ALTAR BOYZ

[MusicMan]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:40pm

An amusing spoof of Christian boy bands with five talented performers, aptly satirical tunes, and a message of spiritual import despite itself. It's paper-thin but entertaining and will probably do well by critics and audiences, particularly a younger demographic. Updated On: 2/18/05 at 10:40 PM

[CattleCall]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 10:49pm

You tell 'em, MusicMan! Altar Boyz is going to take over the city once it opens March 1st. Were you at the show tonight?

[MusicMan]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:03pm

Take over the city? Hardly. It's a pleasant enough evening, no more, no less. I enjoyed myself tonight. Updated On: 2/19/05 at 11:03 PM

[CattleCall]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:09pm

no, i honestly think it'll take over the city. the word of mouth on this show is going to be huge and it'll be selling out all over the place once it gets the momentum started.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:49pm

If I had to pick a favorite, I'd choose Luke.

[CattleCall]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:51pm

I enjoy the Abraham... even though every actor is hysterical.

[BrdwayBaby]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 1:14pm

i absolutly love altar boyz. their web site is hilarious, as is their clip on broadway.com . They're supposed to be coming out w/ a cast recording sometime in march. cant wait! and i would have to agree with phnatom2 that luke is my favorite. i emailed him, and he wrote back almost at once, just as hilarious as i thought he'd be.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 2:18pm

It sounds a little like 2Gether- the Musical. I definitely plan to see it once they enact student rush... which I was told should be sometime shortly after they open.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 2:43pm

I'm going to have to side with Cattlecall on this one MM, the buzz on this show is really strong.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 4:26pm

I got student rush tickets today, about half an hour before lack of curtain . Last row of the theater, and it wasn't completely full, but still great view. I love this show, it's just a fun, but almost heartwarming, show and the choreography, the talent, the hilarity, is really great. I wish it well! It's hard not to find something to enjoy in it (though the guy audibly sighing in front of me clearly did, how I do not know).

[CattleCall]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 7:13pm

girlfriendfromcanada, does the student rush give tickets for any seat that's left in the theater an hour before curtain or is the last row specifically reserved for student rush? also, did you need id? i'm going to try rush very soon for the show and i'd like to know how it works.

thanks!

[mint0621]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 2:59pm

playbill.com had an article that said this:

"* Inexpensive rush seats are available at every performance for $20 each. It's billed as "parochial student rush" — cash only, at the box office, an hour before the show, subject to availability, limit one per person, no school ID required."

But I called Ticketmaster, (Ticketcharge?) and they said that Altar Boyz doesn't have a rush policy. Gonna try anyways.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 3:47pm

Bought a ticket this morning for tonight's show - very exciting!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 4:01pm

Are the people on the In Rehearsals video serious? Or are they like..out to eat playing the people they play in the show?

[Phantom2]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 6:48pm

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[bwayboi20]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 10:37pm

I hate to rain on anyones parade, but I thought ALTAR BOYZ was a one-trick pony. The concept is clever enough, but becomes tiresome quickly. The cast is quite talented, all of them good singer/dancer/actors (Tyler especially shines as Mark.) I just couldn't help thinking that the concept would have been better executed as a 5-minute Saturday Night Live sketch, instead of a full length Off-Broadway musical.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 10:39pm

Got home a bit ago.

I LOVED Altar Boyz. It made Spamalot look amateur in comparison. So clever, with interesting songs and hysterical performances.

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 11:05pm

altar boyz ummm is my life, i love every single one of them and are all extremley gorgoues

[MusicMan]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 11:05pm

I agree, it's paper-thin, bwayboi, and a 'theater' piece only by virtue of the space it's in. As spoofs go, tho, I thought they managed to keep it light and amusing. But to claim it's more than a sweet, little show would be gilding the lily. And a sin. (Personally, I can't wait for this trend of cartoon musicals to blow over.)

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 9:44am

Unfortunately, I can't specifically tell you how the rush works. A few friends and I tried lotto for Rent, they all won, I did not, so I decided to go give it a shot while they were there. I asked if they had any student tickets left, they said $20 cash only and I slipped my $20 under the window. I would assume it's whatever seats are still open in the house, but there were some better ones a little bit further down (maybe no-shows). However, it's a small house (same that The Immigrant played, which I happened to see as well) and you can't find a bad seat in it.

The songs are still stuck in my head as we speak. So catchy.

[mint0621]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 3:33pm

I tried to get rush tix yesterday, but to no avail...the three day weekend has gotten the tourists out in NY in full force. The ticket guy recommended we try during the weekend. It's great to hear that Altar Boyz was sold out though! Really cool for an off-broadway production.

[La Vie Boheme]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 3:48pm

Ugh I listened to some of the music on a website...forget where...but i thought it was horrible. I mean c'mon 5 guys pretended to be a christian boy band? It just doesn't work. Sometimes I wonder why people absolutely hate Brooklyn and yet love Altar Boyz. My friend worships it and we always tease each other about it. I just think there are MUCH better shows out there and i wouldnt spend my money on it.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 2/21/05 at 4:46pm

Actually, it DOES work. That's why people like it. Have you seen it, or are you just judging it on the music? Throw in the choreography, dialogue, mannerisms, and they basically nail it.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 11:19pm

Just back from ALTAR BOYZ tonight, and also really enjoyed it.

It's ideal light entertainment, with snappy choreography and tunes, and five enormously talented and cute actor-singer-dancers (Tyler Maynard...Ooooh, Mama raised this one RIGHT...David Josefsberg... WOOF) I'm pretty much in agreement with MusicMan. It's cheerful, good-hearted fun, expertly served up. It's Mary Magdelicious!

It's actually not nearly as satirical as I was led to believe, and thats OK.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 2:35am

Oooh, the box office lied to me and told me no rush til opening! Grrr!
Wonder what THAT'S about.
I can't wait to see the show though!