"A fantastic and funny insider's look at the New York theater scene." --Barry Z, "The Barry Z Show," www.BarryZShow.com.
Danny Kingston, Tyler Watkins, Michael Montalbano
This musical had its world-premiere engagement at the Kaufman Theater, 123 E. 24th Street, NYC.
"I hated to see 'Theater Boys' end.... The crowds were ecstatic." -- Joe Franklin, WBBR/Bloomberg Radio
We've recently run a fundraising campaign, to enable us to make an album of this show. We successfully reached our fundraising goal and have just begun making the album.
If you would like more info about the album or about the fundraising drive, please click the link below.
While the drive itself is officially over, if anyone else would still like to become a backer of this project, it is not too late; contributions of any size by check or money order are gratefully appreciated.
Here is the link, if you want more info about the project:
"'Theater Boys' is the most entertaining gay musical in years.... It's a good show...that will work for most anyone, gay or straight.... Deffaa not only knows how to entertain an audience...he also knows how to move an audience... Deffaa writes of first love with poignance, grace, and honesty.... There is so much that is perfectly right with this show, in terms of both material and cast, and moments of real magic, that 'Theater Boys' seems certain to have a future life." --Rob Adams, www.Stage-Space.biz
Tyler Etheridge, Tyler Watkins
"A cheeky musical comedy... The loose plot revolves around the Director, who has lured country bumpkin Kipp back to his apartment for an 'audition' on his first day in New York City. The director attempts to sly talk Kipp out of his clothes, but the boy's naivete protects him from carnal knowledge.... "
-- Back Stage
The show was very well-received. The entire cast made appearances on Joey Reynolds' nationally syndicated radio show, and on "The Barry Z Show" on television. We're looking forward to other productions--and we've just begun making a cast album (see details below).
"A spoof of theater and its wannabe participants.... Songs are often entertaining and skillful. Laughs are mostly rooted in the wide-eyed naiveté of one small town young man and a former child star, both auditioning for a new gay show. Act Two is a revelation: flashbacks show two main characters as teens coming to terms with being gay, each with a first love. Suddenly more serious and tender, there’s also warm coming-of-age humor. The acting here is thoughtful and moving.... Silliness and spunk return for the finale."
--Rob Lester, "Cabaret Scenes" magazine
Standing: Tyler Watkins, Danny Kingston; kneeling: John Kultgen, Chris Scocca, Michael Montalbano
"Their world is a silly one, made interesting by an enthusiastic cast, a lively score..."
Robert Weinstein, www.NYTheatre.com
Written and co-directed byChip Deffaa, the world-premiere production of
"THEATER BOYS" featured:
Tyler Watkins,Tyler Etheridge,Danny Kingston,John Kultgen, Michael Montalbano,David Cronin,Eric Stevens, Chris Scocca,and Jacob Burlas.
Co-Director/Choreographer:Gregorey Garrison Music Director: Brett Kristofferson
Lighting Designer:Joyce Liao Production Assistant: Keith Anderson Additional choreography by Tyler Watkins
Back row: David Cronin, Tyler Etheridge, Danny Kingston, Jacob Burlas; front row: John Kultgen, Tyler Watkins, Michael Montalbano
OUR FORTHCOMING CAST ALBUM/CONCEPT ALBUM....
We're in the process of making a "Theater Boys" album, featuring such talented artists as Keith Anderson, David Cronin, Ricky Schroeder, Zachary Riopelle, Matthew Nardozzi, Cody Dericks, Jonah Mayor, Andrew Lanctot, Matt Zanfagna, Chris Giordano, Richard Danley, Skye Steele.... Production Assistant: Jessee D. Riehl. Aide-de-camp: Ben Youngstone. We've recently begun work. Stay posted for further details.
BIG THANKS TO OUR BACKERS FOR HELPING FUND OUR FORTHCOMING CAST ALBUM/CONCEPT ALBUM:
Dixie Melquist, George Golden, Don Brown, Devon Darrow, Jerry Wichinsky, Christine Ramus, Jerry Castaldo, Matt Nardozzi, Jan Monsch, Arthur Raphael, Sandy Denmark, Lee Martin, Karen Kelley, Joe DiLeo, Lawrence Leritz, Joseph A. Shapiro, Donnie Snyder, Patrick Shank, Paul Mendenhall, Sharon A. Wilcox, Roger Gindi, Bob Diamond, Tom Gavin, Ciaran Sammon, Louis Deffaa Sr., Lyle Ressler, Dale Joan Young, Frank DeMayo, Jann Rooney, Confetta Ras, Keith McElwee, Stanley Blum, Pat Kafafian Zengel, Gregory S. Andriate, Jack Quinn, Stephen Hanks, Jeremy Phelps, Floryn Glass Stock, Sheila R. Riddle, Robyn Pepe, Alanna Maharajh Stone, Roy Zemlicka, Glenn Hargett, Byron Eddy, Andrea Oberheiden-Brent, Patrick Lacey, Tamara Colloff-Bennett, Keith Anderson, Maria Judge, Bill Ervolino, Jackie and Bob Gumholtz, Deb Deffaa, Max Deffaa, Julia Deffaa, Aurelia Perry, Chris Henry, Dennis Reid, Toni Schaller, Ira Goldberg, Richard Thomas, Elyse Derman, Michael Townsend Wright, Chas LiBretto, Rebecca Brite, Sharla Herbert, Lauren Bianco, Lawrence Leritz,Peter Michael Marino, Elyse Derman, George Winters, Jack Quinn, Rich Jenkins, Ronni Richman Gerstel.
