The Jonathan Larson Project company choose their favourite numbers by the composer

Commemorating 30 years since his death, a musical revue tribute to the late great Jonathan Larson will receive its London premiere.

The Jonathan Larson Project was first seen Off-Broadway and features music and lyrics by Larson. Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper and directed by John Simpkins, the show features previously unheard songs from the much-loved composer. Last month, we also spoke to musical stars about their favourite lyrics.

Casting has now been announced for the European premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough, and we asked them to share their favourite songs.

Max Harwood

“I discovered Jonathan Larson’s music at 13 when I played Roger in a school production of Rent. Through that show, I fell in love with theatre and, through its celebration of love in all its forms, began to understand myself and find my people. ‘Seasons of Love’ has stayed with me ever since, which is why it feels so meaningful now to help bring some of Jonathan’s last, unheard songs to London audiences.”

Grace Mouat

“I feel so honoured to be part of The Jonathan Larson Project. One of my favourites of his songs has to be ‘Out Tonight’ as it’s an absolute banger and reminds me of my bestie, Maiya Quansah-Breed, and her incredible performance in the Hope Mill Theatre production. I also adore ‘Love Heals,’ which is at the end of The Jonathan Larson Project and is a cut song from Rent! It is incredibly real and has a timeless relevance. The melody is just stunning. I can’t believe I will get to sing it every night!”

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Imelda Warren-Green

“My favourite Larson song is ‘Piano’ from The Jonathan Larson Project. I love how so much of his writing is relevant to how the world currently feels, and listening to it is totally cathartic.”

Marcus Collins

“‘Seasons of Love’ is the one that really sticks with me. I was introduced to it by a vocal coach in 2005 and something about it just drew me in. This led me to Jonathan’s work and I’m still discovering his catalogue.”

Michael Mather

“I’m super excited about The Jonathan Larson Project. Jonathan is a huge inspiration to me. I have admired his work my whole life and to be able to do this show means more to me than anyone will ever know. I actually have two favourite Jonathan Larson songs for very different reasons. The first is ‘Louder Than Words’ from tick, tick… Boom! I love it because it has this incredible verse that just sticks with me:

Why do we follow leaders who never lead?
Why does it take catastrophe to start a revolution
If we’re so free?
Tell me why
Someone tell me why
So many people bleed

To me that is genius. So fitting right now in the world. And the other song is ‘Without You’ from Rent. It’s one of my go-to songs and it has a lot of deep meaning for me; it’s a very personal song.”

John Simpkins

“All of the songs in The Jonathan Larson Project are special to me and have significance and meaning far beyond the context in which he may have originally written them. One that is speaking to me currently is ‘Pura Vida,’ which translates to ‘pure life’. Jonathan wrote it in 1991 as a standalone pop song, wanting to ensure his work had a chance to have life on the radio and to have meaning and impact that stretches beyond the theatre. He cared deeply about the environment, and this song on its face seems to be about our role in saving the environmental ecosystems that make up our fragile world. In our highly fractured society, the song also speaks to me as a guide that can help us resolve some of our conflicting ideologies in today’s human ecosystem.

“Jonathan warns in the lyric that ‘we race against time’ and asks ‘can we endure this race?’ As we struggle with this race in many ways beyond the environment, I’m inspired by his blueprint to ‘find a pace, find a speed’ and that if we work together, we can find a utopian world where ‘the birds laugh and the sun, she smiles, and the trees they dance in the wind.’ Like much of his work, Jonathan wrote these words long before our current problems, but seemed to be forecasting both the challenges and possible solutions for us to help make the world a better place.”

Thomas Hopkins

“Jonathan Larson’s work has always carried an extraordinary ability to transcend time, and on the anniversary of his death, it feels more important than ever to celebrate the life, the voice, and the genius he left behind. As the producer bringing The Jonathan Larson Project, a show that shines a light on the unheard songs and stories from his remarkable archive, to London this July, I feel proud to be leading the way in honouring his legacy on stage.

“When asked to choose my “favourite song” from Larson’s catalogue, I return again and again to ‘Love Heals,’ which is featured in the show and, to me, captures the very essence of what Jonathan’s music is all about. Listening now, its lyrics feel hauntingly relevant, offering comfort, hope, and an emotional clarity that speaks directly to the world we are living in today. Once again, Jonathan’s soul and his artistry remind us that even in the most uncertain moments of history, music can guide us through, and love, as he so beautifully wrote, truly can heal.”

You?

Alongside the casting announcement, the producers and the production’s casting director, Rob Kelly, have launched an open application search for two cover roles, inviting performers with no professional musical stage credits to apply…