Latest news with #JonathanLarson
The Guardian
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tick, tick … Boom! review – a triumphant shout for theatrical ambition
How do you relaunch a cherished theatre? Theatr Clwyd's bold redevelopment continues, but the main auditorium and light-filled foyers are already open (the stunning views from this theatre on a hill have never gone away). Kate Wasserberg, for her first production as artistic director, picks Jonathan Larson's memoir musical: a show that refuses to apologise for the urgent necessity of making art. It's New York in 1990: the city of scuzzy apartments and fragile hopes that Larson would immortalise in Rent. Jonathan is living on a hustle and a dream, desperate to compose a Broadway show. As he turns 30, his unrealised ambition is all-consuming; he's too tangled up in frets and feelings to be properly present for his girlfriend, Susan, and best friend, Michael. Time is flying, everything is dying. A revolve neatly suggests Jonathan's fear that he can't set his own pace – life is going too fast, his career too slowly. This 'pre-midlife crisis' could seem frivolous, but the heartbreak, the anxiety over health and money all feel real, especially in Wasserberg's production, which is tender with the characters. Larson performed this as a solo; it was itself redeveloped after his death in 1996. His heady score is richly varied, from introspective ballad to guitar-hero antics, from zippy vaudeville to shimmering Sondheim homage. All arrive with gusto from the balcony band and tireless cast. Ryan Owen gives Jonathan restless fingers, taut smiles and a resonant sob of a voice. He bounces feelingly off Tarik Frimpong's twisty, animated Michael and Christina Modestou's terrific Susan, a performance of ample wit and warmth. This is also a soft launch for technical bells and whistles. Katy Morison's lighting shifts from chill to flare (with a last neon flourish). Amy Jane Cook's set design inserts evocative sections of rooms and roofs, and is as multitasking as the actors: a diner bar spins to become a BMW. With posters for Hair and Merrily We Roll Along on Jonathan's wall, this show is a theatre kid's apotheosis. It's also a statement of intent. Making art, like opening a theatre, is a leap of faith. Theatr Clwyd lands triumphantly. At Theatr Clwyd, Mold, until 28 June
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Kentucky considered ‘epicenter' of 17-year cicada ‘Bourbon Brood'
KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — The unmistakable sound will mark the turn from spring to summer across the Bluegrass because, according to University of Kentucky entomologists, the state is at the epicenter of the cicadas' emergence. The periodical cicadas have popped up across western Kentucky in previous years. But the 17-year cicadas will be most prevalent across Kentucky's central and eastern regions in 2025. Cicadas return in 2025: Will Kentucky see them? UK has deemed them the 'Bourbon Brood,' and the University of Connecticut noted this brood is among the largest of all 17-year cicada broods. The insects emerge from the soil after 17 years to molt into their flying, adult forms, typically from April to May, much earlier than typical cicadas. 'We will begin seeing this brood of cicadas when the soil warms to the mid-60s, about the same time you start to see iris blooms,' Jonathan Larson, assistant extension entomology professor in the Department of Entomology at UK Martin-Gatton CAFE, said. 'A lot of people hate them, but I hope they will learn to appreciate them as periodical cicadas are such a rarity.' No damage is too little, FEMA officials say: Deadline for February disaster help in Ky. approaching Kentucky considered 'epicenter' of 17-year cicada 'Bourbon Brood' Letcher County man charged in connection with 2024 death of Whitesburg woman Cicadas count their feeding cycles to know when to emerge, and not all cicadas appear in the correct year. Those that don't are called stragglers and typically don't stick around for long. 'A song from a large congregation of cicadas can be deafening, rivaling the sound made by a jet engine,' Larson said. 'Only the males can produce the sound, and their first song is to encourage other males to congregate in sunlit trees. Another choral song is then made to attract females. The males will die shortly after mating, and the females will begin laying their eggs.' For additional information on periodical cicadas from the UK Department of Entomology, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Bourbon brood' cicadas start emerging in Kentucky after 17-year slumber
Kentucky is known as the land of horses, bourbon and bluegrass — and soon, it will be home to a whole lot of cicadas. Billions of the winged insects are set to emerge from underground starting this month for a weekslong, frenzied and famously noisy mating ritual. This year, cicadas are expected to pop out of the ground in nearly a dozen states, but the emergence will mostly be centered in Kentucky and Tennessee. The insects will also appear in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and small portions of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. Some have nicknamed this season's cicadas the 'bourbon brood,' because of their concentration across Kentucky. 'We're kind of the epicenter, so it just felt like we could make it Kentucky proud,' said Jonathan Larson, an assistant extension professor in entomology at the University of Kentucky. The bugs are known as periodical cicadas, because they spend a fixed number of years underground before coming to the surface to search for a mate. Seven broods of periodical cicadas can be found in North America, and depending on their type, they emerge either once every 13 years or once every 17 years. This year's cicadas belong to Brood XIV, which live on a 17-year cycle. Larson said the 'bourbon brood' moniker is apt because the insects' periodical nature is somewhat akin to the process of distilling Kentucky's famous whiskey. 'You have to age bourbon,' Larson said. 'We put it in barrels in the dark for a long time, so it's kind of similar.' Cicada sightings have already begun in some southern counties in Kentucky, according to Larson, but the real show will begin in the coming weeks as the soil warms. 'I would expect in the next two weeks, we'll really hit full stride,' he said. When that happens, some areas will be literally blanketed with cicadas. But it's not just the sheer number of them that make periodical cicada emergences a distinct experience, it's also the ear-piercing noise that comes with it. Cicadas emit a high-pitched buzzing that can reach up to 100 decibels. The raucous noise is actually their mating song, used to find and attract females. After the insects emerge from underground, the females have only a few weeks to find a mate and lay their eggs before they die. 