Sophomore Allyson Horn assembled a small, hardworking cast and crew to produce and perform a show she describes as relevant to the current generation, "Tick, Tick… Boom!" this weekend in Jubilee Auditorium.
"This show is a rock musical that's really fun to watch and listen to," Horn said. "The audience will laugh, they'll cry, and they'll thoroughly enjoy themselves."
"Tick, Tick… Boom!" is the musical autobiography of Jonathan Larson ("RENT"). Theatre Council's production stars freshman David Kalis in the role of the playwright, Jon, with Nicole Lippey and Bryan Lucas. The production also features Seton Hall music students in the band, conducted by senior Jes Noto.
Horn said the experience of directing her first show with Theatre Council was a relatively simple and ultimately rewarding one.
"What's made it easier for me to direct is how close everyone has become over time," she said, referring to the cast and production staff. "My producer Megan Hanson has been my right-hand woman and support system, and she handles everything I can't. And the cast is only three people, so we spend so much time together that we've gotten really close, and that's made everyone more comfortable on stage."
Horn said the cast has been working almost every day since auditions were held Sept. 24 and 25, mastering the music, dancing and lines.
Lucas said this closness will transfer well to the audience.
"I hope that they can laugh and cry with us," he said. "This show is funny, emotional, and intense, and if we pull the right strings we can present the full range of dramatic emotions."
He added that this has been the most fun he has had working on a Seton Hall show in his four years here.
"I'm leaving this production with new friends, or previous friendships solidified," Lucas said.
Lippey and Kalis agreed.
"This was a different experience, because we were working so closely with only three people," Lippey said. "It meant that we got very close very fast."
Kalis said that the audience can see the closeness of the cast. He said that as the actors are feeling raw emotions, so too will the audience be able to see it.
Lippey stressed how students would enjoy "Tick, Tick… Boom!" because it is a show portraying important modern issues.
"It's about relationships, friendships, following your dreams, and it deals with a lot of social issues, such as homosexuality," she said. "As students, it's hard to connect to some plays that we do at Seton Hall. But this musical is relevant and it's really for our age."
Horn said that she was originally set to direct the musical "The Fantasticks," but it became clear that Theatre Council would not be able to secure the rights, as the show returned to play in New York.
Horn said she selected "Tick, Tick… Boom!" as soon as she heard the music.
"I've always loved the music from ‘RENT', and then I heard this music by the same composer and fell in love with it as well," she said. "The music has a very powerful message, and that's in part why I selected this show."
"Tick, Tick… Boom!" will be performed on Nov. 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. in Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for general admission.
Erin Bell can be reached at erin.bell@student.shu.edu.
