’) and directed by renowned director Tyran Parke (‘Chess the Musical’, ‘Barnum’, ‘Follies’, ‘Sunday in the Park with George’) and with Musical Direction by Kohan van Sambeek (‘Cinderella’, ‘Aladdin’, ‘Wicked’).

For further information and to book tickets visit the official ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ website. 

Media Release Supplied

Images by Jeff Busby