ALTAR BOYZ Plays North Carolina Theatre, Now thru 7/21

North Carolina Theatre (NCT), the region's premier producer of professional Broadway musicals, is excited to welcome the Altar Boyz to "rock the masses of all denominations by spreading the good news and soothing the troubled souls of Raleigh through the glory of sweet pop music." The runaway off-Broadway sensation, Altar Boyz plays today, July 12th through 21st for thirteen performances in AJ Fletcher Theater at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (formerly Progress Energy Center).

Altar Boyz introduces a fictitious Christian boy band from Greenville, Ohio. After hitting it big in the Ohio bingo hall circuit, the Boyz are ready to take their "Raise the Praise" tour to the next level! Audience members will fall in love with pretty boy Matthew, ultra-sensitive Mark, bad-boy Luke, hot-blooded Juan, and Abraham the nice Jewish boy, as they rock the masses in ninety minutes of pure fun and entertainment. With spectacular dance moves and heavenly voices, Altar Boyz brings the funk, lifts the soul and spreads a message about the power of faith, friendship and brotherhood.

Casting includes Marshal Kennedy Carolan (Matthew) of Broadway's Hair, Patrick Elliott (Mark), Patrick Ortiz (Juan) of Broadway's West Side Story, Tripp Hampton (Abraham), and Garner native Jeremy Woodard (Luke). Woodard graduated from Garner HS and received his BFA from East Carolina University. Woodard began his professional career in NC Theatre's production of Carousel when he was 15 years old. He most recently appeared on Broadway as "Stacee Jaxx" in Rock of Ages and will be appearing in the upcoming Diner on Broadway. Other credits include Glory Days, Hairspray, Miss Saigon and television's The Big C and Smash.

Altar Boyz first premiered in 2004 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. In the spring of 2005, it transferred to off-Broadway's New World Stages, where it ran for five years. Altar Boyz won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and was nominated for seven Drama Desk Awards, including Best Music, Best Lyrics, Best Book and Best Musical.

"From the first time I listened to the ALTAR BOYZ soundtrack I knew I had to fly to New York to see it. The clever, catchy score captured me immediately and the tongue-in-cheek but sincere treatment of friendship, trust and just fitting in touched my heart and my funny bone," said NC Theatre Producer CaroLee Baxter, "ALTAR BOYZ was the one NYC show I wholeheartedly recommended to everyone with no reservations and I personally saw it eight times. I am very excited we are producing this musical and so proud of the five incredibly talented "Boyz" that will be appearing on our stage. They will sing and dance their way into the hearts of all who come."