With a director like Lin-Manuel Miranda, the latest movie musical to hit the shelves managed to be both a smash hit and loaded with cameos.
The stage-to-screen feat is never an easy one to accomplish, but with a director like Lin-Manuel Miranda, and a star-studded cast like this, Tick, Tick...Boom! is certain to reel in thespians and cinephiles alike. There are dozens of Broadway cameos and familiar faces in this cast, inevitably prompting people to ask where they've seen that actor before.
While not every former Hamilton star with a one-liner gets a mention, actors like Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, and Judith Light are the reason this new spin on a modern classic has been a smash hit among audiences and critics alike.
Between the release of Tick, Tick...Boom! and rampant rumors prior to this week's release of the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer, Andrew Garfield is getting a lot of attention. Before taking on the main, biographical role of Jonathan Larson here, one of the actor's most famous roles is the all-time classic, Peter Parker.
Garfield is a leading man through and through and although he may not have been able to showcase his musical abilities while swinging from webs, he certainly allows his multiple talents to shine now. Singing, dancing, and creating infectious energy, he is more than capable of handling the role of Jon with all the enthusiasm, heartache, and genuineness of a struggling artist that this movie is about.
Alexandra Shipp, always carries her performances with dignity. Love, Simon made headlines as a coming-of-age movie about a high schooler struggling with his sexuality, the movie resonated with teenagers and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Shipp played the role of the titular Simon's friend Abby, the first person he comes out to face-to-face.
From the YA novel origins of Love, Simon to her new role as love interest Susan in Tick, Tick...Boom!, it seems safe to say that Shipp is no stranger to adapting characters from their source material, and doing so with precision and heart. Her sincerity in both roles instantly transforms her from a supporting character to the center of attention and in every case, Shipp embodies her personas to an admirable extreme.
Another actor well-versed in the Broadway cinema experience, Jon's childhood friend Michael may be recognized as Emory from last year's The Boys in the Band, co-starring among fan favorites like Jim Parsons, Andrew Rannells, and Zachary Quinto.
Though similar characters in some aspects, the strong distinction in the films' story, direction, and time periods attest to Jesús's acting abilities and his range. Emory from The Boys in the Band is somewhat of a comic relief character at times while Michael's place in Tick, Tick...Boom! has a lot more intensity to it. Jesús is a strong actor who holds his own in both roles and the two films, both adaptations of Broadway sensations, can virtually guarantee that a beloved performance in one equates to the same in the other.
Another Jonathan Larson classic, Rent was filmed as a live TV movie in 2019, and Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson delivered an unforgettable performance of an iconic role, just as she's done here as Karessa.
Hudgens clearly has a knack for being in the spotlight, and an obvious soft spot for Larson originals. Karessa is not quite as quirky a character as Maureen, but center stage is where they both belong. Whether in all black and singing solemnly about a lost love or in cow print jeans mooing into oblivion, Hudgens proves through these two characters that she is not afraid to step into heavy roles and always deliver her best.
Though mostly known for theatre, Joshua Henry, who plays Roger, can occasionally be found gracing the small screen. His most notable role in recent years is Aaron Burr in the US touring cast of Hamilton, but he also appeared in a season 9 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. The episode featured real moments from the musical's performance and guest-starred Lin-Manuel Miranda as himself.
Despite the cameras, Henry is right at home on both the metaphorical and literal stage of Tick, Tick...Boom!. As Roger, he performs both lead and backup in Jon's show. With strong vocals that undoubtedly landed him the part of Aaron Burr in the first place, it appears that whether live, recorded, or some cross between, Joshua Henry is a true performer in every form.
MJ Rodriguez carries the role of Moondance Diner waitress Carolyn like she was born to play it. Rodriguez is a spectacular actor who is now receiving yet another opportunity to show off her multiple talents, aside from her fifteen award nominations and four wins for her performance in the hit television show, Pose.
Rodriguez's performances are always worth the recognition they receive. In Pose, she plays the main character Blanca, a transgender woman who creates a home for LGBTQ+ individuals in need of a place of refuge. Filled with dance and music and set in 1980s New York, it's only the logical conclusion that taking part in a Jonathan Larson musical adaptation would be next on the list for Rodriguez, tackling the role of Carolyn with all the same enthusiasm she brings to Blanca.
Judith Light has had an outstanding career thus far and is now furthering her repertoire as Tick, Tick...Boom!'s Rosa Stevens, Jonathan's agent. This is not the first Netflix original that she may be recognized from, however. In 2020, Light took on a main role in the second season of The Politician as Ben Platt's character's political opponent, Dede Standish.
As she takes part in the one-of-a-kind political dramedy that is The Politician, Light's screentime always demands the audience's attention, and whether the antagonist of an entire television season or a minor character used mostly for plot progression, even in the smallest of roles, she will always steal the spotlight.
Ambudkar is definitely an up-and-coming star. His role as Todd the focus group attendee aside, Ambudkar plays the role of Mouser in the 2021 released Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds, Taika Waititi, and Joe Keery.
His comic relief performance in Free Guy is absolutely hilarious, his delivery of the unassuming right-hand-man to Waititi's evil corporate dictator character proving his exceptional sense of humor. Similar to Todd, both characters require good delivery of their limited lines, and it can be assured that Ambudkar brings the certain necessary energy to every role he plays, these two proving no exceptions.
Judy Kuhn's most notable role remains not from recent years, but from 1995: the singing voice of the titular character in Disney's Pocahontas. Here she takes on the part of Nan Larson, Jon's mother. But interestingly enough, she doesn't appear to sing much at all.
Although the speaking voice of Pocahontas is credited to Irene Bedard, Kuhn was impossible to pass up as the musical talent given her Broadway roots and music composing experience. Despite lending her acting abilities back to a Broadway-based piece, the audience does miss out on hearing Kuhn's voice in song. But during her short amount of screentime in Tick, Tick...Boom! it is clear that no matter how long of a break she takes from acting, her abilities will always remain superb.
Often recognized for his distinct voice, Kind has taken on hundreds of roles in varying genres and mediums. Through decades of acting, he has made quite a name for himself. For one, his voice undoubtedly stands out in the Netflix original animated series, Big Mouth, one of the most popular adult cartoons currently on the radar.
Having just released its fifth season, Big Mouth is back on the charts, and Kind returns as Andrew's father, the crude and hilarious Marty Glouberman. The character has become a fan favorite of the show, and Kind's performance is undoubtedly to thank. Richard Kind's hilarious and unique delivery in roles from Big Mouth's Marty to Tick, Tick...Boom!'s wishy-washy Walter continues to prove that the man can do just about anything.
