Sadly, the late composer Jonathan Larson only wrote three full musicals. The first was Superbia (set in outer space), then tick, tick ... BOOM! followed by Rent. Now premiering in Dallas is the tour version of tick, tick ... BOOM!, an autobiographical rock and pop tale that centers around Larson's life being stuck in neutral, both in his career and his personal life. Larson originally performed this work as a solo show in 1990. In June of 2001, it had its world premiere Off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre.

What will strike you first in this rock musical is how bold and honest Larson's book is. There are times when the language and situations grab hold of you and never let go. An example is a scene late in the show in which Jonathan (Christian Campbell) and his best friend Michael (Wilson Cruz) have a heated argument about dealing with fear and failure, a scene that speaks on many levels.

The book is also wonderfully hilarious and filled to the brim with humor and one liners dealing with musical theater, acting, performing, writing, love, friendships, and life. The message is to keep striving to make your dreams into reality, no matter how many times you fall down on the way.

The music and lyrics by Larson are written in the flavors of rock, pop, and electronic. The lyrics have superb layers of subtext, thereby adding amazing character development for insight into the hearts and minds of the three characters. There are small riffs and piano work that foreshadow Rent's score as well.

The songs are all priceless gems that provide a solid and substantial layer for the book and lyrics to crest and glide on. Larson's score is filled with hard edged rock tunes, some quite festive dance tunes, and a collection of gorgeous and very poignant ballads.

Larson's god of musical theater was Stephen Sondheim (who plays into the tick ... tick...BOOM! plot beautifully), so as a tribute to his favorite composer he wrote a very hysterical number called "Sunday." "Sunday" contains the slow, melodic pace and tempo of Sondheim's song of the same name from Sunday in the Park with George, as well as the familiar tune. Larson's lyrics pertain to colors and schemes, just like Sondheim's. For another added layer of fun, the staging has the lead posing the other two like a painting.

The entire score is thrilling; every song is sung, performed, and staged with pure finesse and blazing talent.

Scott Schwartz directs this production with a vibrant and welcome fresh excitement. His staging is a fine example of giving each number and performance purpose and definition. It should be noted that the pace is sublime as well. Schwartz's brilliant direction brings out the heart and soul of Larson's writing. None of the performances or blocking feels "performed," but instead they feel natural, organic, true, and honest. This gives an abundance of emotional weight to the score and book.

Christian Campbell as Jonathan gives a splendid, vivid, and magnetic performance in the lead role. The young actor's commitment to character is captivating. Throughout his entire performance you never get a sense of him performing, but instead he brings out the raw, naked emotion of what his character is truly feeling and thinking. Through the actor's defined subtext, you can see the flaws and dents in the steel armor over Jonathan's heart and mind.

Campbell easily holds the audience's attention with his engaging and heartwarming stage presence. Known primarily as an actor of film and television, it is a delightful surprise to hear his gorgeous tenor voice. He possesses a solid belt to soar over the rock and guitar chords with pure professionalism, and endless energy for working such fun numbers as "Sunday" and "Suga" into hilarious crowd pleasers. Campbell adds perfect comic timing and facial expressions to the comedic overtones written within his role. Campbell has to carry the show, and he does it well with this laudable and resplendent performance.

Wilson Cruz portrays Michael, Jonathan's best friend since there were kids at summer camp. Michael used to be an actor, but is now a marketing executive. Cruz also plays a cornucopia of other characters, such as Jonathan's father and even his agent Rose. The Latino actor is a comic tornado that has the audience rolling in the aisles with his flawless comic timing and pace, matched only by his elastic facial expressions.

I've been told that some of the music was transposed to fit Michael's tenor voice. In all honesty, this actually works better than what you hear on the original cast recording. Cruz has a firm vibrato that allows the tenor notes to float like soft cotton candy in the sky, creating beautiful music in the process. His performance on "Johnny Can't Decide" and "Real Life" are proof of this. Cruz also handles the dramatic overtones within his character with clear honesty and painful emotion. He is just superb.

As the lone female in the cast, Nicole Ruth Snelson is an amalgamation of Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Madonna, Melissa Ethridge, and Bette Midler. The girl can rock! Her booming soprano voice easily fills the Majestic Theatre. Snelson is blessed with the 11 o'clock number, "Come to Your Senses" (from Superbia) that will put goosebumps on your arms and cause your body to tingle due to her incredible and powerful performance of this soaring rock aria. But she also has some downright hilarious numbers that show off her dazzling exuberance as well. She and Campbell have a show stopping duet titled "Therapy" that is a jovial laugh fest about relationships and feelings, something everyone can relate to.

Snelson's chemistry with Campbell is unbreakable and believable as the strain and heartbreak of their relationship comes across the stage lights. The same can be said for Cruz's and Campbell's chemistry as best friends. You can feel the bond flow between both actors, most notably in the songs "No More" and "Real Life."

In all honesty, this cast sings much better than the original New York cast. They add a new layer of life to the score that was somewhat lacking in the original cast recording. I really hope they consider making another cast recording with this cast.

If Larson were alive today, I'm sure he would be beaming with pride that his music and lyrics were being brought to such sparkling and impressive life by these three terrific and passionate performers. tick, tick ... BOOM! speaks to all of us. We all have dreams, but do we let them go? Or do we continue to make them become reality, no matter what the cost or sacrifice may be?

tick, tick ... BOOM! plays at the Majestic Theatre through January 12th. For tickets call 214-631-ARTS, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all Ticketmaster outlets, including The Majestic Theatre box office, Fiesta Marts, Foley's, Tower Records and Sound Wherehouse.

--John Garcia