Blue Monkey Theater Co.December 5 - January 3, 2009
Review (teen cast) by peanutduck
Sunday afternoon, sound levels were horribly uneven – favoring band; I might have been converted to G.O.D. had I been able to hear the boys sing, particularly those sweet satirical solos. Boyz, with surprising grace, deftly groove with hilariously on-target *NSYNC (plus gospel, spoof ballet)-channeled choreography. Acting could’ve used more attention.
32 comments:
I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS SHOW!
Looks really stupid.
That's always nice. The show hasn't even started and someone has something bad to say. Leave it to people on followspot.
For anyone else who reads this post, maybe the rest of us can refrain from judging until we have seen the show.
I'm curious.
they have a point. it does look stupid.
So what if it does? That has little bearing on how the show may turn out in performance. And be honest: were there not many things you loved, did, and wore in your teens that looked silly, too? At least to you, now? And teens are, I believe, the primary target audience for this show. So what's your point, really?
I think it looks hilarious! Anonymous 2 and 4, sorry you didn't get cast, but don't you have something better to do with your time than post comments like that?
Travis said:
I am excited to see how the show will turn out. I have never seen the show produced before but love the music from it. Extremly funny show with great music! Hope you guys kick the S#@T out of this show!
There are two casts to this show.
The first cast is doing evening shows, and the second is doing matinees and the evening shows on the 10th and 17th.
Matthew: Connor Bond
Mark: JP Latchaw
Juan: Kevin Bowers
Luke: Jonathan Swartout
Abraham: Matt Brown
Matthew: Keiler Beers
Mark: Lucien Gratteri
Juan: Eric Asakawa
Luke: Connor Weil
Abraham: Jason Means
Good to see Blue Monkey is keeping its reputation of attracting a ridiculous amount of traffic on this site.
C'mon people, you are all a bit ridiculous. This show hasn't even opened yet.
Well, you make think it looks stupid, 2 and 4, but the show is a huge off-Broadway hit. So apparantly American theatergoing audiences disagree with you.
You can go back to watching "America's Top Model" now, and leave theatre to the rest of us.
I actually believe its the longest running Off-Broadway musical comedy.
Children I will turn the blog around!
Clearly there are just some people out there who really don't want to see Monteverde and his new company succeed and keep using Followspot as a way to attack him. Blue Monkey shows are frequently slammed before they even open and it's getting really pathetic.
Get over yourself. Blue Monkey is a viable theater company doing interesting work and targeting a largely untapped audience. It is earning a loyal following.
Altar Boyz is no more or less stupid than any other musical comedy that has opened in Portland this season. I saw it in New York and loved it. It's a tough show to pull off as the five actors never leave the stage and sing and dance their butts off for ninety minutes.
I am particularly amazed that they are trying to do this tough show with teens.
Good luck and happy opening, Boyz!
Oh my god I loved it!
Those five boys were great. I have not seen five harder working actors in a long time.
I don't think people are aware of how demanding this show is. They literally danced for an hour and half straight.
The dancing was spot on boys.
I really enjoyed J.P. Latchaw's performance as Mark, very funny and honest.
I also liked Jonathon Swarthout's performance as Luke, amazing dancing and funny actor.
The other boys were just as brilliant.
This is a show full of good looking young men, and a lot of talent. Don't miss this play. If you don't get the chance to see the play, you are missing out on one heck of a night.
What a show! Can I just just say, I never thought I would cry at a production of Altar boyz, but the fellow who played Abraham sung and acted the last song so beautifully it made me tear up. Great job boyz!
Saw it opening night.
A couple of these guys, the actors who play Matthew and Juan particularly, are just about the most beautiful young men I've ever seen on a stage. Where did those guys come from?
All of them are pretty "heavenly" though. It's hard to pick. The show had me screaming like a teenage girl.
http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2008/12/theater_review_energetic_altar.html
I'm so excited to see it now!
Finally, they are getting some credit for the hard work they're putting into these productions.
I was there with the other half on opening night and all I have to say is WOW. You guys kicked the ever living crap out of this show and did it while dancing! Lol
It truly is a great piece of theater and you guys truly do it justice! There was a few mic balance issues through out the night but what show doesn't have that. 90 minutes of pure entertainment that kept me laughing my butt off for the entire show! JP there is no one better to play Mark. Jonathan you are a true gangsta thug as Luke. Connor I wish you had pulled me up on stage to be sung to! Kevin Mucho Great as Juan! Matt extremly funny as Abraham!
I am looking forward to coming and seeing it again later in the run!
GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!
This was so much fun! The dancing and singing talent on this stage was just awesome. There were some mic problems and the levels really need to be adjusted better between the mics and the band.
Excellent show. Just what Portland needs around the Holidays.
I enjoyed all five of the boys tremendously.
Portland get ready, these five boys are making their way into the theater scene.
Next time I come see the show I know right where to sit.
Are you going to review that adult cast?
Time permitting.
We have been saved from monotony and converted to become fans of this very talented group of five young men who kept us laughing and tapping our feet for 90 minutes straight. It is good entertainment for young and old with a healing moral to the story. We plan to see it again before it closes.
P.S. They still need to fix the sound or get a more experienced sound technician.
Wow.
Amazing show - fantastic energy, excellent singing, and those dance moves are phenominal.
And the acting ain't bad either.
I'm going back to see the kids cast - wanna see if they can hold their own with the 20s.
What else has Jonathon Swartout been in?
A quick google search indicates Jonathan Swartout has recently been in Blue Monkey's Cinderella.
I saw the show opening night (adult cast), and I'm sure I would have loved it, if I could understand any of the lyrics. The choreography was highly entertaining and very well performed, the jokes and bits in between the songs were delivered with excellent timing, and I believed each of the actors. That being said the band was so loud I understood maybe a tenth of the lyrics. I saw Kenny Potts (supposed sound designer) sitting at the sound board, and I don't understand how he could have gone through the entire rehearsal process and then the hour and a half show without doing something about it. I don't know much about sound design, but I assume there's a volume knob somewhere. If they've fixed the sound issues, then the show should be a hit and I'd recommend anyone and everyone go see it. If not, don't waste your time
I saw him (Jonathan Swartout) in Northwest Classical Theater Company's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST this spring. Oh man. This guy has some serious range. He's one of the most talented people of his age that I think I have seen perform on the Portland stage. He had the best voice of anyone in this show, as well as one of my favorite actors in NWCTC's show. I hope to see him use his talents to an even greater degree in the future.
Jonathan was also in Tin Pan Alley's "Annie Warbucks" and "Pippin" this summer.
Raise the Praise! We added one final chance for you to work on your soul: tonight at 10 pm. Tickets at door only. General admission. $18 adults/$12 students.
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