The musical was developed at Playwrights Horizon and the Public Theater to lackluster reception, despite being awarded the Richard Rodgers Development Grant. While doing all of this, Larson spent years developing a futuristic musical called Superbia, loosely based on 1984. He also wrote music for a musical comedy allegory about capitalism called J.P. Other shows written during this time were Prostrate of the Union, or the Evils of Ronald Reagan’s America (1987) and Presidential Politics (1989).

Some of his earlier works include a musical based on the novel 1984, however, he did not get the stage rights to produce it. During this time he also wrote prolifically, spending hours each day on his craft. Mazzie, Burkell and Larson even formed the J. He also met and befriended future Broadway stars Roger Bart, Marin Mazzie, and Scott Burkell. He developed a close group of friends and sadly watched several pass away from HIV/AIDS in their early 30s. He had an illegal wood stove in the apartment to try and keep warm. Larson lived in a small apartment with no heat and made do by waiting tables at the Moondance Diner.

Now a member of Actors’ Equity, he moved to New York City and settled on the West Side. Learn more about their special relationship here.Īfter graduating in 1982, Larson first earned his Equity card by participating in a summer stock theater program. During his college years, Larson even reached out to Sondheim and the latter became his mentor for the rest of his life. Larson said his work was inspired by the music of Billy Joel, Nirvana, The Beatles, and Stephen Sondheim and his dream became to combine all these influences into one. Sacrimoralimmorality, cowritten with David Glenn Armstrong, was a critique of the American Christian right hypocrisy and intolerance and received a developmental production under the title Saved. Other college works included American Scream, or Armageddon My Act Together & Taking It On the Road and Sacrimoralimmorality.

He wrote cabarets, one about women’s issues called Herstory, Or Little Miss Muffet Spat on Her Tuffet he also penned a musical about the fictional detectives Nick and Nora Charles, Nancy Drew and Sam Spade teaming to discover a murderer in The Steak Tartare Caper. At college, he was a prolific actor, writer and composer. Larson won a full merit scholarship to Adelphi University. He and his older sister, Julie, were exposed to the performing arts from an early age his father, Allan, once said in an interview, “I was changing his diaper, so he had to be pretty young, and he started singing ‘Yellow Bird.’ In tune.” Larson spent his youth among drama clubs and music lessons, studying multiple instruments and starring in many of his high school theater productions. Jonathan Larson was born on Februto Nanette and Allan Larson and grew up in White Plains, a suburb of New York City.

Larson rent musical