Cruz, Diaz, Samonsky to Star in Rubicon’s tick, tick… BOOM!

Andrew Samonsky, Natascia Diaz, and Wilson Cruz will star in a new production of Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick… BOOM! at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California, from November 17 through December 31. The show will be directed by Scott Schwartz and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, both of whom performed the same duties for the Off-Broadway premiere production in 2001.

The semi-autobiographical musical is set in the months leading up to Jonathan’s 30th birthday and focuses on his struggle to continue with his songwriting career or settle down to a life of domesticity with his girlfriend, Susan. Larson eventually wrote Rent and died suddenly at age 35 on the eve of that show’s first Off-Broadway preview performance in January, 1996.

Samonksy, who will play Jonathan, was recently seen in the national tour of Disney’s On the Record. Diaz played Susan during the Off-Broadway run of tick, tick…BOOM!; her Broadway credits include Man of La Mancha and Seussical. Cruz, who will play Jonathan’s friend Michael, appeared as Angel in Rent both on Broadway and in Los Angeles; he is also known for his TV work in My So-Called Life and Party of Five.