MEDIA RELEASE

FORTUNE THEATRE JULY 2013

A NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

KINGSGATE HOTEL DUNEDIN

ALTAR BOYZ

THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL COMEDY

Book by                                        Music and lyrics by

Kevin Del Aguila             Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker

Directed by Shane Anthony, Musical Direction by Jason Te Mete

Featuring: Will Barling, Guy Langford, Nick Purdie, David Sutherland and Hadley R Taylor

"AN ENERGETIC CROWD-PLEASER!" - David Rooney, VARIETY

"THANK HEAVEN FOR ALTAR BOYZ! TOTALLY HILARIOUS! It keeps you laughing all evening long. If laughter is a form of salvation, my soul is clean!" - Howard Kissel, DAILY NEWS

Altar Boyz first premiered in 2004 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. In the spring of 2005, it transferred to off-Broadway's New World Stages for a five year run. Altar Boyz won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and was nominated for seven Drama Desk Awards, including Best Music, Best Lyrics,

Best Book and Best Musical.

Altar Boyz is high-octane entertainment that tells the holy inspiring story of five small-town boys – Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham – trying to save the world one screaming fan at a time.

This struggling Christian boy band from Greenville, Ohio, is on the last night of their ‘Raise the Praise’ U.S. tour

and determined to make the big time. When fate takes them to New York, do the Boyz take a bite out

of the forbidden apple?

Australian Director Shane Anthony (Avenue Q, Calendar Girls) says:

“Inventive, satirical and playful, Altar Boyz will have audiences falling off their chairs with laughter and humming along to catchy tunes. It’s a pleasure to return to the theatre and a delight to offer another entertaining evening of musical comedy.”

Says Fortune Theatre’s Artistic Director Lara Macgregor:

“It really is a coup for Fortune Theatre to be producing the New Zealand Première of such a long running Off- Broadway hit musical. How serendipitous we just happen to be a theatre disguised as a church – the perfect setting for this irreverent musical.”

With spectacular dance moves, a live band and a fully automated Sony Soul Sensor DX-12 to gauge the spiritual well-being of the audience, the Boyz bring in the funk, lift the soul and spread irreverent humour in this sharp parody of faith, friendship and brotherhood.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

CAST                                      

Will Barling                               

Guy Langford                           

Nick Purdie                              

David Sutherland

Hadley R Taylor

BAND

John Adams

David Harrison

Tom Lord

Jason Te Mete                           

CREW

Writers Book by Kevin Del Aguila

Music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker

Conceived by Marc Kessler & Ken Davenport

Director Shane Anthony

Musical Director Jason Te Mete

Band Members John Adams, David Harrison, Tom Lord and Jason Te Mete

Choreographer Mariana Dogum

Set Designer Peter King        

Lighting Designer Joe Hayes

Costume Designer Maryanne Wright-Smyth

Lighting Operator Siddharth Makkuni Puthiyavalappil

Sound Operator  Marcus Rietveld

Set Build Peter King

Stage Manager Lucy Lever

Properties Master Rebecca Tapp

Technical Co-ordinator Lindsay Gordon

KEY EVENTS / DATES 

Lunchtime Bites / Thursday, 25 July – meet at 12.15pm in the Dunedin Public Library, ground floor. The cast will perform an excerpt from Altar Boyz with an opportunity to win tickets. Reading will commence at 12.30pm followed by afternoon tea. This is a FREE event.

Opening Night / Saturday, 3 August – 7.30pm, Fortune Theatre.

Members’ Briefing / Sunday, 4 August – meet at the Fortune bar at 3.00pm and join Fortune Theatre Artistic Director Lara Macgregor for a lively informal chat about Altar Boyz.

Forum / Tuesday, 6 August – join the cast and crew for an open question and answer session following the 6.00pm show.

Fortune Sociable Club / Wednesday, 7 August – meet in the bar at 6.30pm, with like-minded individuals and get connected.

ALTAR BOYZ

Written by Book by Kevin Del Aguila, Music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker

Conceived by  Marc Kessler & Ken Davenport

Production Dates 3 August – 31 August

Running Time 90 minutes, no interval                          

Venue Fortune Theatre Mainstage, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin

Directed by Shane Anthony

Musical Direction by Jason Te Mete

Cast  Will Barling, Guy Langford, Nick Purdie, David Sutherland, Hadley R Taylor

Band Members John Adams, David Harrison, Tom Lord and Jason Te Mete

Performances Tuesday, 6.00pm, Wednesday - Saturday, 7.30pm, Sunday, 4.00pm (no show Monday)

Tickets Gala (first 5 shows) $32, Adults $40, Senior Citizens $32, Members $30,

Tertiary Students $20, High School Students $15, Group discount (10 +) $32

Bookings Fortune Theatre, 231 Stuart Street, Dunedin

Box Office 03 477 8323 or visit www.fortunetheatre.co.nz