Review: 'Altar Boyz' at Seven Angels Theatre

Pictured above: (from left) Spiro Marcos, Maclain Dassatti, Jeff Jordan, Andrew Poston and Louis Griffin Photo by Paul Roth

Dedicated to Bridget Noujaim, who reminded 7A Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis that this show was one of her favorite musicals

WATERBURY, CT - ALTAR BOYZ is a musical comedy about a fictitious Christian boy band on the last night of their national “Raise the Praise” Tour. It is chock full of fabulous rafter-raising musical numbers with non-stop, high energy dancing performed by an “inspiring” cast of five talented young men that light up the stage at Seven Angels Theatre, the Equity Professional Theatre in Waterbury.

ALTAR BOYZ features a clever book by Kevin Del Aguila that includes several inside jokes for the Catholics in the audience. The musical was conceived by the team of Mark Kessler and Ken Davenport and music and lyrics are by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, who are also credited with the vocal arrangements. The production was directed and choreographed by Sam Hay who was assisted by Jimmy Donohue (SEUSSICAL at 7A.) Music direction was by Brent Crawford Mauldin who probably conducted the onstage (uncredited) musicians that did a great job with the boy band/Christian score; they got to be a part of the action at couple of points and I loved it.

The Altar Boyz are five singing/dancing heartthrobs; Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. In what was a hit Off-Broadway musical, the five boy band members show off their tight harmonies and spectacular choreography in this fun and very funny Seven Angels production. Because the show was presented without an intermission, it all fit very nicely into 90 minutes. Considering how physically demanding their performance was, I was a bit concerned that there was no break for the five actors, but they never missed a beat.

The five supremely talented triple threats (actors who can act, sing and dance) were chosen in NYC after reviewing over 250 submissions. Equity member Maclain Dassatti played the Jewish member of the group, as unlikely as that may sound. Mr. Dassatti has previously played Abraham in this show and his performance as “The Gefilte Fish Out of Water,” was delightful to watch. Jeff Jordan, another Equity member, played the role of Matthew the leader with his good looks and an easy charm. Mr. Jordan graduated from The University of Oklahoma and is a proud member of AEA. Equity actor Spiro Marcus (JUNK: A Rock Opera in NY and ALTAR BOYZ at Gateway Playhouse ) was a riot in the role of Juan in his Seven Angels debut. If I had to pick which “boy” was my favorite, I would have to go with this cheeky Latin Lover.

Louis Griffin (an Equity Membership Candidate) had some serious moves as “the bad boy” Luke and it was hard not to like this recovering (from exhaustion, wink, wink) group member. Andrew Poston, another Equity Candidate and a recent graduate of Anderson University, was just adorable as Mark, the sensitive member of the group. Justin Henry, a 7A veteran who most recently wowed audiences in SHOWSTOPPERS 2018, voiced the show’s announcer and the voice of God, with a capital G.

From the minute a crew member (my best guess would be that it was assistant stage manager Tesia Childs) entered the stage with spray can to set the mood, the audience was hooked. The musical numbers came fast and furious woven together with inside jokes that the Catholics in the audience could appreciate just a bit more. There were also plenty of references to Waterbury that delighted the audience. I loved the inclusion of Lamb Chop (remember her?) puppets and the invited audience member who came onstage for “Something About You” played right along. I smiled throughout the show and the audience was on their feet and cheering at the conclusion of the matinee.

The set for the boyz’s final tour stop, which Juan called “Siete Angeles,” was designed by Daniel Husvar and it was made even better with the fine lighting designed by Scott Cally. Sound design by Matt Martin is always spectacular and the costumes by Debbie Cashman stood up to the strenuous dance moves.

ALTAR BOYZ runs at Siete Angeles (7A) through October 21 I highly recommend a trip to Waterbury to be a part of the final stop on their tour before it closes so you can “altar your mind.”

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417