NAKED BOYS SINGING 10/12 Review - (picture-taker forces cast to stop show mid-song)

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 9:13am

I caught NAKED BOYS SINGING (the show, not the movie) at New World Stages last night. First off, the show is in great shape. This is easily the best all around cast I've seen of the show. Trained singers, focused dancers, with great personalities and acting chops to boot.

I was pleasantly surprised to see NAKED BOYS vet George Livengood back in the show. He really shines in the audience participation segment that leads into "Perky Little Porn Star," and he is adorable as ever.

Other standouts include Trevor Southworth, offering a polished rendition of "The Naked Maid;" Matthew Kilgore, as the central focus of "The Bliss Of A Bris" as well as a shining performer in a variety of other numbers; Timothy John Mandala, whose subtle charm infused his role as the central hunk of many numbers; and Eric Potter, who has an amazing voice that really helps light up "Jack's Song" and "The Entertainer."

The unfortunate part of the evening was that, midway through "Window To The Soul" (the next to last song), the show had to be stopped because an audience member in the back started taking photos with his cell phone. One of the actors stopped the song and pointed to the man in the back of the house, and said "Camera!". He made sure the ushers knew who he was talking about, the actors left the stage, one of the ushers ran down to take the man's cell phone, erase any photos he had taken, and escort him out of the theatre.

The actors came back on about 30 seconds later to a round of applause. They jumped right back into the song, finished up the show, and received a huge applause from the audience at curtain call.

There is a cell phone announcement before performances of this show begin that clearly states that all phones must be turned off and put away before the show begins and that if anyone is seen taking photos, the show will be stopped, and the audience member will be evicted from the the theatre. And that's exactly what happened.

Brava to the cast for having a low tolerance for picture takers, for jumping right back into the scene, and finishing the show to perfection. I'm glad to see that this show is still holding up so many years into its run.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 9:46am

Great reviews as usual .. thanks for sharing

One of the actors stopped the song and pointed to the man in the back of the house, and said "Camera!". He made sure the ushers knew who he was talking about, the actors left the stage, one of the ushers ran down to take the man's cell phone, erase any photos he had taken, and escort him out of the theatre.


Oh my god !!! that was soo funny ! soo dramatic.. Were they naked ( I assumed -BTW I have not seen the show, so I have no idea) when that man took their photos ?

J*

Updated On: 10/13/07 at 09:46 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 9:58am

Yes, they were naked. I think that's the main reason they make such a big deal about no pictures. These guys don't want their naked bodies posted on the internet. They're legit actors. Not porn stars.

It's a fun show. You should check it out some time, Jay.

Updated On: 10/13/07 at 09:58 AM

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 10:19am

It is a fun show. We did a 'naked' weekend a few years back. We saw "Naked Boys Singing," "Puppetry of the Penis," and "Take Me Out" (at the Public then.) Yup, that's a lot of willie for one weekend.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 11:42am

They've had that policy (stopping the show because of photography) since the show started at New World, and I for one, am so glad they do it. Bravo to them!

There is also no drinking of alcohol inside because of a law against drinking while there is nudity on stage.

They mean business in there!!!!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 12:14pm

You can sing while naked, just don't be drunk as well!

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 12:20pm

Naked Boys was a very funny show. I saw it with a few friends and one of them is a born again. She was very upset they were naked! Funny, she stayed until almost the very end before walking out...

The show is called "Naked Boys Singing!" What the heck does anyone expect? Fig leaves?

[bschneid76]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 12:42pm

I just saw the film version yesterday...it's much better live.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 12:44pm

There is also no drinking of alcohol inside because of a law against drinking while there is nudity on stage.
****************

Its funny you said that bec. when I saw " EVIL DEAD : the musical " at the New World Stages almost a year ago .. they were selling alcohols inside the theater...of course there's no nudity .. just blood ...we were wearing plastics ( just huge plastic bags)

I should have gotten some alcohols before the show. I could have enjoyed the show then and loosen up ...of course... the only problem is I dont drink at all

J*

Edit : ^^^^ I assumed there's nudity in the film too ?
Updated On: 10/13/07 at 12:44 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 12:47pm

"Its funny you said that bec. when I saw " EVIL DEAD : the musical " at the New World Stages almost a year ago .. they were selling alcohols inside the theater..."

