Altar Boyz

The award-winning Off-Broadway musical comedy, Altar Boyz, returns to Chicago in an all-new production at Drury Lane Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut Street, in a limited engagement with previews beginning on September 28 and opening October 7 with performances through November 25.   

Armed with catchy melodies, divine moves and gobs of hair product, Altar Boyz is a hilarious, holy-inspiring musical comedy about five small-town boys – Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham – trying to save the world one screaming fan at a time.  Presented as a concert in real-time, Altar Boyz sweetly satirizes the phenomenon of boy bands, the popularity of Christian-themed music, and excess product placement in contemporary American culture.  The group’s amusingly pious pop act features slick dance moves, heavenly harmonies, and laugh-out-loud lyrics such as “Girl You Make Me Wanna Wait” and “Jesus Called Me on My Cell Phone.” 

The new Chicago production of Altar Boyz will be directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli (both of the original New York creative team).  Arima’s other directing credits include the West End production of Ragtime and The Pajama Game at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, as well as serving as Associate Director for Seussical – The Musical on Broadway.  He has directed Altar Boyz in Seoul (Korea), Detroit, St. Louis and New York.  Gattelli’s credits include High Fidelity (Broadway), Bat Boy: The Musical! (Off-Broadway), and tick, tick…BOOM! (Off Broadway and National Tour). 

“Chicago is one of those exceptional cities where theater thrives in such an infectious way that it is easy to be inspired by its energy,” said Arima.  “This is no ordinary town, so we have approached the show in a fresh way that is completely unique and individual for Chicagoans to call their very own.”

The “Boyz” are:  Brian Crum (Mark), most recently seen in the Broadway, Chicago and National Tour of Wicked; Devin DeSantis (Matthew) a Northwestern graduate and star of numerous productions at Marriott Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare; Nick Verina (Abe), hot off his appearance in Forbidden Broadway: SVU at the Royal George Theater; and Tyler McGee (Luke) and Adam Zelasko (Juan), recent alums of Altar Boyz regional productions in Long Beach and Michigan, respectively.  Radio legend Roy Leonard will be heard as "the Voice of G.O.D."  Joey Haro and David Morrison will understudy all roles.

Altar Boyz is being produced in Chicago by Joe McGinnis, a Chicago native and recent Tony Award® winner for Spring Awakening (Best Musical 2007); Bart Kahn, whose 30 years of experience includes national and international tours, several Chicago productions and many years on Broadway with 42nd Street, The Lion King, and Avenue Q; and Carl Moellenberg, another recent Tony-Winner for Spring Awakening, and one of the producers of Fiddler on the Roof in London.  McGinnis also produced the national tour of Altar Boyz which made its debut in Chicago at the LaSalle Bank Theatre in October 2006.

“The moment I first saw Altar Boyz I knew it would find a home in the Windy City,” said McGinnis. “The show has a driving rhythm, a rollicking sense of humor, lots of style and a great big heart...just like Chicago…and we’re very happy to be back.”

“I fell in love with Chicago when we came here on tour with Altar Boyz, and found the two to be a perfect match,” said Kahn.  “I have since found a new home in Chicago, for both ‘the boyz’ and myself.”

Since debuting in September of 2004 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and opening Off-Broadway in 2005, Altar Boyz has been lifting souls across the United States, as well as in Korea and Hungary, and was recently voted “Fan Favorite – Longest Running Off-Broadway Show” in the Broadway.com Awards.  The New York production also won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best off-Broadway Musical and was nominated for seven 2005 Drama Desk Awards including Best Music, Best Lyrics, Best Book and Best Musical.  Altar Boyz features a score by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker with book by Kevin Del Aguila, and is based on a concept by Marc Kessler and Ken Davenport.

Tickets, priced from $45 to $55, are currently on sale via the Drury Lane Water Tower Place Box Office, by calling 312-642-2000 or online at Ticketmaster.com