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t i c k , t i c k … B O O M ! | P E R S P E C T I V E 3 3 the metamechanics of our fi lm, which would tell the story of its own writer and use its songs to illustrate his process of composing this work and all that would follow. Whereas often musicals present a fantasy version of a setting, we needed to portray Larson's environment warts and all, so that audiences could understand all the factors he was responding to that led him to create. 508 Greenwich Street On January 25, 1996, the morning of what would be Rent's fi rst o roadway preview, Jonathan was found dead of an aortic aneurysm in his fourth oor walkup apartment in oHo. It was where he had lived most of his adult life and where he wrote Superbia, tick, tick…BOOM!, and Rent. All of these shows and more were rehearsed there in one way or another while on their way to completion, rendering the space hallowed ground for the roadway set. Lin wanted to recreate Larson's home as it actually was to serve not only as a living monument to his hero, but also felt it would be powerful for the actors to be able to use the set as a kind of time portal, allowing them to walk in their characters' footsteps. Miraculously, the building has not changed hands since the '90s and the apartment itself has gone through minimal renovations, so Assistant Art irector lythe uinlan was able to match the set to the exact dimensions of the real thing with little to no guesswork. We did take one small liberty by widening the pass-through doorways from the kitchen to the living room to enhance sightlines and enable better mobility for the camera. With the help of photos and home video from family and friends, the Art Department was able to make a comprehensive survey of all of Jonathan's earthly belongings to guide set decorator Lydia Marks and her crew in the dressing of the set. Unique items such as the dinosaur kite that hung above the windows, a black-and-white photo of legs from the waist down, the splatter-painted sofa and similar shower curtain for the kitchen bathtub were custom made to match what was in the snapshots. Some items had been saved and B. 508 GREENWICH. LIVING AREA. PAINTING OVER MANTEL BY ANN EGAN ACTUALLY HUNG IN 508 GREENWICH AS DID THE ACTUAL GREENWICH ST. SIGN PICTURED. SET PHOTO. C. 508 GREENWICH. WORK AREA. BOWING SHELVES HAD TO BE BRACED FOR SAFETY WHEN NOT FILMING. SET PHOTO. D. 508 GREENWICH. KITCHEN. SHOWER CURTAIN REPRODUCED FROM PHOTO REFERENCE. SET PHOTO. E. 508 GREENWICH. KITCHEN. LIN WOULD MAKE A NEW POEM EVERYDAY OUT OF THE FRIDGE MAGNETS. SET PHOTO. B C D E