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Theater Thursdays – “Altar Boyz”
If you haven’t participated in the League of Chicago Theatre’s ”Theater Thursdays” before, I suggest checking it out. Every Thursday the League offers specially-priced tickets to one of Chicago’s popular plays, along with cocktails and appetizers before or after the show, PLUS the chance to hang out with the artists and/or take a tour of backstage, etc.
This week’s choice pick is “Altar Boyz” – an across-the-board recommended play at Drury Lane Water Tower Place (see my review). As the League’s website describes it:
Armed with catchy melodies, heavenly voices, divine moves and gobs of hair product, the Altar Boyz are five small-town guys trying to save the world – one screaming fan at a time. Presented as a concert in real-time, this hilarious musical comedy sweetly satirizes the phenomenon of boy bands, the popularity of Christian-themed music, and excessive product placement in contemporary American culture. Before the performance, Theater Thursdays ticket holders can mingle with members of the creative team and enjoy a pre-show reception in the lobby courtesy of Connie’s Pizza. The evening will conclude with an exclusive post-show talk-back with “the boyz.”
For more information on how to get tickets (tickets go fast!) and make reservations, you’ll need to go to the League of Chicago Theatre’s website: www.chicagoplays.com Whie at their website, you might want to sign up for ChicagoplaysExtra, and receive periodic emails with information on shows, events and special offers tailored to your interests.
Here’s a video montage from the Altar Boyz’ Chicago production:
“Wicked” is “Popular”!!!
Wicked” marks its 1,000th-Performance!!
Tonight marks a momentous occasion in Chicago theater history – for the first time a big Broadway show has reached its 1000th performance (that’s a “1″ followed by 3 zeros). And the show is still selling well, having just made another 3 months of tickets available. Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz seems to have really hit a nerve especially with teenage girls, with themes of trying to fit in, and realizing that it’s better to be true to yourself rather than be popular.
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“Jersey Boys” sets theater sales record
Good news indeed for the folks over at Broadway In Chicago (not to mention the show’s investors) - ”Jersey Boys“, running open-ended at the LaSalle Bank Theatre, has set a house record in gross ticket sales for the week ending on October 21 – a total of over $1.1 million dollars! This still runs behind the records over at Wicked, but the Oriental Theatre also has a much larger seating capacity.
A new block of tickets for Broadway-in-Chicago’s “Jersey Boys” will be going on sale the second week of November, covering performances through July 2008.
Review – “Altar Boyz” at Drury Lane
Production: Altar Boyz
Producers: Drury Lane Water Tower
Synopsis: The Christian rock band, The Altar Boyz, is holding their final concert before they break up, and you’re the audience. In the process of the evening, a handy ”Soul-ometer” updates the audience as to how many souls have been saved as the concert continues. Will your soul be saved by this kitschy group of boy band popsters?
Pros: Cleverly cute songs, including “Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone” and a lesson in maneuvering a Catholic mass (“Stand up, sit down, kneel, go in peace…). The mostly-local cast is great, and the show’s gimmick, the large digital “Soul-ometer”, works well, holding the show together.
Cons: Songs trend towards pop fluff, high ticket price.
Overall: Though you will not walk away from Altar Boyz spiritually enlightened, you definitely will be exhausted from the pure fun and athleticism of the show. Check it out!
Rating: «««½
Praises abound for “Altar Boyz”
Chicago cast of Altar Boyz
From Chris Jones at the Chicago Tribune :
Despite the dizzying array of competing entertainments on offer this fall, I suspect “Altar Boyz” will do well at Water Tower. Just 90 fast-moving minutes in the company of an attractive male cast, this will be irreverent enough to please shoppers out to let loose a little on the Magnificent Mile and affectionate enough to ensure no one cancels church. (To read entire review, click here.)
And Hedy Weiss at the Sun-Times calls Altar Boyz “A high-spirited journey to epiphany”, adding:
As for the “boyz,” they are tireless and neatly differentiated. Devin DeSantis is Matthew, the easily charming lead boy; Brian Crum is Mark, the megavoiced “gay Catholic”; Tyler McGee is Luke, the ever “exhausted” substance abuser with acrobatic skills; Adam Zelasko is Juan, the Mexican foundling, and Nick Verina is Abraham, the wandering Jew and lyrics writer. The powerhouse onstage band, led by Chicago’s Alan Bukowiecki, is hot. Now all that is needed is a DVD featuring the Altar Boyz’ workout routine. (read entire review here.)
Kris Vire of TimeOut Chicago:
Altar Boyz ends not a moment too soon—any longer than 90 minutes and the joke would overplay its welcome—but for anyone with a religious background and a sense of humor about it, these five triple-threat actors (a more sparkling crop than we often get in Chicago musicals) should win over plenty of converts. (read entire review)
MORE REVIEWS: Tom Williams at ChicagoCritic.com – “…entertaining, catchy, and pleasant”,
In honor of the opening tonight of “Altar Boyz”
As tonight is the opening of “The Altar Boyz” in downtown Chicago, I thought I’d post a little teaser that I found on YouTube. Enjoy!