'The whole thing is wild and beautiful and weird and kind of wonderful,' Larson said. Cicadas are harmless to humans, but some people find them a nuisance, especially after the insects die and huge numbers of carcasses cover the ground. 'At this early stage, there won't be any smells or anything, but later, in about five weeks, as many of them have died, there can be kind of a rotten, decomposing smell in some areas, if there's big enough piles of them,' Larson said. Thousands of species of cicadas can be found around the world, but periodical cicadas are different because they spend the majority of their lives below ground, where they feed on tree roots and wait either 13 years or 17 years before tunneling to the surface. The first cicadas typically emerge in waves sometime in early or mid-May, but most will make their way to the surface in June when conditions are warmer. Larson said cicadas usually wait for soil temperatures to hit around 64 degrees Fahrenheit before they make their push for the surface. The insects' dependence on environmental cues has raised concerns about how climate change may be affecting cicadas and their mating ritual. 'If it's warmer earlier in the year, there is the potential that they could start moving closer to the surface before they ought to,' Larson said, and this could prove deadly to cicadas, since 'we could have a late freeze or extreme weather events like flooding, which we've seen a lot of in Kentucky.' It's an active area of research for scientists, who are particularly interested in studying the long-term impacts of climate change on cicada broods. Meanwhile, in the coming weeks Larson and other bug enthusiasts across multiple states will have the chance to witness a fascinating phenomenon. 'I hope people will go and try to experience it,' Larson said. 'It only happens here in the U.S. There aren't other places that can experience this, so I encourage people to do cicada tourism if they can.' Citizen scientists can even help with research efforts by snapping pictures of the insects and recording geographical details about sightings on an app called Cicada Safari. This article was originally published on
NBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- NBC News
'Bourbon brood' cicadas start emerging in Kentucky after 17-year slumber
Kentucky is known as the land of horses, bourbon and bluegrass — and soon, it will be home to a whole lot of cicadas. Billions of the winged insects are set to emerge from underground starting this month for a weekslong, frenzied and famously noisy mating ritual. This year, cicadas are expected to pop out of the ground in nearly a dozen states, but the emergence will mostly be centered in Kentucky and Tennessee. The insects will also appear in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and small portions of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. Some have nicknamed this season's cicadas the 'bourbon brood,' because of their concentration across Kentucky. 'We're kind of the epicenter, so it just felt like we could make it Kentucky proud,' said Jonathan Larson, an assistant extension professor in entomology at the University of Kentucky. The bugs are known as periodical cicadas, because they spend a fixed number of years underground before coming to the surface to search for a mate. Seven broods of periodical cicadas can be found in North America, and depending on their type, they emerge either once every 13 years or once every 17 years. This year's cicadas belong to Brood XIV, which live on a 17-year cycle. Larson said the 'bourbon brood' moniker is apt because the insects' periodical nature is somewhat akin to the process of distilling Kentucky's famous whiskey. 'You have to age bourbon,' Larson said. 'We put it in barrels in the dark for a long time, so it's kind of similar.' Cicada sightings have already begun in some southern counties in Kentucky, according to Larson, but the real show will begin in the coming weeks as the soil warms. 'I would expect in the next two weeks, we'll really hit full stride,' he said. When that happens, some areas will be literally blanketed with cicadas. But it's not just the sheer number of them that make periodical cicada emergences a distinct experience, it's also the ear-piercing noise that comes with it. Cicadas emit a high-pitched buzzing that can reach up to 100 decibels. The raucous noise is actually their mating song, used to find and attract females. After the insects emerge from underground, the females have only a few weeks to find a mate and lay their eggs before they die. 'The whole thing is wild and beautiful and weird and kind of wonderful,' Larson said. Cicadas are harmless to humans, but some people find them a nuisance, especially after the insects die and huge numbers of carcasses cover the ground. 'At this early stage, there won't be any smells or anything, but later, in about five weeks, as many of them have died, there can be kind of a rotten, decomposing smell in some areas, if there's big enough piles of them,' Larson said. Thousands of species of cicadas can be found around the world, but periodical cicadas are different because they spend the majority of their lives below ground, where they feed on tree roots and wait either 13 years or 17 years before tunneling to the surface. The first cicadas typically emerge in waves sometime in early or mid-May, but most will make their way to the surface in June when conditions are warmer. Larson said cicadas usually wait for soil temperatures to hit around 64 degrees Fahrenheit before they make their push for the surface. The insects' dependence on environmental cues has raised concerns about how climate change may be affecting cicadas and their mating ritual. 'If it's warmer earlier in the year, there is the potential that they could start moving closer to the surface before they ought to,' Larson said, and this could prove deadly to cicadas, since 'we could have a late freeze or extreme weather events like flooding, which we've seen a lot of in Kentucky.' It's an active area of research for scientists, who are particularly interested in studying the long-term impacts of climate change on cicada broods. Meanwhile, in the coming weeks Larson and other bug enthusiasts across multiple states will have the chance to witness a fascinating phenomenon. 'I hope people will go and try to experience it,' Larson said. 'It only happens here in the U.S. There aren't other places that can experience this, so I encourage people to do cicada tourism if they can.' Citizen scientists can even help with research efforts by snapping pictures of the insects and recording geographical details about sightings on an app called Cicada Safari.
