Every Cameo in Tick, Tick... Boom!

Every Cameo in Tick, Tick...Boom!

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at Every Cameo in Tick, Tick...Boom!

For this list, we’ll be looking at the impressive array of composers, writers, actors, and so on who made a guest appearance in this 2021 movie musical. If you haven’t seen it yet, there will be some spoilers up ahead.

Did you notice all of these famous faces? Which one surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.

Composers

As any aspiring artist could tell you that the writing workshop is a pretty big deal. However, we doubt that many could boast one as A-List as this. As the camera pans across the audience, you can spot some major theatre talent. Playwright and lyricist Quiara Alegría Hudes and composer and musical director Alex Lacamoire, both of whom previously worked with Miranda are in attendance. As are Jason Robert Brown, Marc Shaiman, Stephen Schwartz, Jeanine Tesori, Steve Levenson and so many more. The audience also includes some of the actual winners of the Jonathan Larson Grant, such as Amanda Green, Chad Beguelin, Dave Malloy, Joe Iconis, Matthew Sklar, and Shaina Taub.

Moondance Diner’s Patrons & Staff

There’s plenty of famous faces to spot around the diner (don’t worry, we’re getting to THAT scene). For example, Roger Bart, who was a close friend of Larson’s can be seen in one of the earlier scenes. He’s joined by James C. Nicola who was the Artistic Director of the New York Theatre Workshop back when Larson was affiliated with it. André de Shields, who you’ll recognize from “Hadestown,” struggles to comprehend why he’s being asked how many are in his party. Meanwhile, Joel Grey, known for his roles in “Cabaret” and “Wicked” among others, simply wants the check.

Howard McGillin, the longest-running Phantom, is craving some “Jewish bread”. It’s Chuck Cooper, who won a Tony for his role in “The Life”, that inaccurately informs him that it’s called “holly” bread. Behind the scenes in more ways than one is Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. Not only was this his directing debut but it also finds him working hard in the kitchen during the Sunday brunch rush. He isn’t the only Miranda hard at work either: though he’s not at the diner, his dad, Luis A. Miranda Jr. plays a concierge during “No More”.

“Sunday”

This scene was a musical theater fan’s paradise. Representing generations of Broadway icons, director Lin-Manuel Miranda seemingly imagined those who inspired Larson in the same way that Larson inspired him. As a result, this chaotic Sunday brunch scene appears to have more stars than there are lights on Broadway. For instance, did you spot Miranda’s “Hamilton” co-stars, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo? What about their homage to the Tony Award-winning musical? Did you see Beth Malone, who originated the role of Alison Bechdel in “Fun Home”? We know that the Rentheads out there definitely noticed OG cast members Daphne Rubin Vega, Adam Pascal, and Wilson Jermaine Heredia.

Also appearing in this scene are Bebe Neuwirth, Phylicia Rashad, and Chita Rivera. You may have noticed earlier that Jon watches a recording of “Sunday in the Park with George” starring Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin. Well, Peters appears again in this scene, recreating that moment with Jon. Also, the guy who just wants a yolk-less omelet is played by non-other than Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell. Miranda wanted this scene to be a surprise for audiences and it certainly was an amazing one. If you hadn’t noticed all these cameos the first time, you’ve got some rewatching and rewinding to do.

Playwrights Horizons Workshop

After finally securing a workshop, Jon gathers up the talent who will help bring his work to life. If you’re a Broadway aficionado, you’ll probably recognize several familiar faces among the “Superbia” cast. Joel Perez, Kate Rockwell, Kenita Miller, Janet Dacal, and Gizel Jiménez have starred in some of our favorite modern musicals from “Fun Home” and “In The Heights” to “Mean Girls” and “Wicked”. You’ll also spot Aneesa Folds from “Freestyle Love Supreme”. Meanwhile, in attendance are Jon’s proud parents. His father is played by Danny Burstein, who won a Tony for playing Harold Zidler in “Moulin Rouge”. Meanwhile, his mother is played by Broadway and Disney legend Judy Kuhn.

Advertising Focus Group

Even though he’s used to living the starving artist lifestyle, Jon realizes that some extra cash could really come in handy. So Michael hooks him up with a focus group, filled with faces that are instantly recognizable to a theatre-loving audience. Leading the group is multi-award winning star of stage and screen, Laura Benanti. Taking the job a little too seriously are Micaela Diamond who originated the role of Babe in “The Cher Show” and Danielle Ferland, the original Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods”. They’re joined by Utkarsh Ambudkar from “Freestyle Love Supreme”. He played Aaron Burr in an early workshop of “Hamilton”.

“Louder Than Words”

In the final scene, Jon finally gets to show off his work in front of a rather eclectic audience. The whole movie has been building up to this moment, so it’s kinda hard not to get choked up. But there are still some last-minute cameo additions, so wipe away your tear-filled eyes and pay close attention. Yes, that is Christopher Jackson walking into the theatre. You probably know him best as Benny from “In The Heights” or George Washington from “Hamilton”. Jelani Alladin from the Broadway cast of “Frozen” makes an appearance too. As does Scott Schwartz, who directed the original Off-Broadway production of “tick, tick...BOOM!” You will also notice Jonathan Larson’s actual sister, Julie.

Stephen Sondheim

Of course, there’s one man we have to give a special mention to. It’s clear throughout the movie just how much of an influential figure the late Stephen Sondheim was to Jonathan Larson. In fact, several of his musicals are even name-dropped in Larson's music. Although he’s played by Bradley Whitford, the real Sondheim still makes a secret cameo too. In the scene where the composer leaves Jon a voice message, not only is that Sondheim’s actual voice you’re hearing, but he rewrote that part of the script to sound more like him as well. “Tick, Tick...Boom!” might be about Larson’s life, but this movie honors two of musical theatre’s greatest.