Geoff Stevens, Michael Culp, Jeremy Crittenden, Brandyn Eddy and Jak Barradell in "Altar Boyz". Photo by Emily Cooper
It’s finally the time of the year I have been just DYING to get to: Altar Boyz time.
The third mounting of the Arts Club Theatre’s production is well into rehearsals and preparing to preview on July 5th, 2012. Official media opening is on July 11th, at the Revue Stage on Granville Island.
Coming back to this beautiful show three years after closing it is really something interesting! I’m now the only original cast member in the same role, whereas the last production had only one new actor! Geoff Stevens, who played Abe in 2009 is now playing the sensitive role of Mark. Jak Barradell joined us in the first remount in the summer of ’09 in the role of Luke.
Michael Culp is new to the company in the role of Juan with Brandyn Eddy now the lovely Jewish member of the Christian boy band, Abraham.
When Jak joined us in version 2.0, he was really coming into a well established show, working to not only discover the role for the first time, but also how to fit into the tight unit that we’d become on tour. He only had about five days to do that in so it’s safe to say it must have been a challenge.
Now it’s Jak and I on the outside looking in.
As Geoff, Mikey and Brandyn work on discovering their characters, it’s us “old guys” that need to do adjusting. There is so much about this production that is new, I find myself struggling to reprogram the bits and pieces that have etched themselves into my brain. I was very surprised to find just how much had actually stuck around since 2009.
I’m also taking my first spin as a Dance Captain, which is a whole other ball of wax! Our choreographer, Sara-Jeanne Hosie, wanted the new company members to focus on their primary jobs and me to keep an eye on the consistency of the show. Its tough, because I’m certainly not the strongest dancer in this company… by a long shot. But I have a strong feeling that with a group working as hard as we have been for the last week, my job should be pretty easy.
Today we’re with the band for the first time, called a sitzprobe. The band rocks out and we sing along for the first time in what is always a very energy filled rehearsal. It also marks the beginning of a new chapter in rehearsals as an audience now feels incredibly close.
Altar Boyz has always been very dear to me. I’ve met wonderful friends doing this show, had some incredible laughs and felt great pride in what we’ve done on the stage 115 times.
I can’t wait to share with you a brand new incarnation for the boyz.