Unless they are steeped in American musical theater lore, viewers might not have realized how star-studded the musical number "Sunday" in Netflix's Tick, Tick...BOOM! is. First-time director Lin-Manuel Miranda (who will appear as Hermes in Percy Jackson and the Olympians) has not been shy about his love for Jonathan Larson's work, in particular, his version of "Sunday," a parody of the Act I finale in Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George.
Larson's work was so revolutionary it redefined his chosen art form far after his passing. Miranda wanted to honor this influence by making the show-stopping number as grandiose and inspiring as possible. There's no better way to do that for Tick, Tick... BOOM! than to collect cameos from Broadway icons to sing one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
André De Shields Shines as Broadway Royalty
André De Shields is Broadway royalty and finally getting his due in the public eye. Primarily known for his performance as Hermes in Hadestown, De Shields has been a part of the Broadway "tribe," as he likes to call it, since the early 1970s. During his time as both a performer and choreographer, De Shields was a part of legendary original Broadway productions like The Wiz, Ain't Misbehavin' and Stardust: The Mitchell Parrish Musical, all of which Larson would have been well aware of. With De Shields showing up in small roles for projects like The Sacklunch Bunch and TikTok's Ratatouille: The Musical, it would be odd if he wasn't included in this number.
Bebe Neuwirth Soars as a Triple Threat
Bebe Neuwirth is one of the greatest triple threats to ever soar across the footlights of a Broadway stage. Her credits range from being the first to portray Sheila in 1975's A Chorus Line and the only performer ever to play Roxie, Velma and "Mama" Morton in 1996's revival run of Chicago. The Tony Award winner is about as close as one can get to a deity in the Broadway community. Neuwirth has also gained a following from her work on screen in projects like Cheers, Madam Secretary, Jumanji and Say Anything. This all, of course, makes her an obvious choice for the number.
Beth Malone and Andrew Garfield Reunite Once Again
Beth Malone is from the same generation of musical theater lovers and performers as Jonathan Larson. Malone solidified her place in musical theater iconography with her award-winning performance as Alison Bechdel in Fun Home. Like Larson, Malone is a self-starter. When she wasn't getting the exposure she desired, Malone wrote the one-woman show, much like Larson's Tick, Tick...Boom, about her early life growing up as a lesbian in a small rural town. Malone's appearance in the film probably came about through her connection to Andrew Garfield. In 2018, Malone and Garfield performed in the earth-shaking revival of Angels in America. Along with that, Malone is a strong LGBTQ+ rights activist and likely respects what Larson did for her community as an ally.
Brian Stokes Mitchell Showcases His Work as a Baritone
After over 35 years in the industry, Brian Stokes Mitchell has solidified himself as the most recognizable baritone in American musical theatre. Miranda spent his early professional years watching Mitchell in Broadway shows like Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Ragtime, Kiss Me Kate and Man of La Mancha. The two-time Tony Award winner has crossed over to television, film and voice-over work constantly throughout his career in projects like Mr. Robot and The Prince of Egypt.
Chita Rivera Is One of the Most Recognizable Cameos in 'Sunday'
Throughout the film, Miranda emphasizes the impact Stephen Sondheim's work had on the American musical theater community. One performer who brought that work to life was Chita Rivera. Primarily known for originating the role of Anita in West Side Story, Rivera has been one of the strongest advocates for dance and theater's positive impact. Along with that, Rivera has become one of the most recognizable Latin performers in entertainment during her career. She was recognized for her activism and talent by President Barack Obama when she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the most honorable awards someone can receive.
Chuck Cooper & Howard McGillin Demonstrate Why They're the Best in Business
Chuck Cooper is an actor who audiences might not know by name, but will certainly know his face. Throughout his career, Cooper has appeared in TV shows and films like White Collar, Gossip Girl, House of Cards and Romeo and Juliet. In 1997, Cooper won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance in The Life. While Cooper and Miranda have never worked on a production together, their paths have crossed numerous times in the Broadway community and they count each other as friends. This may have led to the choice of adding Cooper to the list of Sunday Legends.
