Jeremy Pope & Chuck Cooper in Choir Boy

Choir Boy begins performances on Broadway

The Broadway premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's Choir Boy is set for an official opening at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 8, 2019.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney's Choir Boy, directed by Drama Desk Award nominee Trip Cullman, begins previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre tonight, ahead of an official opening on January 8, and a limited engagement through to February 17, 2019.

Synopsis: "For half a century, the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys has been dedicated to the education of strong, ethical black men. One talented student has been waiting for years to take his rightful place as the leader of the legendary gospel choir. But can he make his way through the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?"

As previously announced, the complete cast of Choir Boy includes Jeremy Pope (as Pharus), Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper (as Headmaster Marrow), Tony Award nominee Austin Pendleton (as Mr. Pendleton), Nicholas L. Ashe(as Junior Blake), John Clay III (as Anthony Justin "AJ" James), Caleb Eberhardt (as David Heard), and J. Quinton Johnson (as Bobby Marrow), with ensemble members Daniel BellomyJonathan BurkeGerald Caesar, and Marcus Gladney.

Jeremy PopeChuck CooperAustin Pendleton, and Nicholas L. Ashe are all reprising their respective roles from MTC's sold-out, twice-extended, critically acclaimed run at New York City Center's Studio at Stage II in the summer of 2013.

The creative team behind Choir Boy features scenic & costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, sound design by Fitz Patton, music direction & vocal arrangements by Jason Michael Webb, make-up design by Cookie Jordan, fight direction by Thomas Schall and movement by Camille A. Brown.

This production will mark the Broadway debut for Tarell Alvin McCraney, who is perhaps best known as the 2017 Oscar-winning writer of "Moonlight".

Choir Boy Tickets are available now for performances through to February 17, 2019.

(Photo by Joan Marcus)

Originally published on

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