“David and Goliath,” the biblical story of a teenager facing the biggest competition of his life, is the analogy that ALTAR BOYZ Producer and Co-Creator Ken Davenport cites as the reason that audiences and critics alike are raving about his show. “America was built on the underdog, and this little group is the biggest underdog you can imagine,” he said. “They’re basically going up against the major super-groups and they’re getting their big shot at success right there on the stage in front of your eyes.” Full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular dancing and irreverent humor, the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical production, winner of the coveted Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, is now in its second year in New York and recently launched a national tour.
Within the show, the Altar Boyz, are a heavenly, but struggling, boy band from Ohio that are on the final leg of their “Raise the Praise” tour. The group consists of five guys, each with a distinct personality: Matthew is the leader of the group, the heartthrob who always gets the girl; Mark is the sensitive, flamboyant one who also harbors a longtime crush on Matthew; Luke is the tough, hip-hop member of the band who has been in and out of rehab for “exhaustion”; Juan is the suave Latino; and Abraham is the nice Jewish boy. “It’s hard to resist these charming, adorable ‘guys next door.’ They have infectious, contagious energy,” explains Davenport.
Searching for their big break, they arrive in Manhattan to do some soul-saving and spread their message of unity and hope through their songs and perfectly choreographed dance moves. However, the songs they sing would not be found in the typical church hymnal. Matthew offers a love ballad to the girl of his dreams in the song “Something About You” by stressing abstinence with the lyrics “Girl, You Make Me Wanna Wait.” There’s also “The Calling” where the Altar Boyz sing “Jesus called me on my cell phone/no roaming charges were incurred.” The Soul Sensor DX-12, a soul-monitoring device, is revealed onstage and flashes the number of souls that need to be saved which includes the entire audience, orchestra members and the five boys. The Altar Boyz’ then set out to get the Soul Sensor down to zero by converting everyone through their songs.
Davenport and Co-Creator Marc Kessler came up with the unique concept of ALTAR BOYZ when brainstorming ideas for a show that they could produce themselves. Both were involved with the Off-Broadway show FOREVER PLAID, a sendup of ’50s male quartets. “Boy bands have been popular dating back to The Beatles,” Davenport explained of their rationale. They knew they wanted to do a comedy based on a group and “out popped this idea of a Christian boy band.”
Even with the fine line the show walks between gently poking fun of religion and respecting it, Davenport says there has not been any backlash from religious groups or churches and they’ve even had rabbis and Catholic priests bless the show after seeing it. “I don’t think there’s anything in this show that any church official would disapprove of,” he said. “It’s a comedy about acceptance.”
The show also has “Altarholics,” extremely devoted fans that have their own website where they have online chats and can earn “communion wafers” by performing tasks which are redeemable for merchandise and tickets. But it’s not necessarily just the young and technologically savvy that are fan club members. “We have a grandmother, mother and daughter who are all ‘Altarholics’,” Davenport explains. “It’s a show that appeals to all ages.”
ALTAR BOYZ kicked-off its national tour in October and will continue through May 2007. For more information visit www.altarboyz.com.
By: Beth Cox
PHOTOS:
TOP: Altar Boyz national touring company: Abraham (Nick Blaemire), Juan (Jay Garcia), Matthew (Matthew Buckner), Mark (Ryan J Ratliff), and Luke (Jesse "JP" Johnson). Photo credit: © Carol Rosegg 2006
BOTTOM: Altar Boyz national touring company: Abraham, Mark, Juan, Matthew, and Luke. Photo credit © Carol Rosegg 2006
