Fun and entertaining boy band parody
Review by Lauren Whalen
Boy bands: love them or hate them, a group of young men singing, dancing and inspiring new romantic feelings in others is part of the cultural zeitgeist. From the Jackson 5 to Back Street Boys to Big Time Rush, these groups are here to stay, and Altar Boyz embraces
The Altar Boyz are four good Catholics from Ohio: front man Matthew (Max DeTogne), tiny powerhouse Mark (Frankie Leo Bennett), bad-boy Luke (Colin Schreier) and sweet, flamboyant Juan (Marco Tzunux). Oh, and Abraham (Steven Romero Schaeffer), who is an excellent songwriter and proudly Jewish. The Boyz are on the last night of their "Raise the Praise" tour, and there are so many souls still to save! Thanks to the good people at Sony, the Altar Boyz can gauge precisely how many in the audience need the love of God, and are prepared to croon, rap and hoof until that number hits zero. But under their squeaky-clean exteriors, just how loyal are the Boyz to one another?
is a smart choice for Theo Ubique, as the musical has tremendous potential to bring in a younger audience. As well, it's just as enjoyable for older subscribers. As much as one pooh-pooh's boy bands in real life, it's difficult to truly despise catchy pop (which is literally engineered to be pleasing to human ears and brains). and Michael Patrick Walker are gently tongue-in-cheek with songs like "Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone" (updated to include a verse about Snapchat) and "Girl, You Make Me Want to Wait" (sung to a woman pulled from the audience, in true boy-band fashion). The character of Juan has a few problematic stereotypes, but overall the message of is neither overly preachy nor mean-spirited. Director Courtney Crousehas a lot of fun with the staging, and choreographer Sawyer Smith, who won a 2016 Jeff Award for his work on Kokandy Productions' , does a bang-up job with hilariously accurate dance steps that would make the N*SYNC proud. Music director Jeremy Ramey (also a 2016 Jeff winner) is incredible as always, this time with a deep understanding of boy bands' distinctive harmonies.
The "boys" themselves are well-cast, funny and distinctive while also working swimmingly as a group. DeTogne, a star of the Chicago musical theater scene, is a perfect front man, magnetic and adorably nonthreatening. Bennett's Mark is a beautiful dancer with spot-on comic timing and a stellar solo toward the show's end. Recently seen in Theo Ubique's , Schreier is perfect as slightly dim Luke, who has a propensity for "exhaustion" and takes pride in his mad van-driving skills. Tzunux gives Juan a lovely vulnerability and interacts well with the audience, and Schaeffer's Abraham is so lovable it's difficult not to go onstage and hug him. may just be the most fun I've ever had at the No Exit Café, and the combination of cuteness, pop and passion is positively winning.
continues through January 14th at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood (map), with performances Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 7pm. Tickets are $34-$39, and are available by phone (800.595.4849) or online through (check for availability of ). All unsold tickets are $20 at door with college ID, cash only.
More info at Theo-U.com. (Running time: 80 minutes, no intermission)
Jeremy Ramey (piano), Perry Cowdery (guitar), Carlos Mendoza (drums)
behind the scenes
Courtney Crouse (director), Jeremy Ramey (music director), Sawyer Smith (choreography), Mina Slater (production stage manager), Abigail Reed (scenic design), James Kolditz (lighting design), Kate Setzer Kamphausen (costume design), (photos)
Tags: 17-1207, Abigail Reed, Carlos Mendoza, Chicago musical theater, Chicago Theater, Cody Jolly, Cody Jolly Photography, Colin Schreier, Courtney Crouse, Frankie Leo Bennett, James Kolditz, Jeremy Ramey, Kate Setzer Kamphausen, Lauren Whalen, Marco Tzunux, Max DeTogne, Mina Slater, No Exit Cafe, Perry Cowdery, post, Sawyer Smith, Steven Romero Schaeffer, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Category: 2017 Reviews, Lauren Whalen, Musical, No Exit Cafe, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
