tick... tick... BOOM! Time is not running out for everyone.

Live theater is back for 9 Works Theatrical. Maybe the most recent company to open its doors to the audience with their restaging of one of Jonathan Larson's notable musicals, tick... tick... BOOM! This expresses that there will be a right time for all things. And the timing for staging this is well-executed.

tick... tick... BOOM! is about a struggling artist who feels the pressure of success in a target time, the case of which is before the age of 30. Led by Jef Flores, with Reb Atadero and Tanya Manalang, alternating with Khalil Ramos, Vien King and Kayla Rivera, this musical hits to the core of everyone who undergoes existential crisis and overthinking the goals that surround us.

Jon (Flores/Ramos) is like many of us. He has the ideals, passion but punched by reality in the face. I sometimes associate him to Christian of Moulin Rouge who believes that everything has its order but dwells in the reality that we are starting penniless and need to work hard.

But on the bright side, we are lucky to be given with a handful of people who can support us. Reb and Tanya, playing Mike and Susan, could be your household companions. It seems that Jonathan Larson was very lucky to have these two in his life. He was not even harshly confronted of taking too long to push a career but instead they supported his dreams. 

The three, collectively, has to be given credit for exemplary performance in their roles. They have formed a great ensemble with just 3 cast members. The stage also has a notable moment that drew the audience into a great impact which understands our feelings and in a comforting way. A special applause for director Robbie Guevara for a fun treatment on this production. It was clearly different in Netflix's version which stars Andrew Garfield, but that is for another commentary. 

9 Works' comeback production of tick... tick... BOOM! runs until August 27, 2023 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium. The cast are shuffled every show so you can watch different takes on the roles. For tickets, you may visit https://bit.ly/m/ticktickBOOMmnl

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Fear or Love, Baby?

9 Works Theatrical presents Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick… BOOM!

tick, tick…BOOM!: A Must-Watch for All Artists and Creatives

If you’re a struggling artist or creative, odds are, you’ve found yourself asking this question: Will you pursue the passion that makes your life worth living? Or will you pursue a career that makes a living?

This is the story of our protagonist Jon in the musical tick, tick… BOOM! Jon is an aspiring composer who is about to turn thirty and is growing increasingly anxious about his future in theater. Pressure mounts when his girlfriend, Susan, hounds him about leaving New York to start a family and seek a more stable profession. Tensions also rise when his best friend Michael—an erstwhile actor-turned marketing executive—tries to convince him to join the fold.

Amidst it all, Jon hears a constant ticking–a reminder that he is getting older, with little to show.

“You're no longer the ingénue / Turn thirty, 1990 / Boom! You're passe!”
- 30/90 from tick, tick…BOOM!

Created by Jonathan Larson in the 90s, tick, tick…BOOM! brilliantly captures the internal war within every creative spirit: the struggle between going after one’s dreams and settling for a comfortable but joyless life. This story continues to ring true decades after its debut, largely because Larson harnessed his own life experiences, to bring the characters and songs to life. tick, tick…BOOM! began as a semi-autobiographical rock monologue about Larson’s hardships while trying to make a name for himself in the theater since the ‘80s. Sadly, Larson died the day before the preview performance of his masterpiece, Rent. He was 35.

“Can he make his mark, if he gives up his spark?”
- Johnny Can’t Decide from tick, tick…BOOM!

If you are a creative spirit, or if you have artist friends and family, bring them to RCBC Plaza any weekend this August to catch this era-defining musical!

In this restaging of the three-person musical, 9 Works Theatrical has assembled the perfect cast in theater veteran Jef Flores and Kapuso star Khalil Ramos (alternating as Jon), Miss Saigon alum Tanya Manalang and multimedia performer Kayla Rivera (alternating as Susan), and rising star Vien King and actor-creator Reb Atadero (alternating as Michael).

Back L-R: Kayla Rivera, Vien King, Reb Atadero, Tanya Manalang
Front L-R: Jef Flores, Khalil Ramos

tick, tick…BOOM! is directed by Robbie Guevara, with Daniel Bartolome as musical director, JM Cabling as choreographer, Mio Infante as scenographer, Shakira Villa-Symes as lighting designer, Bam Tiongson as Sound Designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup designer, Marlito Ambrocio as technical director, Ian Cartalaba as costume supervisor, and JV Rabano as photographer.

tick, tick…BOOM! will be showing all weekends of August 2023 at 3:00pm & 7:30pm on Saturdays & Sundays, at the CPR Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati. Tickets are now available via ticket2me.net. Grab yours while you can!

tick, tick…BOOM! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

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Experiencing “Milestone Anxiety”? tick, tick…BOOM! is your safe space

According to ExploringYourMind.com, milestone anxiety is defined as “the psychological pressure that people experience when they perceive that they haven’t yet met many of their expectations and life goals.” Some life milestones include buying a home, getting married, having kids and more. Just last year, UK-based organization Relate discovered that this milestone anxiety is rising among millennials and Gen Z members. The early 30s seem to be a real “crunch point”—by age 30, young adults are expected to have their lives together.

