CHOIR BOY PREVIEWS- Page 3

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/22/18 at 1:00pm

I saw Choir Boy last night with a friend, and I really loved it. I had seen the off Broadway version in 2013, but I liked the play even more now. We were seated in Row K of the orchestra about halfway into the row.

The show has been nicely expanded from the original, which had five choir boys. This production adds four more. The singing is even more beautiful now and, better yet, the larger cast and stage allow for choreography (technically "movement," by Camille A. Brown). I really enjoyed the stomping, clapping, etc. It thought it added excitement and variety. The excellent Jeremy Pope repeats as Pharus, and Nicholas L. Ashe is back as Junior Davis. The other student roles have been recast.

When I saw the off Broadway show, I didn't get to see Chuck Cooper. At the time, he was in rehearsals for his next show, and so he was having to skip the matinees. The understudy was fine, but it's always a great treat to see Cooper in anything.

My theater partner said she wasn't really engaged by the story until the end. She thought that part of the problem was that she was missing some of the dialog. I also found some dialog unintelligible, but I guess that didn't bother me as much because I had seen it before and remembered the broad outline of the plot. But the 2013 version was sufficiently foggy in my memory that I feel I experienced the play anew last night. I'm very glad I got to see it again, and I highly recommend it!

 

Updated On: 12/22/18 at 01:00 PM

[musikman]

Posted: 12/23/18 at 5:37pm

Add me to the chorus of people who loved this. Very powerful play. I can see where some might gripe about it, but I had no problems

That penultimate scene really got to me. Ooof.

[lindatnyc2]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 4:17pm

No longer available. 

Updated On: 12/26/18 at 04:17 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 7:50pm

Up for a ton of dates on TDF.  INK to arrives soon.  Maybe this can be more successful off-Broadway .

Updated On: 12/26/18 at 07:50 PM

[JBC3]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 8:30pm

CoffeeBreak said: "Not selling. Up for a ton of dates on TDF."

True for lots of shows this time of year. Way too early to write this off.

[macnyc]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 9:28pm

I hope the grosses pick up! But Choir Boy is being produced by the nonprofit Manhattan Theater Club, and that's a good home for it. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 9:28pm

We are seeing it later next month.  Hearing mixed things outside of this board.   Could be seen by more Off-Broadway.  INK takes over soon as cast heads into other shows.  Under 30% potential gross its first two weeks .  

Updated On: 12/26/18 at 09:28 PM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 10:22pm

saw it tonight, kicked myself for missing this years ago, thought it was phenominal, my only comment, what is the deal with Austin Pendeltons characters..is he playing himself...the character name just was so distracting.

Bad damn, those voices and that stepping, fantastic and Jeremy Pope is doing a magic trick 8 times a week on that stage. 

[EthelMae]

Posted: 12/26/18 at 10:38pm

The show was fine. Over hyped here I think. I liked the musical sections but my partner thought they stopped the show dramatically. He didn't get what they were there for. Good performances. Long time to find out what the show was about. Had a Manhattan Theatre Club feel about it. If you've seen their productions you know what I mean. I enjoyed it but thought it was going to be fabulous based on this board.

[Susanswerphone]

Posted: 12/27/18 at 4:34am

LightsOut90 said: "saw it tonight, kicked myself for missing this years ago, thought it was phenominal, my only comment, what is the deal with Austin Pendeltons characters..is he playing himself...the character name just was so distracting.

Bad damn, those voices and that stepping, fantastic and Jeremy Pope is doing a magic trick 8 times a week on that stage."

I was also there last night. This is a very, very good play and it's in a perfect spot at MTC. The Pendleton-Pendleton thing was distracting. I actually found him difficult to watch. I just didn't feel he was in the same play that I was watching. Still, a wonderful production and Jeremy Pope? Wow.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 12/27/18 at 10:48am

EthelMae said: "Had a Manhattan Theatre Club feel about it. If you've seen their productions you know what I mean." 

Well, considering it's being produced by Manhattan Theater Club, and playing in their theatre, I would certainly think so!!

 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 10:27pm

Well, add me to the list of those who find this electrifying.  Pope is incredible, and the entire cast is bringing fire.  The spirituals, the dancing, the movement, and those words all bring so much to the table.  MTC is a subscription house, and that typically yields an older crowd (not what I think of as the target audience for the play), but based on the noises being emitted from them, they were literally and figuratively responding to this one.  It's sad that this won't be around past February because I worry that Tony voters will forget about it.  I certainly won't.  

