The hit Broadway show The Boys in the Band is approaching its 50th anniversary, and its upcoming celebratory revival couldn't be any better. After all, the historic play will feature One Life to Live alum Tuc Watkins (ex-David Vickers) and Guiding Light alum Matt Bomer (ex- Ben Reade).
The former soap stars have joined Zachary Quinto, Jim Parsons, and Andrew Rannells for a limited engagement of the Mart Crowley-written production scheduled to take place from April 30 to August 12 of 2018 at the Booth Theatre on Broadway.
The Boys in the Band is a landmark play that follows a group of gay men who've gathered in a New York City apartment for a friend's birthday and suddenly see the cracks of their friendship. Originally scheduled to run for five performances at a small Off-Broadway venue in 1968, the play became an overnight sensation, and -- after transferring to a bigger theater -- ran for over 1,000 performances. The show went on to have an acclaimed run in London and was adapted into a film by William Friedkin in 1970.
The upcoming revival will be directed by Joe Mantello and co-produced by American Horror Story's Ryan Murphy and Wicked's David Stone.
"The significance of The Boys in the Band cannot be underestimated," Murphy shared with Playbill. "In 1968, Mart Crowley made theatrical history by giving voice to gay men onstage, in this uncompromising, blisteringly honest, and wickedly funny play."
Murphy continues: "The play was groundbreaking in its exploration of how gay men treated each other and how they were made to feel about themselves. And while some attitudes have thankfully shifted, it's important to be reminded of what we have overcome and how much further we still have to go."
After leaving GL in 2003, Bomer went on to star in hit shows like Chuck, White Collar, American Horror Story, and The Last Tycoon. Watkins, who starred on OLTL on-again, off-again from 1994 to 2013, is also known for shows like Desperate Housewives and Where the Bears Are.
What do you think about The Boys in the Band being revived? How do you feel about Bomer and Watkins joining the all-star cast? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