Anxious about turning 30 (or getting older)? Say less.
There’s a musical that says it all—one that was written decades ago, but is still relevant to our milestone anxiety-ridden generation.

tick, tick…BOOM! is a musical created by Jonathan Larson (Rent). It’s the story about a group of twenty-somethings trying to find their way in ‘90s New York.

Main character Jon is a struggling composer, who is days away from turning thirty. He can’t help but hear that internal ticking of the clock: he doesn’t want to turn a year older with nothing to show. His girlfriend, Susan, wants to leave New York to start a family and establish a stable career in the suburbs. Adding to the pressure is his best friend and ex-theater buddy, Michael, who convinces him to join the marketing industry instead and lead a more comfortable life.

“Years are getting shorter, lines on your face are getting longer. Feel like you’re treading water, but the riptide’s getting stronger.” - 30/90 from tick, tick…BOOM!

This musical continues to be #relatable even (and especially) among younger audiences because of its truthfulness. Larson actually drew inspiration from his own personal struggles and relationships; he was a young adult trying to make a name for himself as a composer in the 80s. Larson would eventually enjoy critical acclaim and worldwide success for his later work, Rent, but only posthumously. He died days before his 35th birthday, one day before Rent’s first preview performance.

“Johnny wants to hide. Can he settle down and still not drown?”
- Johnny Can’t Decide from tick, tick…BOOM!

While this play resonates with young adults, it’s not for them alone. People of all ages—or anyone who’s ever heard that (dreadful) internal “tick…tick…tick…”—will find comfort in Larson’s award-winning musical. If you’ve ever been bombarded with news about friends getting married, getting promoted, having kids, buying homes–you are probably feeling that mounting pressure. Will you compromise or persevere? Cages or wings, which do you prefer? tick, tick…BOOM! is your safe space for processing all these feelings.

9 Works Theatrical’s restaging of the three-person musical will showcase the talents of young adult stars: Jef Flores and Khalil Ramos (alternating as Jon), Tanya Manalang and Kayla Rivera (alternating as Susan), and Vien King and Reb Atadero (alternating as Michael). Owing to the beauty of theater and the life experiences that each of the artists will bring to the table, the incredible cast is ready to tell this poignant story about growing old, growing up, growing anxious–and ultimately, growing together.

tick, tick…BOOM! is directed by Robbie Guevara, with Daniel Bartolome as musical director, JM Cabling as choreographer, Mio Infante as scenographer, Shakira Villa-Symes as lighting designer, Bam Tiongson as Sound Designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup designer, Marlito Ambrocio as technical director, Ian Cartalaba as costume supervisor, and JV Rabano as photographer.

Heading the production team is executive producer Santi Santamaria, with Anna Santamaria as operations & finance director, Charyl de Guzman as production manager, Jonjon Martin as PR manager, GM Hernandez as marketing manager, and Arma Bonilla as stage manager.

Tickets are selling out fast!
tick, tick…BOOM! will be showing all weekends of August 2023 at 3:00pm & 7:30pm on Saturdays & Sundays, at the CPR Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati. Tickets are now available via ticket2me.net. Grab yours while you can!

For partnerships & show buying inquiries, you may reach 9WT via info@9workstheatrical.com, 7586 7105 or 0917 554 5560.

For more updates, follow the official FB & YouTube pages (@9WorksTheatrical), Twitter, Instagram and TikTok (@9WTonline).  #ticktickBOOMmnl #9WorksTheatrical

tick, tick…BOOM! is brought to you by 9 Works Theatrical, together with CNN Philippines and BroadwayWorld as official media partners, H&M as official clothing partner, and Make-up designory as official make-up partner.

tick, tick…BOOM! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

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THIS IS OUR YOUTH review

Do you remember how things went when you are younger? When you just lay down on your bed and procrastinating instead of being productive, reflects how the new play THIS IS OUR YOUTH by Red Turnip Theater mirrors the young culture with drugs, sex and even the young life as portrayed by Jef Flores, Nicco Manalo and Cindy Lopez. As the three have justified the characters made by Kenneth Lonergan, the message is really appropriate to share with the youth today.

Having it staged at the A Space_Gallery in Makati, it was another unusual experience to really see it on the eye-level with the actors. The room is already the stage so you can sit comfortably on the bean bags casually and just watch like you're inside your own room. This is very new for me and different and I really got to enjoy it. If you can lie down and hug a bean bag, I could have done it myself. The technicals are really setting the mood for the actors and the audience as well. Lighting is successful to show daytime and nighttime to the set amazingly.

As for the actors, the three are perfectly cast. You'll be amazed with Nicco Manalo and Jef Flores flawlessly deliver their lines despite there's no technical enhancement due to the small stage space. Their comedic timings are like watching a memorable episode of FRIENDS and the good vibes are at it. Cindy is a perfect partner for Nicco but I think she could improve and relax with her scenes with him. But they really do work out on stage.

Nicco Manalo and Jef Flores

Nicco Manalo and Cindy Lopez

THIS IS OUR YOUTH  shows at A Space_Gallery for a limited run this November 6, 7, 8, 20, 21 and 22. Tickets are available at https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/Online/thisisouryouth, or call 891-9999.

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