Choir Boy is a small but mighty coming-of-age play by Tarell Alvin McCraney. The local production features a cast that adroitly captures the bristling tensions at a prestigious prep school for African American boys when a flamboyantly gay youth is named leader of their celebrated gospel choir. Terrific young actor-singers not only make angelic choristers, they also pitch themselves into a hot debate on the meaning and value of gospel music.
Directed by Virginia Stage artistic director, Patrick Mullins, the play is everything good theatre should be: jubilant, thoughtful, and 90 minutes long.
But this weekend’s final performances also offer the Hampton Roads community a chance to experience some of the area’s best young black actors display their talents–heady stuff against the backdrop of this week’s tragedies in the African American community.
Out friend, Avery Shaffer, writes this about Choirboy:
“Do you ever go to an arts event in Hampton Roads–whether it’s an art show or a performance at the stage company, or the opera–and wonder why it’s almost all white people? Onstage and off?”
“There’s a group of really talented young men of color presenting a play tomorrow night. A rare chance to hear the text of one of our nations most prominent black playwrights.”
“The rallies and marches are great. But it’s support on the everyday level that counts most in the end. Support these talented young men, most of whom are from Norfolk State University, this weekend. Show some love.”
Choirboy runs this weekend at the Governor’s School for the Arts Dalis Blackbox Theater in Norfolk.
Friday, July 8: 8:00 PM
Saturday July 9, 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sunday, July 10, 2:00 PM
Tickets at www.ChoirboyVA.com
