Theatre News

EXCLUSIVE: Cast revealed for UK premiere of Altar Boyz

The production opens at the Greenwich Theatre in October

Liam Doyle, Jonny Fines, Jamie-Ray Hartshorne, Faisal Khodabukus and Alex Jordan-Mills will star in the UK premiere of musical comedy Altar Boyz later this year, WhatsOnStage can reveal.

The show, which played Off-Broadway for five years, will have a limited run of 14 performances at the Greenwich Theatre from 3 October 2014.

Altar Boyz centres around a fictitious boy-band – whose members include Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham – on the last night of their 'Raise the Praise' tour. When fate brings them to New York, will the boyz take a bite out of the forbidden apple?

The production is directed by Steven Dexter, whose credits include Loserville (West End) and Honk! (Watermill Theatre). It's choreographed by Ewan Jones (Water Babies) with musical direction from Mark Crossland.

Altar Boyz is presented by Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd who recently produced the critically acclaimed production of In The Heights at Southwark Playhouse.

It has a book by Kevin Del Aguila, and music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker. It is conceived by Marc Kessler and Ken Davenport, and is presented by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe. Casting is by Will Burton.


Meet the Altar Boyz!

MATTHEW

FAVOURITE SAINT
St. Lilly of Colgate – Patron Saint of Winning Smiles and Piercing Eyes.

TURN-ONS
Chastity.

FAVOURITE MOVIE
Let’s just say Mel Gibson is a genius.

FAVOURITE BOOK
Genesis or Leviticus. Any non-fiction, really.

SECULAR NAME
Liam Doyle

Liam Doyle is currently starring as Fiyero in Wicked (UK Tour). Other recent credits include Link Larkin in Hairspray (UK Tour) and Troy in High School Musical.


MARK

FAVOURITE FOOD
Apples (sorry Eve!).

FAVOURITE SAINT
St. Vidal of L'Oreal – Patron Saint of Flexible Hold Hair Gel.

FAVOURITE COLOR
Baby blue. Just like JC's eyes.

HOBBIES
I am so totally into reality TV! And antiquing.

SECULAR NAME
Jonny Fines

Jonny Fines’ credits include Lift (Soho Theatre), Avenue Q (UK Tour) and The Sound of Music (UK Tour).


LUKE

FAVOURITE SAINT
St. Jerome the Awesome – Patron Saint of Keepin' It Real.

HOBBIES
I spend a lot of time in Confession.

FAVOURITE FOOD
Ever since I saw the image of Mother Teresa in my corn flakes, they're all I eat.

SECULAR NAME
Jamie-Ray Hartshorne

Jamie-Ray Hartshorne has appeared in the premiere of new musical The Prodigals (Belgrade Theatre) and The History Boys (National Theatre).


JUAN

FAVOURITE SAINT
St. Ricardo de Martin – Patron Saint of Orphans Left on Church Steps.

HOBBIES
Searching for my birth parents. And I enjoy paintball.

FAVOURITE FOOD
Flan. Have you tried it? Mmmmm.

FAVOURITE LANGUAGE
I'd say Latin. I'm a definite Latin-lover.

SECULAR NAME
Faisal Khodabukus

Faisal Khodabukus’ recent credits include I Can’t Sing (London Palladium), Dirty Dancing (UK Tour) and La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre).


ABRAHAM

FAVOURITE COLOR
Red. Like the sea.

FAVOURITE STATION OF THE CROSS
n/a

TURN-ONS?
Is my mother going to see this?

FIRST THING YOU LOOK FOR IN A GIRL
Judaism. My mother is going to see this, right?

SECULAR NAME
Alex Jordan-Mills

Alex Jordan-Mills played Billy in the 2013 revival of Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse), and most recently played Nick Piazza in Fame (UK Tour).