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 11:52pm

Caught today's matinee. My second viewing. This time, I brought a friend who didn't know anything about it beyond the vague description. I refused to tell him what it was about and he trusted me. He raved about it for the rest of the day.

I think it was even better this time around. The writing has a universality that is all too rare these days. Jeremy Pope is doing incredible work that will, hopefully, be remembered at award time. But, there's not a weak link in the cast.

Okay. I'm raving so much, people will think I'm in the show (I don't know anybody in or around it). I'm just a fan who's thrilled that work of this quality has found a home on Broadway.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/30/18 at 11:55pm

Saw it tonight. Had a full on emotional breakdown in tears shortly after leaving the theater.

Very well done. Won't give the plot away but viewing this as a black man who had people in my life like Pope's character just added to the impact. However, it should pack an emotional punch across the board.

Stellar performances from top to bottom. Outside of Pope and Cooper,  Caleb Eberhardt turns in an incredible performance along with John Clay (oh, that dorm room scene at the end) and Nicholas Ashe.

And those voices. Dear GOD! Also the choreography is jaw dropping.

It is a must see for anyone who likes a good play. It was interesting listening to the conversations that immediately sparked after the  curtain call. Women gathered in discussion. Men explaining things to their female and male friends. And just what they thought.

For me, I left moved and conflicted. It did its job. I would see it again in a heartbeat. My only "qualm" was the final moment. I feel I have seen it before. Those who have seen this play may know what show came to my mind immediately. But the play had already impacted me before this moment.

Just my random thoughts.

Updated On: 12/31/18 at 11:55 PM

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 12/31/18 at 12:08am

uncageg said: "Saw it tonight. Had a full on emotional breakdown in tears shortly after leaving the theater.

Very well done. Won't give the plot away but viewing this as a black man who had people in my life like Pope's character just added to the impact. However, it should pack an emotional punch across the board.

I agree with your every word.

I said to my friend, that I found myself nodding in recognition, especially the barbershop story which I lived, in a different setting. But, I told him that if I felt this so deeply, I could only wonder what a Person of Color would feel.

Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad you enjoyed this but I'm puzzled by your 'mysterious' final comment and going crazy trying to think of the show you're referring to :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/31/18 at 12:23am

wolfwriter said: "uncageg said: "Saw it tonight. Had a full on emotional breakdown in tears shortly after leaving the theater.

Very well done. Won't give the plot away but viewing this as a black man who had people in my life like Pope's character just added to the impact. However, it should pack an emotional punch across the board.

I agree with your every word.

I said to my friend, that I found myself noddingin recognition, especially the barbershop story which I lived, in a different setting. But, I told him that if I felt this so deeply, I couldonly wonder what a Person of Color would feel.

Thank youfor sharing. I'm so glad you enjoyed this but I'm puzzled by your 'mysterious' final comment and going crazy trying to think of the show you're referring to :)"

 

I will PM you and explain why it came to mind!

Also, I found the scene with the discussion about sprituals to be quite interesting.

 

[rg7759]

Posted: 1/2/19 at 6:12pm

As much as I loved it,I think the competition is too tough this year for jeremy to get a nomination

[LuPita2]

Posted: 1/4/19 at 5:37pm

What a brilliant, absolutely perfect show.  Run don't walk!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/4/19 at 5:56pm

Seeing it next weekend, and cannot wait!

 

Can anyone give me an approx running time?

 

TIA.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 1/4/19 at 7:08pm

It's an hour and thirty five minutes, no intermission.  Enjoy!!!

[natashalost]

Posted: 2/16/19 at 9:22pm

For anyone who has seen a production of Choir Boy prior to the Broadway run, can you explain what the ending was?

I heard Jeremy Pope say in his AOL Build interview that they changed the ending for Broadway but didn't go into much detail. So curious!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/17/19 at 6:05am

I saw Choir Boy at Studio Theatre in DC a few years ago and the Broadway production yesterday. Although I noticed some changes, I can't recall the original ending.

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/17/19 at 6:36am

And the Tony for Best New Play goes to ... The Frrryman. No wait ...

Add this little gem to this amazing season.

[natashalost]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 11:28am

Anyone else attending Jeremy's final performance today? I'll be there for my fifth time seeing the show!

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 11:52am

The final flash stage right with Pope was confusing - wife and I had seen this in another show too.  What was original DC or Off-Broadway ending?

 The sound design and volume are not great into the run.  People around were having to ask what the final significant line in the bedroom (from the friend) was.  Pope and Pendleton are both great in this.

Updated On: 2/24/19 at 11:52 AM