CHOIR BOY Begins Rehearsals Today at Manhattan Theatre Club

Rehearsals begin today for Manhattan Theatre Club's American premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's Choir Boy, the new play featuring gospel music directed by Trip Cullman at MTC's The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street).

CHOIR BOY begins previews Tuesday, June 18 and opens Tuesday, July 2 with a cast that features Nicholas L. Ashe (The Lion King), Kyle Beltran (In The Heights), Grantham Coleman (As You Like It), Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper (The Piano Lesson), Drama Desk Award winnerAustin Pendleton (Ivanov), Jeremy Pope (Little Shop of Horrors), and Wallace Smith (American Idiot).

In order to ensure that tickets to Choir Boy are affordable to the widest possible, most diverse audiences, MTC is pricing all tickets at $30. Tickets are on sale via CityTix (212-581-1212), www.nycitycenter.org and at the New York City Center Box Office.

The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys is dedicated to the creation of strong, ethical black men. Pharus (Jeremy Pope) wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school's legendary gospel choir. Can he find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?

The creative team for the new MTC production of Choir Boy includes: David Zinn (scenic and costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), Fitz Patton (sound design), and Jason Michael Webb (music director).