Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Jonathan Larson’s rock monologue comes alive once more! 9 Works Theatrical (9WT), one of the Philippines’ premiere production groups, is finally restaging tick, tick…BOOM! After its successful 2016 theater run, and at the heels of the critically-acclaimed Netflix adaptation, 9WT has chosen Larson’s rock monolog as its comeback piece post pandemic–and theater fans couldn’t be more excited!
tick, tick… BOOM! is the story of Jon, a struggling musical composer. Jon is turning 30 and has yet to make his mark. He is unsure if pursuing his artistic ambitions is worth the struggle. His girlfriend, Susan, is a dancer who teaches ballet to “wealthy and untalented children.” She, too, feels the pressure and longs to move out of New York to find a more stable and secure future. Then there is Michael, Jon’s best friend, who was once an aspiring actor but chose the more lucrative path as a marketing executive.
The tick, tick…BOOM! Cast: Jef Flores and Khalil Ramos as Jon
The talented Jef Flores will be reprising his role as Jon–the perfect casting choice given his love for the craft. Some of his notable productions include Disney’s Newsies and Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! He was named Gawad Buhay Best Actor both for his performance in a dramatic play (This is Our Youth) and for his performance in a musical play (tick, tick…BOOM!). And uncannily enough, Jef (like Jon) is also a music composer, writing dance music for Galaw.Co Dance Theater.
Alternating with Jef is GMA actor Khalil Ramos. Khalil has numerous TV and movie performances under his belt, some of which have won local and international acclaim (2 Cool 2 Be Forgotten, Liway, LSS, Maria Clara at Ibarra and more). As a photographer, aspiring film director, and content creator, Khalil’s creative spirit is the perfect match to Jon’s. His fans are looking forward to his first-ever foray into theater.
Tanya Manalang and Kayla Rivera as Susan
Tanya Manalang played Susan in 9WT’s 2016 production of tick, tick…BOOM! This year, she will be reprising her role. This award-winning actress made the country proud when she was handpicked to play the role of Kim in Cameron Mackintosh’s critically acclaimed West End production of Miss Saigon. She also made waves with her outstanding performances in Rak of Aegis, All Out of Love, Ang Huling El Bimbo, and many more.
Kayla Rivera is a TV and musical theater performer, radio DJ recording artist, host, and model. She’s also a formidable singer, bagging top spots in competitions such as David Foster Star Search and ABS-CBN’s Starpower. Kayla also won an award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her work in Joseph the Dreamer. We can’t wait to see her acting chops as Susan!
Vien King and Reb Atadero as Michael
For two back-to-back years, Vien King was hailed as the Best Actor in a Musical by the LEAF Awards (2019) and Gawad Buhay Awards (2020). He’s also a commercial model, an international performer, TV and film actor. He was also among the handful of artists who were chosen to be part of Disney in Concert: Live Your Dream in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Reb Atadero is not only a theater actor, he’s also a singer, host, voice actor, director, and content creator. Reb is also a Gawad Buhay Nominee for different categories: Best Lead Actor in a Musical (Ang Huling El Bimbo), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and Best Lead Actor in A Play (The Graduate).
Excited to see the chemistry and dynamics among the cast members in this 3-person musical? You’re in luck. For this run, Director Robbie Guevara and team won’t be having fixed sets of actors. Instead, the actors will be mixed and matched on each show, making every experience fresh and unique.
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, and JV Rabano as photographer.
Heading the production team is executive producer Santi Santamaria, with Anna Santamaria as operations and 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 and show buying inquiries, you may reach us via info@9workstheatrical.com, 7586-7105 or 0917 554 5560. For updates, follow 9 Works Theatrical on Facebook and YouTube (@9WorksTheatrical), Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok (@9WTonline).
tick, tick…BOOM! is brought to you by 9 Works Theatrical, together with CNN Philippines and BroadwayWorld as official media partners, and Make-up Designory as official make-up partner.
tick, tick…BOOM! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
