Theater: Altar Boyz

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Altar Boyz

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"Altar Boyz" is the freshest phenomenon in the world of musical comedy. The show has already got an astounding and incredible budget of $1 million for its hugely popular Broadway version. The show is a satire about a Christian boy band that makes the famous Backstreet Boys like gansta rappers. This boy band trend had already gone out of the limelight and the whole conceit presented a struggling pop group who was going to cleanse the craving souls of its audience - measuring every deceitful person with a so called device called the soul sensor - the concept sounded well, less than promising. But their thorough efforts and dynamite performances are good enough to be played on MTV, and this show became an unusual and unlikely hit.

The songs are very skillfully written by Michael Patrick Walker and Gary Adler. This articulated flow of songs condensed history of so called bubble-gum pop music styles over the last two decades with the likes of: Will Smith, New Kids on the Block, and superb lyrics are like: "Girl, you make me wanna wait" and "Jesus called me on my cellphone."

All the funky tracks are very well drenched in Irony with some jokes like: band member's interest in space travel and ones about Mel Gibson. The choreography is contributed by Christopher Gattelli.

Here are five ambitious lively kids from the specific "hood," and appropriately named as Mark, Luke, Matthew, Juan and Abraham. The boys founded a boy band and toured the whole nation to gain reviews and they bring along their most decisive and secret weapon - a soul sensor. The show is full of hugely popular comic situations to make audience lose their breath. There is virtually no serious plot involved, and the pathetic procession of clever rock numbers is very well blended with the smooth flow of this joyride.

The set is designed by Anna Louizos with a four-piece orchestra simply plunked down in the middle of some used schoolyard fences and some bleachers to make it look like a stripped-down version of a musical revival. The sleek hip-hop choreography is contributed by Christopher Gattelli which looks unconstrained by the simple and small space. This joyride is very smoothly directed by Stafford Arima and the popular cast exhibits a sort of boundless energy. The attractive cast is Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Scott Porter, David Josefsberg and Ryan Duncan. Well known DJ Shadoe Stevens is presented in a superb appearance as the holy voice of God.

The show has been a huge success so far. This hugely popular show has been received a special critical acclaim at the reputed "New York Musical Theater Festival." The show presents a superb combination of so called pious pop act and a very original plot. The show has been gaining many reviews for its very good music also. This incredible show has also gained the Best Off-Broadway Musical Award in 2005. The show is about the wholesome effort that includes great music, dancing and a very touching story.