Choir Boy
A new play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" grant recipient, class of 2013
"...[Choir Boy] sings with smarts and heart." – Variety
A coming of age story about a different kind of boy. Pharus’s confidence, charisma, clarity of purpose, and talent belie the struggle he endures at the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys. His differences raise the ire of his classmates who lash out with slurs tinged with more than a little jealousy. His reactions land him in hot water with an administration that thinks Pharus is a problem but won’t acknowledge Pharus’s problem.
"...an exceptionally beautiful, heart-pummeling piece of theatre...McCraney is a ferocious talent.
Grade: A" – Atlanta Journal-Constitution review
But then there’s the music – gospel music at Drew is a tradition as old as the school itself, and that tradition is embodied in its vaunted choir. The choir gives Pharus some common ground, and it’s where he can stand out and be different without fear – because he’s the best.
"As Pharus, [Jeremy] Pope gives a magnetic, moving performance..." – The New York Times review of the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Choir Boy
In the years since the world premiere of In the Red and Brown Water took Atlanta by storm, playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney has been produced in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, the Bay Area, and London among many others. This is the American premiere of one of his latest works. Choir Boy is a co-production with the Manhattan Theatre Club.
"Choir Boy" is [McCraney's] crispest and most confident work." – New York Daily News
Hertz Stage
The Alliance Theatre's Hertz Stage is a modern, 200-seat Black Box theatre. This versatile facility accommodates a number of distinct stage layouts.