The funds needed to record this album were raised via a fundraising drive. The drive is now officially over, but if anyone wants to make a contribution by check or money order, it is still possible to do that. All contributions are gratefully accepted.
For more information on "Theater Boys," contact: Chip Deffaa
"The first half is playful--a breezy comedy about guys auditioning for a gay musical, enlivened by some irresistible vaudeville-style songs. And writer/director Chip Deffaa, who has created the book, music, and lyrics, knows how to make an audience smile, and laugh, and pat its feet. He can concoct a spirited nonsense song about a town called Chilliwack that somehow gets inside of you and won't let go.... But the show really hits its stride in the second act. Here, Deffaa is aiming for something deeper, more ambitious, more heartfelt. He offers two long flashback scenes, in which the show's two main characters recall their first loves. And now the writing becomes subtler, more nuanced, more true to life." --Rob Adams, www.Stage-Space.biz
Tyler Etheridge, Tyler Watkins
Cast-members performed a number from "Theater Boys" at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble book store, and co-hosted film openings (with Barry Z) at Chelsea Cinema.
"Theater Boys" mixes high spirited comedy...
...with the tenderness of youthful romance.
"Two remarkable younger actors impress mightily: Eric Stevens (teen Chris) has good comic timing and fresh, natural energy. As the object of his affections, the elusive and eccentric Nathan (David Cronin) creates a unique, quixotic character." --Rob Lester, Cabaret Scenes magazine
BREAKING NEWS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIC STEVENS AND DAVID CRONIN, WHO HAVE--IN A TIE VOTE--WON THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL'S "AWARD OF DISTINCTION" (CHOSEN BY A COMBINATION OF AUDIENCE VOTES AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS' SELECTION) WAS OFFICIALLY PRESENTED TO THEM AT THE ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY, HELD AT PLAYWRIGHT'S HORIZONS THEATER IN NEW YORK CITY.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE ERIC STEVENS AND DAVID CRONIN WERE THE YOUNGEST ACTORS IN THE FESTIVAL!
We've been delighted to have Brett Kristofferson serve as music director for our premiere production.
Music director Brett Kristofferson rehearses the boys on their duet, "Tell Me Why."
Tyler Watkins and Tyler Etheridge
Music director Brett Kristofferson teaching some harmonies
Danny Kingston and Tyler Watkins work on a song with Richard Danley (filling in as a rehearsal pianist).
"Music director Brett Kristofferson provides engagingly honky-tonk-type piano accompaniment." --Rob Adams, www.Stage-Space.biz
Different reviewers singled out different actors for praise....
Tyler Watkins, Danny Kingston
Reviewer Rob Lester, in "Cabaret Scenes" magazines, found the acting of Tyler Watklins and Danny Kingston particularly "moving," with Watkins "playing well off a convincing Danny Kingston, both skillfully portraying tentative expressions of attraction and friendship."
"Standout performers include Tyler Watkins (playing the naive, open-hearted protagonist Kipp, fresh off the bus, with dreams of becoming an actor, and some wonderfully choice Liza-like moves), Danny Kingston (playing his first love, a 'bad boy' teenager named Reese Brock). Both possess great likeability; Kingston has lots of warmth. And they get to sing--quite appealingly--one of the show's best songs, 'Crater Lake Blues.' Tyler Etheridge carries off effectively the role of the con-man director trying to seduce Kipp, and gets to put across with zest a near-definitive ode to the theater; it really needs to be recorded... John Kultgen has fun as a love-besotted figure skater."
--Rob Adams, "Stage-Space.biz"
For reviewer Jerry Portwood of "Back Stage," Danny Kingston was the "standout of the cast, evoking a sincere youthful exuberance that could have sustained an entire production of its own."
Danny Kingston
From left to right: (back row) Brett Kristofferson (music director), Tyler Etheridge, Danny Kingston, David Cronin, Chip Deffaa; (middle row) John Kultgen, Chris Scocca, Michael Montalbano; (in front) Tyler Watkins.
Danny Kingston, Michael Montalbano, Tyler Watkins
Theater Boys, we salute you!
In their dressing room, before a performance, David Cronin, John Kultgen, Danny Kingston, Michael Montalbano, and company
Script and demo CD available...
Jacob Burlas, Tyler Etheridge
For more information, please contact Chip Deffaa at Chip Deffaa Productions LLC, tel.: (973) 684-3340, Email: OriginalCast1@aol.com.
Or contact Peter Sawyer, President of the Fifi Oscard Agency, tel.: (212) 764-1100, Email: psawyer@fifioscard.com.
The show premiered as part of the Sixth Annual Fresh Fruit Festival (Carol Polcovar, artistic director; Louis Lopardi, technical director). Watch this space! More details coming soon.
Danny Kingston, Tyler Watkins
Michael Montalbano (standing), Chris Scocca
Jacob Burlas, John Kultgen, David Cronin
(Our thanks to the great Howard Cruse for creating the "Theater Boys" logo.)
The producers wish to acknowledge the assistance of Tyler Patterson and Corey M. Smathers. This production is dedicated to the memory of B. S. Wade.
For more information on "Theater Boys," contact: Chip Deffaa Prods. LLC 50 Quartz Lane Paterson, NJ 07501-3345 tel. (973) 684-3340 Email:
