'Beau The Musical' Off-Broadway review — concert-style show offers an endearing message and plenty of questions
Read our review of Beau The Musical off Broadway, now playing its second NYC run after an acclaimed world premiere with Out of the Box Theatrics earlier this year.
The conceit of Beau The Musical fits its venue: The Distillery at St. Luke’s has a bar, of course, and is perhaps better suited for a concert than a theatrical production with multiple sight lines (beware the poles and configurations of your fellow audience members). The space perfectly convinces as the hometown watering hole where Ace Baker (Matt Rodin) debuts his new, ultra-personal album about his childhood and his relationship with his late grandfather, Beau (Jeb Brown). At the same time, though, the premise falls apart if you dig below the surface.
As Ace flashes back to his childhood as an insecure, closeted middle schooler, it’s unclear if the ever-cascading flow of information is meant for the audience, the characters, or both. Does Ace ever actually find out Beau was gay, or does the family secret die with Ace’s mother, Raven (Amelia Cormack)? Ace mentions his mother’s death at the top of the show, though this ends up having no bearing on the plot or Cormack’s character. Is the audience supposed to have a one-up on Ace, connecting the dots while both his adult and 12-year-old selves remain in the dark?
The style of music also disrupts the basis of Beau. The concert is supposed to be the debut of Ace’s new album, with his faithful friend Daphney (Miyuki Miyagi) by his side on violin, but much of Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar’s music feels more musical theatre in spirit. This is not, in itself, a bad thing — this is a musical, after all, and Rodin’s tenor swings from folk-country ditties to pleading theatrical numbers with ease. If Ace is supposed to be a rambling rockstar, however, his confessional songs leave something to be desired. Many of Beau’s numbers feel repetitive and unfinished, especially lyrically, though “Crush,” Ace’s ode to his bully-turned-bathroom-lover (Max Sangerman), is a perfect example of the kind of indie tune that could launch Ace to fictional stardom.
Despite these pitfalls, Beau has a generally engaging story with an endearing message, and Rodin and Brown’s bond feels genuine and heartfelt. The cast of Beau The Musical also functions as Ace Baker’s backup band, and it’s particularly fun to watch Ryan Halsaver go from bassist to “Wack Ass Larry,” Ace’s irritatingly upbeat stepfather-figure. Will audiences be annoyed by the lingering questions Beau leaves, longing for tighter storytelling? Or will they just tap their feet and nod along, transfixed by Rodin’s charisma? If my audience is any indication, it will be the latter.
Beau The Musical summary
Beau The Musical follows Ace Baker (Matt Rodin), a singer-songwriter who returns to his native Nashville to debut his latest album, which is autobiographical. The story brings us back to Ace’s adolescence as he dodges bullies, tries to understand his sexuality, and clashes with his single mother, Raven (Amelia Cormack).
When Ace learns that his supposedly dead grandfather, Beau (Jeb Brown), is alive in Memphis, he tracks him down and quickly bonds with the gruff former musician. Soon, Beau teaches Ace how to play the guitar, changing the course of the young man’s life. And as Ace tries to convince Raven to welcome Beau back into her life, he learns they may have more in common than he thought — including family secrets.
Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, Beau The Musical previously had its world premiere off Broadway earlier this summer, and it's now playing an encore run.
What to expect at Beau The Musical
Beau The Musical runs approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes without an intermission. The musical includes graphic discussions of homophobia, harassment, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Beau also depicts alcohol consumption, child abuse, and sex and discusses addiction and disease.
The Distillery at St. Luke’s is an intimate basement space with a bar, which is open before the show begins. The theatre’s setup for Beau is three-quarter thrust with additional seating at tables, which makes the musical feel even more like Ace’s concert performance. Throughout the show, the actors travel up and down the aisles and perform atop the furniture, including some of the tables at which audience members are seated (so you might be asked to hold your things in your lap). Some seats have a restricted view, but because the performers regularly move around the space, the message and music of Beau are shared equally with everyone.
What audiences are saying about Beau The Musical
Beau The Musical has an audience approval rating of 90% on the review aggregator Show-Score, compiled from 95 reviews from theatregoers who have praised the musical's score, performances, and heart.
- Show-Score user Alexa B calls Beau “a heartwarming show with a phenomenal and talented cast.”
- Show-Score user Emma S says that Douglas Lyons’s “catchy” score “keeps you entertained and the vulnerability will keep you crying.”
- Show-Score user Stephen 18 notes that the new production is as “terrific” as the summer run and praises Rodin and Brown’s performances.
Read more audience reviews of Beau The Musical on Show-Score.
Who should see Beau The Musical
- If you enjoyed last season’s Dead Outlaw, you’ll won’t want to miss another folk-infused musical starring the affable Jeb Brown.
- If you miss Broadway.com’s "Red Carpet Challenge" series, head to The Distillery at St. Luke’s to see former on-camera talent and "Challenge" creator Matt Rodin starring in Beau.
- Fans of multi-hyphenate performers have the chance to see the talented cast of Beau double as Ace Baker’s band, tackling their instruments and their acting roles at the same time.
Learn more about Beau The Musical off Broadway
Though the story doesn’t tie up every loose end, Beau the Musical is an uplifting story of intergenerational bonding and the power of family, both given and chosen. The band gets the audience at St. Luke’s on its feet with Lyons and Pakchar’s country-twanged score.
Photo credit: Beau The Musical off Broadway. (Photo by Valerie Terranova)
Originally published on