Beau the Musical – Review – Out of the Box Theatrics & Theatre 154 – Shows I've Seen

@showsiveseen "#Beau the #Musical" at Theatre 154 by @Out of the Box Theatrics starring @Matt Rodin & Chris Blisset. The 8 incredibly talented actors were also the band. Loved the situationship arc. Heartfelt coming of age (and coming out?) story … I even shed a single tear. #Review : showsiveseen.com/13227 Photos: Valerie Terranova Director/Choreo: Josh Rhodes Concept/Book/Lyrics/Music: @Douglas Lyons Music: Ethan D. Pakchar Stage Mgr: Jonathan Bach #offBroadway #lgbt #lgbtq #LGBTQIA #queer #gay #theatre #showsiveseen #musicaltheatre #pride ♬ Runnin' (feat. Matt Rodin) – Lyons & Pakchar

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Beau the Musical at Theatre 154 by Out of the Box Theatrics starring Matt Rodin & Chris Blisset. The 8 incredibly talented actors were also the band. Loved the situationship arc. Heartfelt coming of age (and coming out?) story … I even shed a single tear. #lgbt #queer #gay #pride #lgbtq #LGBTQIA

Recommendation:
See it, especially if you enjoy 1) concert-style productions 2) musicals where the actors are also the band 3) intimate/immersive shows 4) or folk music.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? I think so.

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): A coming-of-age story that follows a queer teenager attempting to bridge the gap with his estranged heart-of-gold grandfather.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Beau features eight actor-musicians telling the story of Ace Baker – a young queer man whose life is forever changed when he discovers his deceased grandfather is actually 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.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: Yes

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Static

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: 7

Total Actors: 8

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Other Rave(s)

Scenic Design: Daniel Allen transformed the space into a convincingly gritty dive bar. They even served drinks before the show, which added to the immersive atmosphere.
Music and Band: The cast showcased their impressive versatility when they doubled as the show’s folksy country band. I’m sure that saved this production some money! They played the memorized score with a wide instrument plethora from the expected acoustic/electric guitars, drums, and keyboard to more eclectic choices like the fiddle, mandolin, spoons, cowbell, and bongos. The overall vibe felt like a better version of Girl from the North Country.
Romantic Storylines: I loved the bittersweet romantic arcs, especially how the script didn’t linger on them too heavily. Since I deliberately avoid reading synopses beforehand, the sudden introductions of these arcs hit like a bombshell, which makes for good theatre. There’s something alluring (and yes, hot) about a forbidden romance steeped in internalized homophobia.
Voices: Matt Rodin (as Ace) brought a smooth, classic crooner tone to the stage. It was also a delight to see a familiar face Amelia Cormack (as Raven) from Hadestown, who delivered a powerhouse vocal moments like during the climactic end of “The Middle.”
Past vs Present: Creator Douglass Lyons skillfully intertwined past and present in the script, drawing parallels between Beau’s experiences across time. One example was the mirrored abandonment scenes of those who left Beau in the past versus those who left him in the present. Similarly, the comparison between Beau’s past romantic life and Ace’s present-day relationship deepened the emotional resonance of the piece.
Larry: The recurring gag about “this motherfucker” “goofy wack-ass Larry” (played by “fellow” Matt Wolpe) was a consistent comedic relief throughout the show. What initially felt like a creepy (almost pedophile) character evolved into an endearing surprise.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Hook: The show would benefit from diving into the story/action sooner to hook the audience earlier. It began like a band performance with hints of story. So initially, I expected a concert-style musical such as Six the Musical and didn’t anticipate much in terms of narrative. But as the plot unfolded, it gradually revealed a more linear and emotionally engaging journey. At times, I even forgot about the concert framing altogether. While my expectations were low at first from the initial moments of the show, I found myself increasingly impressed as it gained momentum.
Queer vs Gay: The show is marketed as a queer musical, but it felt more like a gay (specifically, homosexual male) narrative than the broader, more fluid spectrum that “queer” implies. Maybe that’s just the ignorant gay Texan in me still struggling to grasp all the nuances of the alphabet mafia LGBTTQQIAAPPO2SAA despite being schooled by a reader after my review of Wolf Play. From my perspective, there wasn’t much ambiguity in Beau the Musical regarding gender identity or sexual orientation. The attraction and identity dynamics appeared fairly binary.

Theatre Company: Out of the Box Theatrics

Venue: Theatre 154

Venue Physical Address: 154 Christopher St #1E, New York, NY 10014

Venue Classification: Off-Broadway

Price Range: $45-110

Dates: 6/6/25 to 7/27/25

Seating: Assigned Seating

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Pictures: See production pictures below by Valerie Terranova Photography.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.