Let summer musical blow you away

"Tick, tick...BOOM!" began as a one-man show before being expanded and reworked after Larson's death, and all through this intimate, high-energy musical there are hints and musical foreshadowings of what would later come together in Rent.

"Tick,tick...BOOM!" tells the story of Jon, a young New York composer who is on the verge of being discovered, but equally facing down doubts and insecurities about his future. Together with Susan, his girlfriend, and Michael, his oldest friend, Jon ponders what lies beyond the decisions they all must face. Along the way there are songs about relationships, the tribulations of urban life, the challenges of growing older, and the need for friendships and connections.

The CAST production of "Tick, tick...BOOM!" is being directed by Mark Steighner and features Ky Fifer as Jon, Thomas Lindsley as Michael, and Janet Lindsley as Susan. All three actors bring to their roles a wealth of musical theatre experience, as well as outstanding voices and electric energy.

Other members of the production team include choreographer Susan Sorensen, lighting designer Mark Dane, stage manager Clara Cook. The producer is Richard Parker.

The show runs July 9,10,11,16,17,18 at 7:30 and July 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. in the Theater at Columbia Center for the Art, 215 Cascade Ave. in Hood River.

Tickets are available at Columbia Center for the Arts and Waucoma Bookstore in Hood River, Collage of the Gorge in White Salmon and online at www.columbiaarts.org.