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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Choir Boy

June 16 – July 24, 2022
1650 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614, USA

In 2016, Tarell Alvin McCraney won fame for writing the Oscar-winning screen adaptation of his own play Moonlight. But he already had a great play under his belt, Choir Boy, which debuted in London in 2012. It too is a coming-of-age story about a young Black man. This one centers on Pharus Young, a senior at the prestigious Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys. He’s determined to be the best choir leader the school has ever had, despite beginning his tenure as an outsider. Choir Boy opened in the U.S. in 2013, and was presented in various venues before it landed on Broadway in 2018. After a three year hiatus, the production is back. The show is directed by Kent Gash, and McCraney appears in the ensemble. —Jensen Davis