These musicals seriously tackle issues such as multiculturalism, addiction, sexual orientation and HIV. Rent was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won four Tony Awards. The scores of his shows reveal that he was an apt composer and lyricist.
One tick, tick...BOOM! song called "Sunday" is an homage to Stephen Sondheim, who supported Larson. It stays close to the melody and lyrics of Sondheim's own song of the same title but turning it from a manifesto about art into a waiter's lament.
Among the many awards he received during and after his lifetime were: the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (for Rent), the Richard Rodgers Production Award, the Richard Rodgers Development Grant, the Stephen Sondheim Award, the Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation's Commendation Award, the Tonys for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Score of a Musical for Rent, the Drama Desks for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Book, and Best Lyrics (also for Rent), the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical (again for Rent), the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical in the Off-Broadway category (another for Rent), and three Obie Awards for Outstanding Book, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music (yet again for Rent).
Among his many creative works are Rent, tick, tick...BOOM!, Sacrimoralimmorality (1981)with David Armstrong (retitled Saved for the one-week run on 42nd Street), Superbia, the music for J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, numerous individual numbers, music for Sesame Street, music for the children's book cassettes of An American Tail and Land Before Time, music for Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner, and four songs for the children's video Away We Go! (which he also conceived and directed).
Larson died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed aortic dissection (aortic aneurysm), believed to have been caused by Marfan syndrome, on January 25th, 1996. It was ten days before his 36th birthday, and the night before Rent's first preview off-Broadway.
After his death, Larson's family and friends started the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation.
In 2005, a film version of his most popular production Rent was released, directed by Christopher Columbus.
In September of 2008, Rent closed after 12 successful years on broadway. One of the final shows and the finale were filmed for a limited engagement film, "Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway." The DVD and Blu-Ray disc were released was in February 2009.
Currently original cast members Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, and Gwen Stewart are performing on the farewell broadway tour of the show.
Voice Mail #2
Jonathan Larson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, Joanne - We're off
I tried you at the office
And they said you're stage managing or something
Mrs. Jefferson
Remind her that those unwed mothers in Harlem
Need her legal help too
Mr. Jefferson
Call Daisy for our itinerary or Alfred at Pound Ridge
Or Eileen at the state department in a pinch
We'll be at the spa for new year's
Unless the senator changes his mind
Mrs. Jefferson
The hearings
Mr. Jefferson
Oh yes - Kitten
Mummy's confirmation hearing begins on the tenth
We'll need you - alone - by the sixth
Mrs. Jefferson
Harold!
Mr. Jefferson
You hear that?
It's three weeks away
And she's already nervous
Mrs. Jefferson
I am not!
Mr. Jefferson
For Mummy's sake, Kitten
No Doc Martens this time and wear a dress
Oh, and Kitten - have a merry...
Mrs. Jefferson
And a bra!!
The song "Voice Mail #2" is a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson and Joanne, who is managing a stage production. The Jeffersons call Joanne to inform her of their plans for New Year's Eve, and Mrs. Jefferson reminds her that she should also help the unwed mothers in Harlem with her legal expertise. Mr. Jefferson leaves a message for Joanne to call Daisy or Alfred for their itinerary, and they discuss Mummy's confirmation hearing, which will begin on the tenth. Mrs. Jefferson becomes nervous about the upcoming hearing, and Mr. Jefferson reminds her to dress appropriately and wear a bra.
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Jefferson
The singer is addressing another person
Well, Joanne - We're off
The singer is telling Joanne they are leaving
I tried you at the office
The singer attempted to contact Joanne at her workplace
And they said you're stage managing or something
The artist received information that Joanne is involved in stage management
Mrs. Jefferson
The artist is addressing another person
Remind her that those unwed mothers in Harlem
The singer wants Joanne to remember the needs of single mothers in Harlem
Need her legal help too
The single mothers require Joanne's assistance with legal matters
Call Daisy for our itinerary or Alfred at Pound Ridge
The artist instructs someone to contact Daisy or Alfred for their travel itinerary
Or Eileen at the state department in a pinch
If there is an emergency, Eileen at the state department should be contacted
We'll be at the spa for new year's
The artist indicates their location on New Year's Eve
Unless the senator changes his mind
Their plans are subject to change if the senator changes his mind
The hearings
Refers to an event/happening i.e the senator's hearings
Oh yes - Kitten
The singer turns their attention to Kitten
Mummy's confirmation hearing begins on the tenth
The singer announces the date of Mummy's confirmation hearing
We'll need you - alone - by the sixth
Kitten is needed by the sixth, and she must come alone
Harold!
The artist addresses someone named Harold
You hear that?
The artist is asking if Harold hears what was just said
It's three weeks away
Refers to the amount of time until Mummy's confirmation hearing
And she's already nervous
The singer is discussing the nerves that Kitten possesses regarding the hearing
I am not!
Kitten refutes her nervousness
For Mummy's sake, Kitten
The artist is urging Kitten to remain calm for Mummy's sake
No Doc Martens this time and wear a dress
Kitten is instructed not to wear Doc Martens, and to wear a dress instead
Oh, and Kitten - have a merry...
The singer is wishing Kitten a Merry Christmas
And a bra!!
The artist instructs Kitten to wear a bra
Contributed by Lily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gerardyatcilla4839
❤!