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Confessions of a former Altar Boy
6th May 2008
By Simon
Parris
From L to R:
Jeremy Brennan, Andrew Koblar, Cameron MacDonald, Dion Bilios & Tim
Maddren
Yes it’s true, I was once a cherubic altar boy – ringing the bells,
swinging out the incense, holding the Bishop’s mitre (no that’s not
a euphemism). I’ll never forget the occasion of the St Gregory the
Great First Holy Communion of 1979 when I fainted on the altar and
had to be carried outside by a teacher. I was a dirty up-stager even
at 10 years old!
But it’s Altar Boyz of a much hotter style who are about to
launch themselves at people of all faiths in Melbourne! Matthew,
Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham are the virtuous members of a Christian
boy band. They sing, dance and strut their stuff through 90 minutes
of fun and hilarity. Altar Boyz is a hit Off-Broadway show
that has been running for four years and winning the Outer Critics
Circle award for best Off-Broadway musical in 2006.
Set on the last night of their ‘Raise the Praise Tour’, the Boyz set
out to save as many souls (and take as many hearts) as possible.
They sing with tight harmonies and dance with all the funkiest boy
band moves. This is a show for music theatre fans of all ages, while
Melbourne’s large church-going population (or really anyone who has
ever set foot in a church), will enjoy the in-jokes of songs like
‘The Calling’ (Jesus called me on my cell phone), ‘Church Rulez’ and
‘The Miracle Song’.
Ovation Live, producers of Altar Boyz, have scoured the
nation’s presbyteries and sacristies to find fresh, new talent to
play the Boyz.
The cast list is as follows:
Matthew – Cameron MacDonald
Mark – Dion Bilios
Luke – Tim Maddren
Juan – Jeremy Brennan
Abraham – Andrew Kobblar
From L to R: Jeremy Brennan, Andrew Koblar,
Cameron MacDonald, Dion Bilios & Tim Maddren
Altar Boyz
is touring Australia, starting with a Sydney season in June and
July, then opening at the Athenaeum Theatre,
Collins St
on 13 August. Tickets are only $48 ($55.90 on Fri/Sat nights). That
leaves plenty of change for the collection plate on Sunday! Tickets
are available through Ticketmaster.
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