Beau the Musical

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Beau the Musical, a coming-of-age story of a gay youth growing up in Tennessee, circa 1998 – 2003, is poignant, engrossing and powerful. Conceived and written by Douglas Lyons (Chicken and Biscuits, Table 17) with music by Ethan D. Pakchar and Lyons, the country-western-rock score is made up of all winners with the cast acting as the band, almost all of them playing a different instrument. Led by the endearing Matt Rodin in the leading role (which is not Beau Johnson but Ace Baker,) the cast of nine are all triple-threat performers adept at singing, acting as well as expert musicians.

Daniel Allen’s elaborate set for the Distillery bar and nightclub is an excellent venue for the various scenes in and around Nashville and Memphis where the story takes place. The dramatic frame of the show is Ace’s 2013 launch of his second album back in Nashville where he grew up. Returning for his mother Raven’s funeral, Ace finds his journal from when he was 12 and it reminds him of the story we are about to hear.

Growing up in a single parent family as Ace’s father left when Raven was six months pregnant and she has struggled to make ends meet ever since, Ace grows up with no male role model. His mother’s current boyfriend Larry is too nerdy for Ace. However, this is the least of his problems in sixth grade: a classmate Ferris bullies and beats up on Ace who is sensitive, artistic and short for his age. Their relationship defines Ace’s 12^th year. Then he picks up a phone call meant for his mother and discovers that his grandfather Beau Johnson is very much alive and in the Memphis VA medical IC unit.

Ace decides to take a bus to Memphis and meet this relative who he thought was dead. Grizzled Beau (as gruff as Raven) is impressed with the young man but makes him call his mother to let her know where he is. However, she will not come to the phone to speak to her father though we don’t know what has caused their differences. She does allow Ace to stay overnight. Speaking to Beau weekly from then, Ace decides to ask if he can spend the summer with him and Raven agrees. Finding himself bored to death in his grandfather’s home (the very one his mother grew up in), he discovers a guitar and that his grandfather used to be a country–western singer. Ace spends the summer learning the guitar and his grandfather gifts it to him when he returns home.

However, his new songwriting career leads to new bullying and Ace finds that he is even more of an outcast than before. The following summer Beau teaches him to defend himself but keeps from telling him more about himself. We discover that Beau has a secret which is why Raven and her mother left him but Beau is not ready to confide in his grandson though he likes having him around. Unfortunately, Beau is sicker than he has admitted and Ace’s visits come to an abrupt end by which time Ace has become quite a good guitar player and started a band with his schoolmate Daphney.

The entire cast impresses with their singing and musical talents. While Rodin as Ace (as well as several of the other cast members) are not convincing as 12 year olds, the characterizations are fine under Josh Rhodes’ smooth, accomplished direction. Not only does Rodin sing ten out of the 11 songs with the help of the band as well as accompanying himself on the guitar, he has an excellent voice and a great deal of personality. Chris Blisset as Pop Pop Beau is a no-nonsense avuncular presence, very convincing in his crusty exterior which hides a sensitive heart. As his mother Raven, Amelia Cormack (also heard on the mandolin) is as crusty as her estranged father but plays a loving mother who does not understand her son until he is older.

Cory Jeacoma (on guitar) makes Ferris a sinister, conflicted presence while Miyuki Miyagi (also on violin) is a comforting Daphney, Ace’s only friend from school. As Larry, Raven’s enamored boyfriend, Matt Wolpe (on bass) is initially a comic character but develops into a supporter of Ace. In smaller roles, Derek Stoltenberg (on drums) as a secret friend of Beau and Andrea Gross (on piano) playing Beau’s Nurse at the hospital, Beau’s wife Le-Ann and Karina, Ferris’ junior year girlfriend give able support.

Allen’s unit setting which stands in successfully for the bar, the Baker home, the junior high school yard, the VA hospital, the high school lockers, and Beau’s front porch is atmospherically lit by Adam Honoré who also uses rows of colored spotlights for the band’s concert numbers. The costumes by Devario D. Simmons are pitch perfect for these Tennessee folk and Nashville musicians. The excellent sound design by Jordana Abrenica allows us to hear every word. The impressive orchestrations are by the composer Pakchar with additions by Chris Gurr who also worked as music supervisor. Lyons created the vocal arrangements which often have the entire cast performing many of the songs.

Beau the Musical is not only absorbing as a story, the songs help to move the story along, something few musicals accomplish these days. The multi-talented cast is splendid, while the story hits on a great many hot button topics: bullying, intolerance, self-identity, single parenting, finding one’s identity. Best of all Beau The Musical is extremely satisfying, sending you out pleased by what you have seen.

Beau the Musical (extended through August 3, 2025)

Out of the Box Theatrics

Theatre 154, 154 Christopher Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.ootbtheatrics.com

Running time: 100 minutes without an intermission