Is Superbia in Tick, Tick Boom a real play?

Tick, Tick Boom is based on the autobiographical musical of the same name by Jonathan Larson. However, at the beginning of the movie, it’s pointed out that everything the viewer is about to see is true except for the parts that Jon made up.

For two hours, the film takes us on a journey through Jon’s life from his relationships to his work as a playwright. The central premise of Tick, Tick Boom is that it’s days before Jon’s 30th birthday and he’s still yet to finish his play called Superbia.

Spoilers ahead of Tick, Tick Boom

Jon’s been working on it for five years, and he’s one song away from finishing it, but he has a terrible case of writer’s block. Superbia is a fantastical sci-fi imagining of the future with a high concept some have found off-putting. Jon, however, believes it’s his ticket to the career he’s always dreamed of having.

Given the aside at the beginning of the movie, it’s understandable if the existence of Superbia as a real life play Larson wrote is being questioned. Here’s what we know!

Yes, Superbia is a real play and not one that was made up for either the Tick, Tick Boom movie adaptation or the original musical. Larson wrote tick, tick…Boom! as a way to express his frustration over the play not being fully produced.

According to Playbill, Superbia did go through the workshop process at Playwrights Horizons and the Public. It also won Larson accolades and awards as the play showcased his promise as a writer. Superbia, however, was too out there for producers which is why it never saw a Broadway or Off-Broadway run.

Tick, Tick Boom is available to stream now on Netflix. Stay tuned to Netflix Life for more news and coverage of the streamer’s movies including the Best Netflix Movies of 2021.