2008 Altar Boyz

Altar Boyz is a new, off-Broadway comedy musical about five young men and their struggles in a Christian boy band. The action follows Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham (the unsure and Jewish fifth member) as they head from their home in Ohio to New York as part of their Raise the Praise concert tour. An explosive mixture of modernism, irony and flamboyant singing and dancing makes tickets to Altar Boyz your tickets to one of the most exciting and funny theater shows of the year.

With the book by Kevin Del Aguila and with music and lyrics by Gary Adler (Avenue Q) and Michael Patrick Walker, this piece is an outstanding and original production. The Altar Boyz cast assembles two actors making their NYC stage debut in Jayson Celeya as Matthew and Andrew C. Call as Luke (Altar Boyz, Detroit). Zach Hanna (Mark), Ryan Duncan (creator of the Juan character) and Dennis Moench (Abraham) have amassed many off-Broadway credits between them in shows such as Copacabana, Lyle Crocodile and Fame on 42nd Street. Shadoe Stevens, voice of the American Top 40, is a great addition as The Voice of G.O.D.

Altar Boyz was a smash hit at the New York Musical Theater Festival, going on to win the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best off-Broadway musical. With song titles such as 'Church Rulez' and 'The Miracle Song,' the production appeals to fans of both traditional Broadway shows and modern comedy.

Much of the charm of Altar Boyz stems from the idiosyncrasies of each of the main characters. Between Luke's preoccupation with communion wine and Mark's faith in the deity of Cher, there are a thousand laughs and a thousand observations of the disparity between old religion and modern culture. A clever idea, well executed by a strong principle cast and beaming with fabulous dance routines and pseudo-angelic singing, tickets to see Altar Boyz will ensure a once-in-a-camp-blasphemous-lifetime musical experience.