By Christopher Cappiello

Wilson Cruz in Rent Composer's Life Story

Before he created the international phenomenon of Rent, composer Jonathan Larson began work on an intimate, three-actor autobiographical musical called tick ... tick ... BOOM! After an acclaimed run at Ventura County's highly respected Rubicon Theatre at the end of last year, the small musical makes its L.A. debut with a limited run at the Coronet Theatre starting June 10.

Wilson Cruz, the original Angel in Rent, reprises his role as Michael, Jonathan's upwardly mobile best friend. Cruz originated the role off-Broadway and has played it in a national tour and in the Rubicon's 2005 production. Cruz is joined by Andrew Samonsky as Jon (also reprising his role from the Rubicon run) and Tami Tappan Damiano, who replaces Natascia Diaz as Susan, Jon's girlfriend.

tick ... tick ... BOOM! is set in the week leading up to Jonathan's 30th birthday. Still waiting tables in a Manhattan restaurant as he waits for his big theatrical break, Jonathan faces his best friend's embrace of corporate culture (tick one), his girlfriend's pressure to get married and live like adults (tick two), and his impending three-oh birthday (BOOM). The musical is a series of vignettes, with Cruz and Damiano also taking on a series of smaller roles.

While much smaller in scale than the monumental Rent, tick ... tick has earned raves on both coasts for its powerful rock-tinged score. The Rubicon has become a powerhouse in Southern California theater, snagging 10 Ovation nominations last year for a diverse schedule of plays and musicals.

tick ... tick ... BOOM! begins previews June 7, opens June 10, and runs through July 16 at the Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., W. Hlywd. For tickets and more information, call 310-657-7377 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Gay Men's Chorus Doubleheader

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles has a marathon evening of two special events on Friday, June 2, on the USC campus.

First, from 6-8 p.m., GMCLA honors California state Sen. Sheila James Kuehl and Michael-Jon Smith, vice president of external affairs for AT&T, with their Voice Awards 2006. Immediately following the awards event, the chorus presents their debut performance of Premiere!, a co-production with USC's Spectrum performing arts series.

An out lesbian, Sen. Kuehl has been a longtime voice for equality and justice for LGBT Californians. Smith has helped raise millions of dollars by serving on the boards of numerous LGBT community organizations.

In Premiere!, the chorus' Classical Ensemble presents a range of works, new and old, including premieres of works by Rosephanye Powell, Daniel Catan, and Enrique Gonzalez-Medina.

GMCLA's Voice Awards are held on June 2, from 6-8 p.m., at USC's Nazarian Pavilion. Tickets are $100. Premiere! is performed June 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. at USC's Newman Hall. Tickets are $25. For more information, call 800-MEN-SING or visit www.gmcla.org.

Johnny Guitar Rides into La Mirada

The 1954 Joan Crawford/Mercedes McCambridge film about two polar opposite gals in the wild, wild West has long been a camp favorite of gay men and classic film lovers with a sense of humor. Now Johnny Guitar gets the musical treatment with a production that hitches up at the La Mirada Theatre in June.

Joel Higgins, Ricky Schroder's dad on Silver Spoons, co-wrote the songs and directs this production. The cast includes some singers with serious pedigree, including Alan Campbell, a Tony nominee from the original cast of Sunset Boulevard. The show earned an Outer Critics Circle Award for best off-Broadway musical in 2004.

Johnny Guitar runs June 2-18 at La Mirada Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. For tickets and more information, call (562) 944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.