CHOIR BOY PREVIEWS

[natashalost]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 4:56pm

Choir Boy begins previews at the Samuel J. Freidman Theatre in 2 days, so I assume their invited dress should be very soon.


Choir Boy is written by Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Trip Cullman. Previews begin December 12 with opening night set for January 8 with a limited run through February 17, 2019

SYNOPSIS: For half a century, the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys has been dedicated to the education of strong, ethical black men. One talented student has been waiting for years to take his rightful place as the leader of the legendary gospel choir. But can he make his way through the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?

CAST: Jeremy Pope (Pharus), Chuck Cooper (Headmaster Marrow), Austin Pendleton (Mr. Pendleton), Nicholas L. Ashe (Junior Blake), John Clay III (Anthony Justin "AJ" James), Caleb Eberhardt (David Heard), J. Quinton Johnson (Bobby Marrow), Daniel Bellomy, Jonathan Burke, Gerald Caesar, and Marcus Gladney.

Updated On: 12/10/18 at 04:56 PM

[GreeneStreet]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 4:59pm

Doubt you will hear reports, everyone dipped tf out

[natashalost]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:04pm

GreeneStreet said: "Doubt you will hear reports, everyone dipped tf out"

If you're referring to the boards, I am still optimistic. Hopefully, everything will cool off eventually and we can get back to having our usual discussions. 

[kmissa]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:12pm

I’m going to see it Wednesday and will report back. I must’ve missed out on whatever drama that’s bejng referred to.

[natashalost]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:22pm

kmissa said: "I’m going to see it Wednesday and will report back.*

Thanks! Can't wait to hear about it. Enjoy the show!

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 5:47pm

I hope the reports are good because I try to see everything that opens but I have absolutely zero desire to go see this based on the plot summary.

[Sauja]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 7:09pm

Broadway Joe said: "I hope the reports are good because I try to see everything that opens but I have absolutely zero desire to go see this based on the plot summary. "

FWIW, I saw the off-Broadway run a couple years back which shares the same director, design team, and some cast members, and it was a really lovely, moving evening. McCraney is a true talent, and while this wasn’t as strong to me as his Brother/Sister plays, it was still a vibrant, beautiful show. I’m looking forward to returning.

[A Director]

Posted: 12/10/18 at 8:44pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw5FShvQMeM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 12/11/18 at 12:02am

absolutely regret missing this years ago, happy to get another chance to see it 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 9:33pm

I’m just getting home from tonight’s preview and am an emotional mess right now. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this play. There is a lot of humor, a lot of a love and a lot of heart.

The text and direction are both wonderful, but the performances were phenomenal and sent the evening into over the top perfection. Jeremy Pope truly deserves to win the Tony for Lead Actor in a play. Forget Cranston and Paddy and Lane and Lithgow. This performance- let me tell you, this performance could get Pence to march in a gay pride parade. It is so powerful and at the same time soft and tender. True brilliance.

The other boys were great; all the relationships felt so real and honest. Their singing and dancing was a joy.

And of course Chuck Cooper and Austin Pendleton aren’t exactly chopped liver either!

The description of the play on MTC’s website sucks because there’s no easy way to describe the plot without giving away little twists and turns. It’s a tight show (no intermission) and it’s about relationships more than plot anyway.

This is why I go to theater. Congrats to all involved.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 9:57pm

Have my tickets for later in the month, and your response just made me even more excited.  Glad to hear you loved it!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 10:06pm

I'd definitely like to see this. Jonathan Burke was in Studio Theatre's production of this play a few years ago. Jelani Alladin (Frozen) played Pharus in that production.

[kmissa]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 10:13pm

I’m just getting back and I loved it, too. I never heard of it before getting a random email about it from telecharge. I’m so glad I saw it and will prob go back with a friend who couldn’t make it. I ended up meeting a few of the cast members after the show and they were super sweet.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 10:20pm

Studio Theatre in DC did this 3 years ago. I love this play, but the production they did was such perfection, I probably will pass on this.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/12/18 at 11:58pm

Did the DC run happen prior to the Off-Broadway run? Didn't realize it had been around that long. I was on the fence about this, but now I'm def bumping it to the top.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 12:01am

WhizzerMarvin said: "The description of the play on MTC’s website sucks because there’s no easy way to describe the plot without giving away little twists and turns. It’s a tight show (no intermission) and it’s about relationships more than plot anyway.

This is why I go to theater. Congrats to all involved. "

That's fantastic to hear. The description really had me going meh but I'm definitely more interested in checking it out now. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 12:09am

FYI, there are a bunch of available January dates on Audience Rewards.

[Alfie6]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 12:53am

Thanks for the review, I am wayyy more excited for this now than I was a week ago!

[Melissa25]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 6:18am

Thanks so much for the early reports!!  Just purchased my tickets for January 22nd.  Excited to see this. I always love Chuck Cooper in everything he does.

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 7:55am

Thanks a bunch, Whizzer. Now there's yet another must-see play on my list.  The official description left me cold. Having seen The Ferryman, American Son, TKAM and Network recently, this season is already an embarrassment of riches.

On another subject, can anyone provide a Cliff Notes version of the problem on the message boards, as referenced in earlier comments?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 8:42am

@Rippedman. The Studio Theatre production of Choir Boy happened after the Off-Broadway run. I had a nice online chat with both Wallace Smith and Jonathan Burke about the play and characters.

[sondmon]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 8:49am

Anyone know what the 30 under 30 code is? Thought I had an email but don't see it. Thanks

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 9:00am

sondmon, I thought you had to sign up for an account and then you get two tickets to each production, kind of like linctix. (They also have have changed the program to be 30 under 35!)

pacific, the official description is bad. I think the description of The Ferryman isn’t great either, but strong word of mouth and critical praise made that a hit and I’m hoping the same will happen to Choir Boy.

[sondmon]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 9:02am

Not that I understand- I’ve typically just gotten an email from them with a code that you plug in to telechargeoffers.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 12/13/18 at 9:16am

Ah, well I set up a 30 under 35 account then just show them that when I buy the tickets at the box office. (I turn 36 in a few months, so this may be the last show I get for $30 at MTC :/)