Lin-Manuel Miranda has revealed that Stephen Sondheim actually re-wrote on of the scenes in tick, tick…Boom! that involved him.
While Sondheim is portrayed on screen by Bradley Whitford, the real Sondheim did record the voicemail heard in the film.
Speaking to The New Yorker, Lin-Manuel said that Sondheim thought the original voicemail written in the script was a little cliché.
“When I screened the movie for Sondheim, he emailed me and said, ‘You treated me very gently and royally, for which I am grateful,’” he recalled. “But he said, ‘One thing: The last voicemail message to Jon, it sounds a little cliché. ‘I have a feeling you’re going to have a very bright future.’ I would never say that. Can I please rewrite what Sondheim says in the voicemail? I’ll record it if you can’t get the actor back.’”
Lin-Manuel said that he wasn’t going to turn “down a Sondheim rewrite!”
Instead of the original voicemail planned, the scene features Sondheim telling Jonathan Larson (played by Andrew Garfield), “It’s first-rate work and has a future, and so do you. I’ll call you later with some thoughts, if that’s OK. Meanwhile, be proud.”
Stephen passed away on Friday, and Bradley was one of the first to pay tribute to the late composer.
