
Meet the Playwright
Welcome to JDL 101: An Introduction to Jonathan Larson!
Jonathan David Larson was an American playwright, lyricist, composer, and theatrical visionary from New York. His shows tackled taboo social issues such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, substance use, intersectionality, and homophobia. He is most well known for his musicals tick, tick...BOOM! and RENT.
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Larson's story is one of trial, error, and tribulation. During his time as a writer, he was devoted to making theater accessible to the "MTV generation". If you asked him, he would say he is the "the Future of American Musical Theatre". Before his death at the age of 35 on January 25th, 1996, he worked tirelessly to make this proclamation true.
His legacy lives on through songs, stories, and spark-worthy grit.​
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Photo of Jonathan Larson
Life in White Plains
Larson grew up in White Plains, New York with his father, mother, and sister, Julie. The Larsons were known for being welcoming to all, regardless of background. Larson grew up in a musical household. His parents owned a vinyl collection, which included recordings of musicals. His favorite artists were Elton John, The Who's, Billy Joel, and of course, Stephen Sondheim.
​As a teen, Larson was an actor in many of the high school plays. He was known for his hysterical performances in comedies. Along with this, he was able to pick up an instrument and play from ear. He wasn't fond of the structure that came with playing in formal lessons and preferred to learn by ear.

Photo of young Larson biking
From college to "Real Life"
Larson’s work thrived in college. He was given a four-year scholarship to Adelphi University for acting. He could command a stage, especially with comedic roles. Even when given a smaller role, he was said to “make a mountain of it”.
He was a frequent writer of the student cabarets, raunchy shows that had a Saturday Night Live essence. He wrote pieces on taboo topics such as sex, feminism, and family structures. These cabarets also taught him how to work fast. Oftentimes, the cabarets were produced over 2 weeks. He was constantly doing rewrites until he reached the product he was satisfied with.
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Leaving college, Larson experienced a different side of being a creative: mass rejection. As opposed to college, where he was working on countless opportunities, the wider world brought fewer eyes to his work. He also stayed, creating work that was “too rough” for the world of commercial theatre. In his collegiate works, he leaned toward Brechtian tendencies, not knowing that these wouldn’t pass in the commercial world.
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This isn't to say Larson didn't receive any opportunites. He wrote for children shows such as Sesame Street and Away We Go. He also produced many pieces for his friends who were also in the creative field. Whether it be a selection of sea shanties for a friend in film, or a piano composition for his girlfriend's dance recitals, Larson was willing to contribute.

Photo of Larson in Adelphi's 1982 mainstage production of Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde

Photo of an advertisement for Away We Go!
More from and about Jonathan Larson
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American Theatre: Jonathan Larson
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​"Tick, tick, tick...Reflections on My Friendship with Jonathan Larson
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Photo of Jonathan Larson