Cast Announced for Pittsburgh CLO's ALTAR BOYZ

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce the cast of the CLO Cabaret premiere of Altar Boyz, September 24-December 20. This heavenly cast includes Pittsburgh CLO alumni Mike Greer as Luke and Mason Alexander Park as Mark, as well as exciting newcomers Michael Brown, Carter Ellis and Javier Manente. Tickets start at $34.75 and are available at as part of the 2015-2016 CLO Cabaret Series package. Please visit CLOCabaret.com or call 412-281-2822 for information on purchasing a Series subscription.

Michael Brown (Matthew) is a recent graduate from Point Park University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance minor. His favorite Pittsburgh credits include: The Wind in the Willows (Otter), The Boy Friend (Tony Brockhurst) and, most recently, A Grand Night for Singing (Comic Juvenile).

Carter Ellis (Abraham) is also a recent Musical Theater graduate from Point Park University. His recent credits include Urinetown (McQueen) and The Producers (Leo). As a native of Kansas City, he has also been seen on the KC Starlight Stage in productions such as Cinderella and Xanadu.

Michael Greer (Luke) is a Pittsburgh CLO veteran whose credits with CLO include The Full Monty (Keno), Les Miserables, 42nd Street, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Legally Blonde. Other credits include You Say Tomato, I Say Shutup! (Jeff Kahn) at the Denver Center, Shrek The Musical (Big Bad Wolf) at North Shore Music Theatre, Miss Saigon (2010 Tour), Beauty & the Beast (Gaston), Footloose (Willard) with Pittsburgh Musical Theater and Jesus Christ Superstar at Kansas City Starlight. Up next is Guys & Dolls at PPT.

Mason Alexander Park (Mark) was last seen at the Cabaret as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, and at the Benedum as the first male countertenor to regionally play Miss Andrew in Pittsburgh CLO's Mary Poppins. He was introduced to Pittsburgh CLO through the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, during which time he was featured on PBS's reality series "Broadway or Bust." He recently performed at the Kennedy Center in D.C. as the 2013 Presidential Scholar in the Arts for Musical Theatre, which featured him in the PBS documentary, "Becoming an Artist". He can also be seen on other shows such as "iCarly."

Javier Manente (Juan) is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut. US credits: In the Heights, The Boy Friend, Oklahoma!, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Honk! and the world premiere of 21 The Musical. Argentina credits: Spring Awakening, Rent, Locos Recuerdos and Grease, among others. Mr. Manente is a current senior musical theatre student at Point Park University.

Adam Cassel (Understudy) makes his Pittsburgh CLO debut and as he returns to 'Raise the Praise' with the "Boyz." After graduation from Brown University, Adam joined the National Tour of Altar Boyz as Abraham. He then joined the National Tour of Hairspray (IQ) and was honored to be a part of the tour's closing company.

Altar Boyz was developed by Kevin Del Aguila (Book), Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker (Music and Lyrics). Del Aguila is also the writer and director of the acclaimed comedy 6 Story Building, which won the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival Excellence Award for Best Overall Production. His work on Altar Boyz earned him a 2005 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Book. Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker received two 2005 Drama Desk awards for their contributions to Altar Boyz. Adler's past work includes serving as musical director on Avenue Q and The Fantasticks; conductor for Urinetown, Nunsense and Tick, Tick BOOM! and pianist for Fosse and Hairspray. Walker has worked as a conductor for Avenue Q, Wicked, The Lion King, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Tick...Tick...BOOM!, The Fantasticks and more. In 2001, the two musicians met and began the compositions for ALTAR BOYZ. This award-winning musical marked their Off-Broadway composing debut.

The Altar Boyz are on a mission from above to put the "pop" back in piety, wooing legions of bingo hall and pancake breakfast fans throughout their "Raise the Praise" tour. Next stop? Pittsburgh! Full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular dancing, and irreverent humor, this spoof about a heavenly boy-band is adored by audiences and critics alike. With an extraordinary mix of side-splitting songs convincing enough to be played on MTV, uncontrollable laughs and lighthearted fun, it's 90 minutes of pure delight that will have the whole family laughing and singing along. Featuring instant classics such as: "Girl You Make Me Wanna Wait" and "Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone," Altar Boyz is destined to rock the masses of all denominations!

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