Howard McGillin is known primarily for playing the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera for the most performances, until being succeeded by Brad Little. That being said, McGillin still holds the record for most performances as the Phantom on Broadway at the Majestic Theater, home of Phantom. McGillin got his start on the Broadway circuit in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George. The story mirrors the life of many artists, including Larson's. Following George Seurat as he paints his most iconic work, the musical studies the effects isolation has on committed artists. It could be argued that for this reason, McGillin was included as a nod to the original work's impact.
Joel Grey's Diverse Work Doesn't Go Unnoticed
Joel Grey is certainly one of the greatest dramatic actors to have graced the stages of American theater. One trait that Grey shares with Larson and Miranda is a love for all aspects of the creative process. Grey, known most notably for originating the role of the Emcee in Cabaret, is also an accomplished director. In 2011, he was Tony-nominated for Best Director for his work on The Normal Heart. The play chronicles the early days of the AIDS crisis in New York City and the lives of activists, survivors and victims. Works like The Normal Heart, which has a great film adaptation on HBO Max, had their way paved by Larson's Rent. Grey's inclusion might be a nod to this work and the relationship between the LGBTQ+ and theater communities.
Renée Elise Goldsberry & Phillipa Soo Reunite Since Hamilton
Renée Elise Goldsberry (Mallory Book on She-Hulk) and Phillipa Soo have rocketed into Broadway iconography thanks to their performances in 2015's Hamilton. However, they were friends of Miranda and had roots in professional performance long before then. In Soo's case, before her star-making turn as Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza, she originated the role of Natasha in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 in its off-Broadway productions. Goldsberry has a strong relationship with Larson, despite having never met the writer. Goldsberry made her Broadway debut as the last person to play Mimi in the first run of Rent. Due to this as well as their relationship and recognition from Hamilton, Soo and Goldsberry's cameos in Tick, Tick... BOOM!'s "Sunday" was inevitable.
Phylicia Rashad Has a Long Relationship With Lin Manuel Miranda
Maybe one of the more recognizable faces in "Sunday," Phylicia Rashad is primarily known for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Rashad has been seen all over Broadway in shows like A Raisin in the Sun, Into the Woods and August: Osage County. Rashad and Miranda have been friends for a long time, dating back to the writer's first Broadway show, In The Heights. The two were seen together on The Tonight Show's "Broadway's Back!" sketch in the summer of 2021.
Bernadette Peters' Resume Makes Her a Legend
Bernadette Peters may be the most recognizable face among the Broadway Legends in "Sunday." Along with Joel Grey, Peters was also in the original cast of Sunday in the Park With George as its female lead, Dot/Marie. Since her performance in Sunday in the Park was so legendary and star-making, Sondheim continued to use her in his productions like Into The Woods and Gypsy. Peters is truly a living legend, so when rounding out who to call for a quick cameo, she certainly had to be at the top of the list. Audiences may have also seen Peters in NBC's musical-comedy Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.
Adam Pascal, Daphne Rubin-Vega & Wilson Jermain Heredia Honor Rent
These three legendary cameos may be simultaneously the most on the nose and the most heartfelt. Coming out of the subway station dressed like bums, fans of Larson's Rent began to weep when they saw the three original cast members join the scene. As stated in the film, Larson died the night before Rent made its Broadway debut and never got to see the impact it had. Original cast members from Larson's masterpiece had to be in this number, and choosing the characters of Mimi, Roger and Angel to be the Rent Easter eggs was so sincere.
Lin-Manuel Miranda Celebrates Jonathan Larson's Legacy
It is not a Lin-Manuel Miranda production until he makes an on-stage/screen appearance. Miranda often speaks to how Larson's work influenced him in the same way Sondheim influenced Larson. This entire scene is a love letter to the impact an artist's work can have on a young soul. By collecting this treasure trove of talent, Miranda was able to give Larson's "Sunday" the best sound possible. Larson had never been able to hear his version of "Sunday" with a full cast and orchestra, so Miranda felt it was beyond necessary to make it as fully formed as possible. Between Larson's genius, Miranda's watchful care, and a list of "Sunday" cameos on Tick, Tick... BOOM!, there was no way this scene wouldn't inspire.
To see how all of these legends come together, Tick, Tick...BOOM! is now streaming on Netflix.