Out of the Box Theatrics announces the Off-Broadway premiere of Beau the Musical!
- Deepak Sinha
- Feb 22
- 4 min read
Out of the Box Theatrics (Liz Flemming, Founding Artistic Director), in association with The StoryLine Project, LLC; Bryan McCaffrey, and Leah Michalos, is pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of Beau the Musical, conceived and written by Douglas Lyons (Broadway: Chicken and Biscuits, TV: “Fraggle Rock”), with music by Ethan D. Pakchar (Broadway: Back to the Future: The Musical) and Douglas Lyons, and lyrics by Douglas Lyons. The production plays June 6 through July 27 at 154 Christopher Street (formerly The New Ohio theater).
Beau the Musical is directed and choreographed by Drama Desk Award nominee Josh Rhodes (Broadway: Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Spamalot; Regional: Regency Girls), and Chris Gurr (Broadway: Back to the Future: The Musical, The Prom) serves as music supervisor.
Cast and additional creative team will be announced at a later date.
Beau the Musical features eight actor-musicians telling the story of Ace Baker – a young queer man whose life is unexpectedly altered when he discovers his grandfather, who his mother said died, is still alive. Family secrets unravel as Ace rushes to make up for lost time with a man who changes his life by putting a guitar in his hand.
“We are honored to be presenting Beau the Musical with OOTB this summer at the 154,” commented Liz Flemming. “Never has a story like Beau the Musical been so important during this incredibly difficult and confusing time in our world. I am hopeful that through this beautiful story, where acceptance is examined so honestly, more minds and hearts can be changed. I look forward to loudly sharing Beau the Musical on Christopher Street this summer without censorship and with great pride.”
Beau the Musical was developed through readings at The Directors Company, The Musical Theatre Factory, Roundabout Theatre Company’s Oscar Hammerstein Festival at The Bucks County Playhouse, and Lincoln Center’s Broadway Songbook Series.
Following a presentation at the 2019 Adirondack Theatre Festival, Sony Masterworks Broadway released the show’s world premiere recording.
BIOGRAPHIES
DOUGLAS LYONS (Concept, Book, Lyrics) is a two-time Emmy-nominated multi-hyphenate artist. As a writer, he earned a GLAAD nomination for his Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits, which was the second-most produced play in America during the 2022-2023 season. His most recent play, Table 17, premiered Off-Broadway at MCC Theater in 2024. The production received a New York Times Critics’ Pick and won two 2024 Audelco awards for Best Playwright and Outstanding Ensemble. Douglas served as a writer on both seasons of Apple TV’s “Fraggle Rock.” His Broadway performing credits include The Book of Mormon, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (OBC), and the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Parade (OBC). Tour credits include Rent, Dreamgirls, and The Book of Mormon. As a composer-lyricist, his music and lyrics have been featured on Nickelodeon, BET Plus, Apple TV, CBS Sunday Morning Show, and more. His other stage works include Don’t Touch My Hair (IAMA Theatre Company), Polkadots (Off-Broadway Alliance winner, Best Family Show; Atlantic Theater Company), Beau the Musical (Adirondack Theatre Festival), Five Points (Theater Latté Da), and more. He is currently developing television with Sky Dance and Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort.
ETHAN D. PAKCHAR (Music) is a NYC-based composer, writer, and guitarist. His animated short film “Morning Joy,” which he produced, wrote, and scored, premiered at Sundance Film Festival (BrandStorytelling 2023) and was screened at Tribeca X; Boston, Woodstock, Cleveland, and Dumbo Film Festivals; and earned an Emmy Award nomination. As a guitarist, Pakchar has played for Sara Bareilles, Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo, and the Broadway productions of Hamilton, Wicked, and The Lion King. @epakchar.
JOSH RHODES (Director and Choreographer). Broadway: Spamalot, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, It Shoulda Been You, First Date, Bright Star. West End: Carousel, Sweeney Todd. NY City Center Encores!: Dear World, Mack & Mabel, Grand Hotel. Regional: The Who’s Tommy (Kennedy Center), Regency Girls, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, Baskerville, Bright Star, Working (The Old Globe), Hair, Evita, The Sound of Music, Knoxville (Asolo Rep), Chess, Paint Your Wagon, Jersey Boys (The Muny). Television: “Sweeney Todd,” “Company,” “Sondheim! The Birthday Concert” (PBS). Film: Beau the Musical.
CHRIS GURR (Music Supervisor) is a pianist, arranger, orchestrator, and conductor. His Broadway credits include Back to the Future: The Musical, The Prom, Bandstand, and Mean Girls. |
OUT OF THE BOX THEATRICS was founded in 2016 by Liz Flemming, a legally blind artist, to create space for artists who have been historically underrepresented and undervalued. The company stages innovative and site-specific productions of new and classic plays and musicals while challenging audiences to experience these works outside of their expectations. By casting without regard to gender, race, creed, ethnicity, or disability, OOTB seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable theatre industry. OOTB earned recognition for its critically acclaimed streaming co-production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years (New York Times’ Critics Pick, 2021 Drama League Nominee for Outstanding Digital Theater, 2022 Antonyo Award winner for Best Digital Theater Production), and its new production of the 1983 Broadway musical Baby (2022 Drama Desk Award nominee, Outstanding Revival of a Musical). Most recently, OOTB was awarded an Obie Award for their 2024 season at Theater 154. OOTB’s programming of 154 has been made possible by an arrangement with ChaShaMa. Since 1995, ChaShaMa has partnered with property owners to transform unused real estate for 30,000 artists and over 150 small businesses, hosted 4,000 public art events, provided 1,500 classes in under-served communities, and reached audiences of nearly a million. |
PRODUCTION INFORMATION Out of the Box Theatrics presents Beau the Musical Concept and book by Douglas Lyons Music by Ethan D. Pakchar and Douglas Lyons Lyrics by Douglas Lyons Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes Music supervisions by Chris Gurr June 6-July 27, 2025 at 154 Christopher Street |
WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA Website: ootbtheatrics.com Facebook: facebook.com/ootbtheatrics Instagram: instagram.com/ootbtheatrics |
Rasaaurdrama.com preview section is your best, most complete guide for all the theatre/films , big and small, coming your way soon. Happy Reading! Follow our channel here.
For play listings email: rasaaurdrama@gmail.com
For Collaborations: DM us at RAD_TIMES_NETWORK ( Instagram )
For Theatre Tours: Ping us on chat at at www.rasaaurdrama.com!
Comments