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: ‘Jonathan Larson Project' is an off-Broadway chance to hear lost songs of the ‘Rent' composer
NEW YORK — Jonathan Larson, the cheerily boyish composer of the musical 'Rent,' died in 1996 at the age of 35. 'The Jonathan Larson Project,' the new off-Broadway collection of his unheard songs, is a bit like opening a time capsule. Larson never got to grow old and write the kind of songs people write as they confront middle age and beyond, likely turning cynical in the face of failure. He is forever young, forever hopeful, forever pushing forward. Thus Larson, who would have hit 65 this year, has a body of work that is perpetually insecure and optimistic, a catalog of aspirational songs reflecting his struggles to break through, his perennial impecunity, his love of friends and family and his centrality in his East Village community of striving artists and musicians. Some of his songs are, of course, world-famous thanks to 'Rent': 'Seasons of Love,' 'I'll Cover You,' 'La Vie Bohème.' Thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda, who idolizes Larson and his work, the film version of 'Tick, Tick … Boom' made yet more songs familiar, as well as the Larson biography itself, including his decade waiting tables at the famed but now defunct Moondance Diner in SoHo. (I had a post-show drink at the same address in his honor.) But 'The Jonathan Larson Project,' conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, directed by John Simpkins and staged at the Orpheum Theatre in the East Village, concentrates on adding to that catalog. The 90-minute revue features songs that were cut from both 'Rent' and 'Tick, Tick … Boom' but is dominated by songs penned either as standalone compositions or created for shows unproduced and rediscovered after Larson's death on various cassette tapes, sheets of paper, music files, journals, yada, yada. When he wrote most of them, only his friends (and maybe Stephen Sondheim, an early supporter) knew who he was. But 35 years later, they're both messages from the past and, frankly, a painful reminder of what the American musical theater lost when one of its 20th century geniuses died so early in his life. Unlike, say, a Sondheim revue that can focus on different stages of an artist's life, 'The Jonathan Larson Project' is by necessity just one era of a New York creative life, all in a big, emotionally intense rush, being as Larson famously wore his heart on his sleeve. It's a five-performer affair: Adam Chanler-Berat, who looks like Larson himself, and Jason Tam, Taylor Iman Jones, Lauren Marcus and Andy Mientus all to some degree embody different flavors of the man as they perform his songs on the Orpheum's small stage, with band in the rear. The songs are all presented exactly as they were written; nary a lyrical word, it is said, has been changed. Often, when cut (or 'trunk') songs are rediscovered and performed, you learn pretty fast why they were cut in the first place and that's true in a couple of places here. But given the near-mythic status that Larson's work enjoys, at least in certain musical-loving circles, they also carry historical import. They are all revealing of a man whose emotional openness and uninhibited approach to structure were (and are) massively influential on the American musical. The songs are, for the most part, very fun and sweet. 'Green Street' is the opening charmer, penned when Larson was in his early 20s and just moving to New York. 'Out of My Dreams' is a ballad I'd never heard before and struck me as an oft-ignored link from Larson to the world of yacht rock, a term I do not intend as an insult but to note that he could also have written some great studio-recorded pop songs. I did know 'Love Heals,' the kind of song that brings memories of the AIDS era rushing back. At least to me. This is a modestly scaled and earnestly performed project that has no choice but to try and cohere material that Larson did not actually intend, of course, to be cohered. That's a given. Larson's fans won't care about, that although I think some of us were looking for a deeper emotional dive, at least in the songs that accommodate one, being as young Larson also wrote political satire and often wrote songs for specific entities of events, such as for his alma mater, Adelphi University. He was into sci-fi, too. Still, there we all were at the Orpheum, collectively ruminating on the lost genius of Jonathan Larson. A fine way to spend 90 minutes on what otherwise was, for me, an all too ordinary Sunday.
