Overview
Add another impressive name to the long list of shows, plays and musicals alike, that've been treading the boards across Australia in recent years. That roster has spanned everything from The Book of Mormon, Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! The Musical through to Come From Away, SIX the Musical and The Mousetrap — but only Choir Boy hails from the Oscar-winning writer of the famously not-La La Land drama Moonlight.
Tarell Alvin McCraney's other queer coming-of-age play premiered in London in 2012, then did the rounds of the US before opening on Broadway in 2018. It might've taken more than a decade since its stage debut for the show to make its way Down Under, but fans of Moonlight are in for a tale about sexuality, race, hope and gospel music, all focused around a young gay man finding his voice, that's certain to prove worth the wait.
Story-wise, Choir Boy follows Pharus Young, who is determined to be the best choir leader that the Charles R Drew Prep School for Boys has ever seen in its 50-year history. That's easier said than done, though, given the rituals that've long been a part of the school, and the masculine expectations as well.
Filled with a cappella gospel tunes, Choir Boy scored four Tony Award nominations back in 2019, including for Best Play and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play — and won Best Sound Design of a Play, while also nabbing music director Jason Michael Webb a Special Tony Award.
In Australia, it finally premieres Down Under as part of Sydney WorldPride, with four stops on its agenda from Tuesday, February 14: a month-long stint at Riverside Theatres Parramatta, then short stays in Brisbane, Canberra and Wollongong.
Leading the cast is international musical theatre performer Darron Hayes, joined by Tony Sheldon (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), Robert Harrell (The Shield), Zarif (Lonesome), Quinton Rofail Rich (Godspell), Theo Williams (Passing Strange), and debutants Gareth Dutlow, Abu Kebe and Tawanda Muzenda, while Dino Dimitriadis (Overflow, Cleansed) and Zindzi Okenyo (seven methods of killing kylie jenner, Orange Thrower) direct.
CHOIR BOY AUSTRALIAN DATES:
Tuesday, February 14–Saturday, March 11 — Riverside Theatres Parramatta
Wednesday, March 15–Saturday, March 18 — QPAC, Brisbane
Wednesday, March 22—Saturday, March 25 — Wollongong Town Hall
Wednesday, March 29–Sunday, April 2 — Canberra Theatre Centre
Choir Boy starts its Australian run from Tuesday, February 14 at Riverside Theatres Parramatta — head to the various venue websites above for further details and tickets.