While the casting for “Tick, tick … Boom!” has yet to be announced, Harris’s involvement as a director is a major milestone for the Broadway Center Stage series. Since its inception in 2018, the series has presented successful revivals of popular Broadway productions like “Chess,” “The Music Man,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” The latter production, directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, even transferred to Broadway.
According to Jeffrey Finn, the vice president and executive producer of theater at the Kennedy Center, the Broadway Center Stage series is a win-win for D.C. audiences as it provides an opportunity to bring more shows to a wider audience. The series has become the center’s main theatrical offering, focusing on concert-style productions of classic musicals.
The production of “Tick, tick … Boom!” carries high expectations, especially after the success of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Netflix version starring Andrew Garfield. Finn knew that the stage version needed to stand theatrically apart and deliver a fresh and exciting interpretation. Harris’s versatility and talent make him the perfect choice to bring a new vision to the musical.
Harris has always admired Larson and his work. In 2010, he directed a revival of “Rent” and added his own touch by expanding the orchestra and vocal ensemble. He believes that he and Larson would have gotten along well and appreciates the opportunity to explore Larson’s themes and questions about the choices artists face between artistic integrity and commercial success.
