The story of Jonathan Larson’s pursuit of artistic success comes to life in the Lin-Manuel Miranda directorial debut, Tick, Tick…Boom! The semi-autobiographical musical, with Andrew Garfield playing the lead role as Jonathan, is a heartwarming piece with a relatable struggle of racing against the clock to find success and a valuable lesson about time.

While the songs take center stage in the musical, the characters also shine in their roles, whether major or minor. From Garfield’s captivating performance as a struggling artist to Vanessa Hudgens’ part as one of the amazing singers that gave a voice to Jon’s work. The characters’ stories and conversations in the midst of the singing and tick, tick, ticks were just as great, giving fans memorable quotes to reflect on after the credits rolled.

Michael’s Advice:

“Are You Letting Yourself Be Led By Fear Or By Love?”

When Jon was panicking about his upcoming workshop, Michael calmed him down by asking him this question, because his fear over not getting successful before he turned 30 was starting to overshadow his love for writing.

Through all the panic and disappointment, his friends were there for him一Michael especially. They constantly supported and helped him, and like this line shows, reminded him to focus on his love for the craft rather than the fear of failure.

Jon’s Introduction

“…Lately I’ve Been Hearing This Sound Everywhere I Go. Like A Tick, Tick, Tick.”

Jon introduced himself as a musical theater writer and joked that he was one of the last of the species. He also talked about the constant ticking he was hearing in his mind, like a time bomb steadily counting down, ready to explode.

The ticking time bomb analogy related to Jon’s life and how he felt the pressure of time running out for him to have a breakthrough and a successful musical. It’s a pressure that many can relate to in general, and combined with everything else that happens in life, it really can feel like everything is about to blow up.

Jon’s Party

“What Is The Point Of Money, If You’re Not Going To Spend It On The People That You Love?”

While Jon was preparing for a party at his apartment, Michael commented that he couldn’t afford lavish celebrations. Jon argued that it was important to spend money on the people he loves and during the celebration, he performed one of the best musical numbers on Tick, Tick…Boom!

In addition to his struggle breaking into the musical theatre industry, Jon was broke. This quote showed that despite being cash-strapped, he didn’t hold back when it came to celebrating the people he loved, highlighting that he was a good friend for the most part.

Jon’s Birthday Blues

“And In Eight Days, My Youth Will Be Over Forever. And What Exactly Do I Have To Show For Myself?”

The first song about turning 30 was interspaced with snippets of Jon’s conversation with his friend about time running out for him to be successful. While the musical movie and live show have some differences, this song captured the essence of the original play perfectly.

The mounting anxiety that came with the countdown towards his birthday was played out with stunning accuracy. Wanting to feel a sense of accomplishment at a certain age is normal, and Jon’s life and struggles with success were something relatable, providing an important lesson that many could learn from.

Jon Working In The Diner

“…You Get To A Certain Age, And You Stop Being A Writer Who Waits Tables, And You Become A Waiter With A Hobby.”

A little while before his Superbia workshop, Jon talked to his friends about how he needed it to be his big break because the older he got, the less feasible his dream of being a musical theater writer would be, and it would eventually become only a hobby.

Jon’s assertion is a sad reality for many creatives who end up taking on other jobs when their dreams don’t work out, just so they can at least pay their bills. He’d spent eight years on Superbia and he was terrified that he’d have to give up his dream, which only added to the pressure he felt.

Rosa’s Advice

“You Just Keep Throwing Them Against The Wall, Hoping Against Hope That Eventually Something Sticks.”

After Jon’s workshop, Rosa told him everyone was raving about the performance and was excited to see what he’d do next. He’d hoped that a producer would be interested in it, but Rosa told him not to give up writing one musical after another until he succeeded.

Rosa’s words were a wake-up call for Jon, who was ready to give up and get a job like Michael. But, he took her advice to heart and kept writing, eventually creating Tick, Tick…Boom! and Rent, which went on to be bigger than he’d dreamed.

Stephen Sondheim’s Critique

“I Think This Is A Musical That Knows Exactly What It Is.”

When Jon was part of a writing workshop, one of the critics, Walter, said the musical he’d presented was confusing and unclear while the other, Stephen, disagreed and said many good things about it.

At a time when he was struggling to get his career off the ground, such high praise from a well-known icon was just the boost he needed to keep going and pursuing his dream. Stephen even attended a presentation of the Superbia musical, and called him again later with compliments and encouraging words, just as he was about to give up for good.

 Michael & Jon Fight:

“I’m Sorry For Enjoying My Life While I Still Have Time.”

While Michael was reprimanding Jon after the focus group he’d recommended him for, the two of them got into an argument. Jon didn’t see why it was a big deal and reminded told Michael he’d traded in his dreams to enjoy material things. Michael countered by calling Jon out on taking certain things for granted like the right to marry someone he loves.

At the time, Jon didn’t understand why Michael felt like he was running out of time too until it was later revealed that he was HIV positive. While Tick, Tick…Boom! was primarily about Jon’s mounting anxiety over making a success of his passion, Michael’s story about the AIDS epidemic was another example of someone feeling like they were living with a ticking clock and it helped put things into perspective for Jon.

Susan’s Closing Narration

“It Changed The Definition Of What A Musical Could Be.”

Jon’s breakthrough finally came with Rent, but he didn’t live long enough to see it, even though it went on to become wildly popular. Like Susan said in her narration, it was unique and paved the way for the creation of more brilliant musicals that told all kinds of stories, without resorting to over-the-top musical performances to capture the audience’s attention.

According to The New York Times, Rent ran for 12 years on Broadway and it went on to win a Pulitzer and a Tony Award. There were many positive reviews about the show, pointing to it changing the future of musicals. Sadly, Jon died before the first showing and he never got a chance to see how much of an impact he made on the industry he’d worked so hard to be a part of.

The Final Song

“Fear Or Love, Baby, Don’t Say The Answer. Actions Speak Louder Than Words.”

The final song in the movie was a combination of questions about fear, love, time, and many more issues Jon encountered throughout the movie. It was beautifully performed by Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, and Joshua Henry, and was also the perfect ending as it played in the background of the narration about Jon’s final projects and his tragic death.

One of the last things Jon said to Susan in the movie was that he didn’t know what to write next, but he had a lot of questions and she said that was a good place to start. The question over whether he was being led by fear or love in the pursuit of his dream was prevalent throughout the movie and even though he felt the concern and pressure, he carried on in spite of it.

About The Author

Tricia Mawire
(172 Articles Published)

Tricia is a List Writer for Screen Rant with a background in creative writing and a love for all things film and TV. She fell in love with reading at the age of 10 after discovering that her favorite movie, Matilda, was based on a novel. That led to her first in-depth analysis of literary work to her mom and anyone who’d listen. If she’s not reading or writing stories with crazy plot twists, she’s bingeing a new series and ranting about character arcs and plot holes. Or she’s eating French fries.

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