Oh yes, definitely-we sell shots inside the theaters and also allow drinks from the bar to be brought into the theaters. Naked Boys is an exception because of the nudity.

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 1:42pm

When I saw this show last year, there was a huge flash that went off in the middle of the show, but the show wasn't stopped.

I guess the show is stopped when the perpetrator is obvious.

[postergirl]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 1:49pm

Can someone explain this law to me? What happens at strip clubs?

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 1:52pm

I'm not sure but perhaps strip clubs aren't considered theatrical performances. I can look into it if no one here know the answer.

[postergirl]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 1:57pm

Thanks Jane. You're right, they probably aren't considered theatrical performances (although a few I've seen certainly were). It just seems odd. I would think there's way more chance of something wierd happening at a strip club than a theatre......but I guess there are bouncers at clubs, not ushers. Of course now I'm amusing myself picturing some of NY's elderly lady ushers tossing a drunk bent on photographing a willie or too. Yes, I'm easily amused today.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 2:06pm

LOL-let me clarify one thing here, postergirl-I don't think there are any ushers at New World who are over 24 years old! Then there's me (when I usher). Quite a dichotomy!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 7:50pm

Jay, see the show before seeing the movie. I haven't seen the movie yet, but there's nothing like experiencing it live. And as we all know, very rarely does a movie musical capture what was so magical on stage.

[mateo]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 7:52pm

Yes, they were naked. I think that's the main reason they make such a big deal about no pictures. These guys don't want their naked bodies posted on the internet. They're legit actors. Not porn stars.


Then why release a DVD?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 8:08pm

I'm glad to know that George Livengood is back in the cast. Who else is in the show these days?

Posted: 10/13/07 at 8:33pm

Sooooo let's talk about the people on here who video everyshow- or take pictures during curtain calls, or trade videos of shows, or whine that there isn't a video yet of some show- what's the difference? If you're cheering the show was stopped & the offender thrown out here, then why are you supporting You Tube and those millions of unathorized videos? Don't clothed actors have any rights?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 9:31pm

Dollypop, George is charming as ever. I'm so jealous that you got to interview him a few years ago. What a complete doll.

Other cast members include:

Eric Dean Davis, Frank Galgano, Spencer Gates, Stephen Carrasco, Matthew Kilgore (mentioned above), Craig Lowry, Timothy John Mandala (mentioned above), Eric Potter (mentioned above), and Trevor Southworth (mentioned above).

A really talented, charismatic group.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 9:33pm

(from BWW)
https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=22151

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 10:39pm

Foster, thanks for posting the current cast of the show. I'd heard that Phil Simmons was also back. I have to pay a return visit to this show.

Yes, George is a doll. A good performer and a genial person to talk to. We kept in touch for a while, but I lost his addres when my computer crashed a few years ago.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 10/13/07 at 11:18pm

Over at the Little Shubert they've caught a few people taking pictures and have tossed a couple of them(don't worry the Three Mo' Tenors keep all their clothes on). They're very strict over there. They don't even allow snacks in. Just bottled water, period. It makes it tough for me. As the bartender I can't really sell anything, so I make very little tips-wise. But I'm an old fashioned guy who actually agrees with the policy.

[Gpvegas]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 12:50am

About half way through the show they stopped yelled camera, pointed and yelled out who it was and left the stage. The lady was in the 3rd row and the dumb ass was removed and the pictures were deleted. They came out and picked right back.


They show is in great shape. And I could not take my eyes off Timothy. What a hot boy.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 2:18am

i'm in the show, and it's becoming a BIG problem. we stopped each show once this weekend for pictures and/or cell phones. i suppose people are so dumb they think we can't see them even though we're in a small venue looking right at the audience. yes, we stop and have the photos deleted because we don't want pictures or videos of us naked on the internet.

oh, we aren't the cast on the dvd. those were people mainly from LA.

thanks for the kind words about the show foster!!!