Philadelphia Theatre Company kicks off 2022 with the Philadelphia premiere of a Tony Award-winning play from an Academy Award winning writer. Audiences return to PTC for soaring gospel music and a story about singing in your own key as Tarell Alvin McCraney’s ‘Choir Boy’ takes the stage.
Directed by PTC resident artist Jeffrey L. Page, this play about a young man creating his own path at a storied prep school features a new gospel and R&B score created by musician Crystal Monee Hall, who serves as composer and musical director.
“I feel tremendously excited to be doing work in Philadelphia,” said Page. “Philadelphia is a city that has seen me cross over from being a child into adulthood at University of the Arts. My roots run pretty deep in Philadelphia. I left Philadelphia and continued with my work. Here I am, back to conduct a group of artists in this stunning work. It feels really exciting to be back on Broad Street. I am excited for all of Philadelphia and its many faces to come out to see this work.”
From the pen of Tarell Alvin McCraney, the Academy Award-winning writer of “Moonlight,” “Choir Boy” electrified Broadway with its soaring gospel, spiritual, and R&B performances. “Choir Boy” was nominated for five 2019 Tony Awards and won two. It won for Sound Design and a Special Tony Award for the music.
“I have been aware of this play for a long time,” said Page. “Tarell is a friend. I was in LA and I have a vivid memory of sitting in the park reading the script and just crying. The way Tarell was able to find so much color and texture inside of the breath of the words in this piece, the way he was able to paint what it feels like to be not be fully, empathetically witnessed and fully regarded – to have to exist in a small space – while everyone else has room to move and to grow wings and soar. It’s just a powerful work.
“The textures and colors of this play are so magnetic,” said Page added. “I think this play is a powerful work of art that has the ability to reach into any person’s deepest core and help them to discover things in themselves they have forgotten about.”
For the health and safety of patrons, cast, crew and staff, PTC will require that audience members present proof of vaccination with booster (if eligible) and wear a mask while in the venue, aligning with the safety protocols outlined by Theatre Philadelphia. PTC has paused the sale of concessions for this show to allow patrons to keep their masks on. PTC is also offering reduced-capacity seating in the entire theatre, with mezzanine seating at 20% capacity. The theatre will offer two performances at 25% capacity on Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. and March 4, at 8 p.m.
The show runs Feb. 18 to March 13. Tickets are on sale now starting at $35 and are available at www.philatheatreco.org or by phone at 215-985-0420. All shows are performed at PTC’s home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street.
