INTERVIEW: New musical revue features Jonathan Larson’s unknown songbook
Photo: The Jonathan Larson Project features Lauren Marcus. Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus / Provided by press rep with permission.
Jonathan Larson, the composer of RENT, changed musical theater forever but sadly died before he was able to realize the great impact his work would have on the cultural scene. Decades later, his limited number of shows in the public sphere are still celebrated and produced around the world. But now a new show, called The Jonathan Larson Project, intends to shine a light on his lesser-known songs from unproduced musicals.
The Jonathan Larson Project, which began as a series of concerts a few years ago, is currently running at the Orpheum Theatre in New York City, only a few blocks from where RENT original premiered in Downtown Manhattan. Five performers bring the songbook to the stage: Adam Chanler-Berat, Taylor Iman Jones, Lauren Marcus, Andy Mientus, and Jason Tam.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Marcus, who appeared on Broadway in Be More Chill. Her other credits include White Girl in Danger, The Bedwetter and Fiddler on the Roof, among other productions. She also performed in the recent movie adaptation of Larson’s tick, tick…BOOM! Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What’s it like working with this creative team and this ensemble to bring these songs to life?
This job feels like a dream. It’s not often you’re handed a score that is so well-written, so timely and so incredibly moving (and funny!). I’d been secretly hoping, since our series of concerts in 2018, that this would be the journey forward for The Jonathan Larson Project, and I could pinch myself that we now get to continue to share this music with New York City. Something about this particular group of people — and I mean from the creative team to the cast to the people working backstage — they are all kind, funny humans, and that also feels very unique in this industry. Like, to get a group this good, this has honestly been a relatively easy process. There aren’t a lot of egos in the room, and everyone is just thrilled to be working on such a gorgeous piece of art. We feel very lucky and are taking the time to enjoy this one. I think (hope?!) that comes across onstage.
In your opinion, how much of a genius was Jonathan Larson?
I think Jonathan Larson was a genius when it comes to wrangling and shaping what we’ve been calling the audacity of his earnestness. How on earth that man managed to be so literal and so unabashedly wear his heart on his sleeve in his writing, and still manage to write music that is unbelievably tuneful and still so relevant and, for lack of a better word, cool?! It’s wild, it’s impressive and it’s a gift to perform every night.
Will audience members be surprised by these hidden gems in The Jonathan Larson Project?
Yes. I think most people who are familiar with Jonathan Larson are familiar with RENT (and maybe tick…tick…BOOM!), but they’re probably not expecting pastiche songs, not expecting wild soprano-driven patter songs, not expecting the enormity of passion he had for politics and art. I could go song by song and make a case for why that particular song might be surprising and exciting for a new audience member. It’s exciting as a cast member to feel the reactions from the stage!
What was it like performing in the movie adaptation of tick, tick … BOOM!?
It felt very surreal, and I felt very, very lucky to be part of the film. I had the honor of meeting the great Victoria Leacock Hoffman during our round of The Jonathan Larson Project concerts, so getting to play a character based on her (my character’s name was Donna, but Donna is very much a stand-in for Victoria!) after knowing how instrumental she was in supporting Jonathan’s career, professionally and personally, well, I felt pride getting to portray someone so important in his life.
And then there’s just the very crazy, “Oh, I’m on set with a hundred of my heroes. What the hell is happening,” of it all. That felt wild!
Did RENT have a big influence on you?
I absolutely love RENT, but I am embarrassed to admit that I got to it late. I was a musical theatre snob when I was younger, and it bothered me that all of a sudden, in sixth grade, all these people who didn’t care a ton about MT were singing this new-fangled score from a show called RENT. I (mortifyingly) resisted it.
Then I listened in high school and obviously understood why it transcended and everyone — MT enthusiasts and beyond — became obsessed.
When did you realize you wanted to be a professional performer?
Oh, I’m one of those people who knew at age 5. I saw a touring production of Les Misérables, walked out of the theatre and told everyone that that was what I’d be doing with my life, thankyouverymuch. A wild decision to make at age 5, but when you know, you know!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Jonathan Larson Project, featuring Lauren Marcus, continues at the Orpheum Theatre in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
